Sand As A Substrate

Benson

Benson

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Apr 8, 2003
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Benson Walker
Hi all,

I'm wondering about sand as a substrate? What are your opinions and what kind of sand to use. It is for a fresh water tropical tank. 29 gallons. Ehiem 2231 filter and the following fish.

Angelfishes
Festivum Cichlids
Black Skirted Tetras
Honey Gouramis
Dwarf Gouramis
Cory Catfish
Chinese Algae Eater

Thanks for your help!!!

B
 
I used sand in my 75. I have a layer of flourite and onix on the bottom for the plants. Other than that about 4 inches of sand. I like it for the fact that the waste pretty much stays on top. That way my filters get most of it, and whats left I get when I clean. Yea, I suck up a little sand but it's so little it's no big deal. You just can't stick the Python into the sand you just run it about a half inch over the top. I think the most important part is rinsing it. I used a 5 gal bucket. I'd put some sand fil wath water stir it up really good and pour off the dirty water. You'll have to do this about 7 times for each batch. When you put the sand in the tank it will still be really cloudy but it will settle down after about a day.

Hope that helps a little.:)

Todd
 
I have used playpit sand in 3 of our tanks now and it works great, and is cheap (as mentioned about $5.00 /50 lbs at Home Depot) and as stated previously it does need to be cleaned (it is steralized but still contains a lot of dust). I have also used some colored sand from the lfs to change the look of it in 2 of our tanks (one has just playpit sand and I find it gives the tank a brownish/yellow tinge) I mixed the playpit sand 4 parts to 1 with dark green aquarium gravel and it changed the look considerably. I also mixed playpit sand 3 parts to 1 with Red aquarium sand and I think it looks even better, the sand has a red almost glow to it that compliments the rest of the aquarium without being overpowering. I have posted pics on an other site if anyone is interrested Our Tanks ...it is a fish forum so you may have to register to see the link (i'm not sure)
 
Would sand from a beach be fine to use?

I'm setting up another 55 gallon community tank pretty soon and I live like 75 feet away from the beach, but I'm not sure if it would be polluted or anything (Newport isn't too polluted, but it's not too clean either). If I washed the sand enough, would it be safe to use?

(PS - nice tanks Firsttanks and Punch!)
 
Problem with sand from a beach is it is sand made from shells and not rocks. This could change the cemistry of your tank and is not advised.
 
Nice tank punch :D ...I've read that you have to be careful with some of the sandblasting sand, as it is very sharp and full of pointy bits, designed this way to blast paint and rust from metal, and may damage some of the more seneitive fish. :eek:

edit:...thanks Kirin:D
 
Beach sand will probably contain a lot of calcium, and will likely raise the hardness of the tank. Also, you're going to have to rinse much more than you think to remove all the salt. I wouldn't advise this for another reason--the beach sand is going to bring with it a wide variety of contaminants (ie, oils and such) in addition to possibly having dead critters, which will pollute your tank.

When sand is gathered for use in SW systems, it's usually done from 1 mile from the coastline, to avoid the pollution concentrations that wind up in the shallower waters.
 
Thanks firsttanks:) My sand is not sharp and I have no problem with barbels on my corries and my loaches like it. but yes, you do have to make sure its not rough and sharp.
 
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