Best Substrate Other Than Argos Play Sand? Problems With Mine

[emilythestrange]

To cut my long bothersome story short:
 
I have kept tropical livebearers for nearly 5 years (still using the original media). Not with much luck, feel like i know the basics, but they always get diseases, particularly ich, and it never goes away with meds, and once you think its gone it quickly returns. My lfs's are poor. which doesn't help and i have tried lots of other methods of getting home bred fish from people. I only keep males (love guppies and platys)
 
I am left now with one male guppy, 2 tetras (phasing out) and 1 cory... in a 110l juwel rekord. only about 6months old. I dont want to waste it. Its in my sig pic and has about 2inches of argos play sand in.
 
(ive used play sand before, when i had two tanks, and i wondered why everything died in the sand tank... now i have just one and converted it to sand when i brought the new tank). since then ive had big bad problems i cant get rid of. A stubborn disease which makes my fish listless, flick, rub, hang around filter etc then go skinnier and die. anything from a pet shop dies in 3 weeks 90% of the time.
 
What does anyone else use that looks natural, and pleasant like sand? and  doesnt release nasties in the water?
 
 
 
 
 

 

[CezzaXV]

There shouldn't be any nasties in Argos play sand, though 2 inches is probably quite excessive and may be causing bacterial buildups in areas of low oxygen which could be a problem for your fish when disturbed.

Since you only keep livebearers, you could go with gravel.

You did mention that fish from a pet shop die, and that your LFS are poor. Have you considered going further afield to obtain your fish? It might be that your local shop just gets bad stock. Might also be worth checking Aquarist Classifieds to see if anyone in your area has fish they want rid of. Livebearers breed so much, I'd be highly surprised if you couldn't find someone who could give you some.

 

[DrRob]

I have a play sand tank. No trouble at all. If you're keen on a low budget change I also have a cat litter tank for plants.

 

[emilythestrange]

I've travelled 40 miles to get endlers before, they didnt last very long. theres nothing wrong with my water stats etc, and i change 20% once a week.
 
I thought you needed more than an inch for plants?
 
I would like a few more cories too though, and i have two shrimps.
 
Would anyone recommend a brand of gravel/ different grain sand etc etc to look nice and be better for my fish and look nice with the wood

 

[carpking]

I switched from sand to Dorset Pea Gravel and have to say im glad i did its so much easier to clean and keep clean no compacting or anything like that i bought the small size so that my bottom feeders can still turn it over.

One thing though it needs a very good rinse and once you think you have rinsed it enough do it again.lol

 

[balajake]

Unipac aquarium sand is good. I had the same issues with play sand, it's disgusting stuff. Make sure you take through your sand every week, it's important.

 

[leighton_87]

This is what I used - it's much lighter than it looks in their pic - http/www.chemistdirect.co.uk/aquarium-sand_1_161021.html

I completely forgot to wash it and have never had any problems with water clouding etc.

Although I do doubt the argos sand is the problem as I know so many on here use it with success

 

[carpking]

If its silver sand your after our local travis perkins sell it for £4 for 25kg (BARGIN)

 

[raptorrex]

silver sand is very sharp, and not suited to many bottom dwelling fish.
one of its main uses is to grout outside paving stones, the sharp edges bite into one another and the concreat blocks!