I'm still trying to find out which is easier on the bottom dwellers: cory cats, loaches, etc. I have plants, but nothing requiring any special substrate. I will use the eco-complete planted aquarium by CaribSea or the Tahitian Moon depending on which, if either, is safer for the fish to dig around in. I want something black or very dark. Does anybody know how and where I can find out about this? I've lost count of the times I've heard about the 60 pound bag of black aquarium sand gotten for $2 at HD (or they don't remember where), so please only mention that if you know where I can find it in the Northeast (or it can be ordered by the LFS) and if it works for these fish.
sand/coarse gravel
- Thread starter aquak
- Start date
I don't know about $2 for 60lbs, but I bought 25lb bags of coarse natural gravel at home depot for about $5 per bag. It just needs to be rinsed throughly.
They don't sell it in the Northeast. That's why I want to hear from people who can lead me to a source up here or that can respond to orders from a LFS.
I've never heard of black sand at home depot, but I've found the white Southdown playsand that reefers always rave about in Home Depots in Philadelphia. As for the natural gravel, I've seen that in HDs all over the northeast (PA, RI and MA).
As far as which is best for bottom dwellers, I don't think it's really too important. I personally like sand better. Food sits on the surface instead of getting lost beneath the gravel. My loaches and catfish also seem to have an easier time rooting around in the sand. The one thing you have to watch out for is that the sand grains are smooth and rounded. I've heard of loaches damaging their barbles on sharp sand grains. I'm not positive, but I seem to recall hearing that tahitian moon sand has pretty sharp grains.
HTH
As far as which is best for bottom dwellers, I don't think it's really too important. I personally like sand better. Food sits on the surface instead of getting lost beneath the gravel. My loaches and catfish also seem to have an easier time rooting around in the sand. The one thing you have to watch out for is that the sand grains are smooth and rounded. I've heard of loaches damaging their barbles on sharp sand grains. I'm not positive, but I seem to recall hearing that tahitian moon sand has pretty sharp grains.
HTH
how do you know?
i was thinking of changing to sand in one of my tanks but havent looked at sand in the stores yet.... can you tell without opening the bag first if the sand will be smooth or sharp grains??? does it say on the bags????
i was thinking of changing to sand in one of my tanks but havent looked at sand in the stores yet.... can you tell without opening the bag first if the sand will be smooth or sharp grains??? does it say on the bags????
I found another site where people who are using Tahitian Moon said it is great with their cory cats and botias, so I have ordered it. (The company -- Carib Sea -- had said it wasn't what I wanted, but didn't say why.) Most bags of sand are clear and you can look at the sand, but I'd recommend a magnifying glass for tiny grains.
you should beable to buy 100lb bag of pure white sand for under $10 from any shop that does alot of sandblasting, i got mine for $7, very soft, pure white and extremely clean, although a 100lb's is way too much its nice to have for when the old sand gets crappy lookn and just replace, for the price its stupid to buy at any retailer. just call around local shops and see if they'll sell you a bag
theres someplace else too where you can get it but i'd havet o ask my friend
oh also theres some other stuff that looks just like white sand but its actually very small plastic like pellets, i forget what its made of so not sure if its toxic or not but might be worth investigating cuz you can usually get it free at some construction sites, ive seen piles of them before and if you ask someone will likely give you some but be sure to find out what its made of and research if its toxic or not, i forget what it is
theres someplace else too where you can get it but i'd havet o ask my friend
oh also theres some other stuff that looks just like white sand but its actually very small plastic like pellets, i forget what its made of so not sure if its toxic or not but might be worth investigating cuz you can usually get it free at some construction sites, ive seen piles of them before and if you ask someone will likely give you some but be sure to find out what its made of and research if its toxic or not, i forget what it is
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Thanks, but I need black sand, so I have to pay the big prices. I'm getting Tahitian Moon because I found a site where people had good experiences with it and botias and corydoras, which is the main point of the sand. The dark color is necessary for reclusive fish to feel more comfortable and come out more. Or maybe you were writing to AnitaL76?
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i've heard several people complain about the coarsness of the tahitian moon sand but others i know rave about it. i've never used it my self. The big bags of black sand sold at hd and the like are sandblasting sand made from slag http://www.marcousa.com/blacklightning.html the stuff i have used (for sand blasting and bought at hd and menards) would have been way to course/rough for cories barbels.
I have tahitian moon in one of my tanks. It's really pretty stuff and makes the tank look great. It isn't "course" sand. It's fairly fine stuff, but the grains are rather angular, not soft round grains as you would find in the soft playsand. I don't have any fish that dig around in it too much-yet anyway. The jewels may get to digging pits whenever (cross my fingers) they spawn, but they have some growin up to do first.
If you are stuck on black sand, you may be a bit limited in your choices. But honestly, I don't think there will be a problem using tahitian moon for loaches and cats. MOST negative replies I have seen posted in other threads that mention botias injuring themselves on sharp grains have been "I heard somewhere" or "this guy I knew" type of responses, with little to support it. Before I get flamed, let me say that I don't feel that it CAN'T happen, just that there is not sufficent cause to say that it WILL.
My .02
Copper
If you are stuck on black sand, you may be a bit limited in your choices. But honestly, I don't think there will be a problem using tahitian moon for loaches and cats. MOST negative replies I have seen posted in other threads that mention botias injuring themselves on sharp grains have been "I heard somewhere" or "this guy I knew" type of responses, with little to support it. Before I get flamed, let me say that I don't feel that it CAN'T happen, just that there is not sufficent cause to say that it WILL.
My .02
Copper