sand for substrate

[scott]

i just wanted to hear some thoughts on the use of play sand or filter sand as substrate instead of the traditional stuff sold at the fish stores. the lfs' in my area only seem to have white, black or crazy colors like red and purple. i normally use white sand or very fine natural color gravel. i was thinking that natural colored sand would make a nice substrate.

[_BaDgUy_]

I've been using play sand exclusively for the past few years.

Never changed the water parameters, fish love it, it's natural looking.

Onbly problem, it's a PITA to rinse out the first time... so much dust in the stuff!! But once it's fully rinsed out, it's great.

[depthc]

I use pool filter sand. Its a very light color and looks great, very natural. It also was easy to rinse for me, there must not have been that many dust particles ... so yeah i think sand is the way to go try it out.

Andrew

[Cichlid Junkie]

Pool filter sand is also much more uniform in size and shape compared to play sand. IMHO, it looks nicer.

[farm41]

Another option is sand for a sand blaster, it is sold in several grit sizes.

[_BaDgUy_]

Another option is sand for a sand blaster, it is sold in several grit sizes.

Yes, that's good also. Not much dust in there usually.
But you have to make sure it is sand. At the shop where I work, we have steel and glass beads as "sand" for the sand blasters.

[The Pack]

Doesn't the play sand get into the filter impeller and do damage ?

[_BaDgUy_]

Doesn't the play sand get into the filter impeller and do damage ?

If it's rinsed properly right off the start, it won't go in the impeller.

[Cichlid Junkie]

Make sure you raise your filter intake tube to about 2" off the top of the sand. A pre-filter can help prevent sand in the impeller as well.

[depthc]

Make sure you raise your filter intake tube to about 2" off the top of the sand. A pre-filter can help prevent sand in the impeller as well.

Thats a great idea. If your doing water changes or whatever and you kick up some sand it may be best to turn it off during the water change to avoid any impellar damage due to the sand particles being sucked up.

cichlid junkie - what are you using as a prefilter? Ive been using ends of spandex or whatever you wanna call it. Ive thought of switching over to a sponge recently ...

Andrew

[farm41]

Here's what I use, scroll down til it says prefilters.


http://www.jehmco.com/PRODUCTS_/FILTRATION/Hydro-Sponge_Filters/hydro-sponge_filters.html

[Cichlid Junkie]

I use a sponge filter that I got out of a discounted bin. I don't know who makes it.

[geo32100]

Is there a trick to cleaning the sand, my local lfs demonstrated doing it with a net with holes wide enough to let sand fall through and keep detritus in. As of yet I dont quite have the nknack for it. I seem to bury more than I remove.
Which leads to alot of sifting. Any pointers.


Thanks
Geo

[fishgeek]

i just vacumn above it , dont bother digging around unless you have it particularly deep

i use always silica sand which is quite light , when it first goes into the water surface tension is enough to hold it up

i never find i get anaerobic pockets, then i do hvae cories in lots of tanks turning things over

if your worried about syphoning it up put the end of syphon hose in a bucket and then juat let bucket overflow to drain, most sand will be left in bottom of bucket and can be rinsed and returned to tank

andrew

[Richgrenfell]

I uaually just siphon above the sand as well. Once a month, I move things around, stir it up and run a diatom. Once I do that a few times, I notice less build up under the rocks and wood and stuff.

Rich