Sand substrate, and the pros and cons

[Lund]

I am setting up a 110g. tall tank with a sand substrate. I chose washed, and sanitized play sand. The concerns I have are: How will the sand affect my filters, and has anyone had any troubles with mold growing on the sand?

I know that I need to disturb the sand every 2 weeks to a month inorder to prevent the sand from becoming anoxic. (please correct me if I'm wrong). Is there anything else that I should be aware of?

 

[rosita]

If you haven't placed the sand yet, just make sure you rinse it several times--I use playsand, find it inexpensive, almost white, and perfect for my sandspitters!!! Rinsed 5 times, I haven't had ANY clouding problems.

I actually layer it with crushed coral and a bit of gravel as I have Africans who love to move, excavate holes, etc. You don't need a heavy layer--my mixed substrate is sort of 1-2 inches, depending on where they're piling. You'd be best with 1/2 to 1 inch. If you want plants, you can put in an initial layer of something like EcoComplete so you have something the plant roots can anchor in, and provide a more nutritive layer.

As far as anaerobic pockets, I just vacuum when I do my water changes, holding the tube at an angle so I can swirl up then let fall the sand. And so far, knock on wood, no problems with filter/impellor. Just unplug before a water change. And no mold at all--?? Hadn't heard of that one. No algae problems, but I vac the poop/uneaten food/plant matter out every 5 or so days, if not more often.

BTW, love the photo of your ghost. How big is it? Mine's just a babe, 6".

 

[Lund]

My ghost is 10-12" it always hides and is diffucult to get a real measurment on. It has however gotten longer than the 9" fake log it hides in. The picture isn't actually mine. I'm still trying to capture the elusive bugger on film. As soon as I do, I'll be replacing the avatar with my own ghost.

 

[Ghost_knife]

good luck, the bigger they are the more they will hide. My female never leaves under the driftwood..ever

 

[draobmiks]

i have pool filter sand in all of my tanks. loaches, convicts...... they love this stuff. you can find it at home depot for like $10 for 30lbs. its small enough that all fish can sift through ideal for burrowers (loaches) but also dense enough to sink to the bottom so that it'll not ruin the filter.