Sand Substrate

if you're really cheap, playsand is fine.

5 dollars for 50 lbs of sand shouldn't hurt any keeper's wallet. It looks great with a brownish substrate.

The one thing that turned me off from pool filter sand is it's color. A pure white floor didn't look too natural to me. Having some different colors of brown looks really good underwater
 
spacefish34 said:
actual sand as a substrate is quite messy and in my experience,more trouble than its worth.it is tedious to prepare,never quite goes where you want it,and is constantly getting kicked up with even the slightest disturbance.it also tends to compact in areas which can make dead spots in the substrate.i would go with the smallest grain gravel you can find.there are a few products that look like sand without its drawbacks.good luck.
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I tend to disagree with pretty much all of that statement

Sand can be kind of a pain to prepare.. but once in the tank it is beautiful, great for plants, and surprisingly low maintenence

maybe your putting too much thought into it? lol

a weekly gravel vac 1 inch above the sand and it gets all teh debree... then I gently stir it with a chopstick and its good to go.


as far as type.. aragonite is best but its expensive

if your going cheap.. go pool filter

playsand is horrid diry stuff and its not as attractive
 
ah,choice.what makes fishkeeping the greatest.true,junkie,sand does have its own appeal.however,it tends to make me think marine.take it easy...
 
Pool filter sand is available at any pool supply place for ~$8/bag. It has larger more uniform grains than play sand and it does not compact like play sand - you couldn't make a sand castle with it. It's also pretty clean already and requires minimal rinsing. I have various low light plants growing in it too.

I've tried both, I no longer use play sand. All my tanks are pool filter sand, natural gravel or a mix of the two.

If, like me, you don't have a pool, you may be surprised how many pool supply places are nearby.
 
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Pool filter sand by a landslide. Cheap($7-$10/50 lbs.), easier to clean because the grain size is regulated so less fine particles, and natural looking. I don't know what the fuss is about it getting kicked up. I've got it in with 38 mbuna and even when they do their thing with it, it falls right back to the bottom.
 
I would also be wary of Tahitian Moon Sand if you have any burrowing fish. Loaches, corries, anything that roots through the sand can be injured by this product. It is a glass by-product and therefor is very sharp. I personally use playsand in my tanks as it is cheap, and the slight color differences make for a nice natural look. Mine is capped over a couple inches of potting soil for my plants and has worked out well. Rescaping can kick up some junk but I try to keep my python nearby to suck up the soil as I uproot things. I've heard fine filter floss run for a couple days can help with the initial cloudieness but I've never had to use it. No pump issues after a year with HOB filters. Some use a sponge pre-filter if they have burrowing fish and a low lying intake. I have both gravel and sand and I think I prefer the sand for asthetics. Just my 2 cents.
 
Thanks so much for all the reply! I'm really thinking just getting Pool Filter Sand. Would they have that at Home Depot? And what kind? There is a pool supply store nearby that I can ask my parents to drive me too.
 
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