Its Gonna Get Sandy In Here...

[poopsydrew]

Hey all,
I am extremely hooked on the hobby and am about to receive a 50 gallon tank. I want to add sand because i think it looks much better than gravel and i will probably have some bottom feeders. Few questions
A.This is so dumb but its ok to have sand in a freshwater tank right?
B. what kind of sand should i use?
C. Do i need to use anything else?
D.Will sand do well with plants?

I appreciate any input and forgive me for my silly questions i am newbie still trying to learn it all. thanks

 

[*Fishkies*]

Take a look at this ARTICLE here and see if you find all your answers. I know it was of great use to me.

 

[loachman]

Sand is fine. Unless you're keeping Malawi cichlids, you probably want an inert sand.

Play sand, pool filter sand, etc all work fine for most fish. Just wash it before putting it in the aquarium

 

[Underwurlde]

As for sand with regards to plants, it is utterly useless i'm afraid.

But then again, if you EI dose, have good lights, injected CO2 and tons of plants this does not matter. If you have the cash n' kit to do this and don't mind the maintenance then great. If not, then you'll have to put something better under the sand for the plants.

Andy

 

[loachman]

As for sand with regards to plants, it is utterly useless i'm afraid.

But then again, if you EI dose, have good lights, injected CO2 and tons of plants this does not matter. If you have the cash n' kit to do this and don't mind the maintenance then great. If not, then you'll have to put something better under the sand for the plants.

Andy

Well, sand will do at least as well as gravel. Niether of them provide any nutrients for plants.

With either substrate, you need to add some sort of nutrients for the plants whether it's a nutrient rich substrate additive/layer or water column dosing.

 

[poopsydrew]

As for sand with regards to plants, it is utterly useless i'm afraid.

But then again, if you EI dose, have good lights, injected CO2 and tons of plants this does not matter. If you have the cash n' kit to do this and don't mind the maintenance then great. If not, then you'll have to put something better under the sand for the plants.

Andy

Well, sand will do at least as well as gravel. Niether of them provide any nutrients for plants.

With either substrate, you need to add some sort of nutrients for the plants whether it's a nutrient rich substrate additive/layer or water column dosing.

I really appreciate your guys help and advice

 

[poopsydrew]

As for sand with regards to plants, it is utterly useless i'm afraid.

But then again, if you EI dose, have good lights, injected CO2 and tons of plants this does not matter. If you have the cash n' kit to do this and don't mind the maintenance then great. If not, then you'll have to put something better under the sand for the plants.

Andy

Well, sand will do at least as well as gravel. Niether of them provide any nutrients for plants.

With either substrate, you need to add some sort of nutrients for the plants whether it's a nutrient rich substrate additive/layer or water column dosing.

I really appreciate your guys help and advice

Oh by the way i dont know if anyone is still looking at this but what is water column dosing? how would i go about adding nutrients to my substrate? If your reading this please help....

 

[Underwurlde]

You pour the stuff plants need into the water i.e. you 'dose' the water column.
e.g. products such as Tropica Master Grow (TMG), SeaChem Flourish, etc or pour the actual raw dry chemicals in themselves...

Apart from ripping your tank apart to replace your substrate, ferts may be added to it by poking root tabs into the substrate where they're needed.

Andy

 

[poopsydrew]

You pour the stuff plants need into the water i.e. you 'dose' the water column.
e.g. products such as Tropica Master Grow (TMG), SeaChem Flourish, etc or pour the actual raw dry chemicals in themselves...

Apart from ripping your tank apart to replace your substrate, ferts may be added to it by poking root tabs into the substrate where they're needed.

Andy

Andy,
Thanks for actually getting back to me. you have been extremely helpful and patient with me. I have heard of the fertilizier tab, maybe when i set up my tank i will just put some under the plants...The water column dosing sounds pretty simple too...thanks for your help i plan on adding you as my friend!

 

[tlef316]

does this water dosing really work? Im also planning on starting a tank soon (75 gallon freshwater) and am thinking of doing a combination of artificial and low-light plants. (probably some java fern) I dont have the inclination to do a fully planted tank, but i wanted to try out a few really easy ones that dont require special light or Co2 injection.

If i wanted to do sand, would low-light plants still do ok with either water dosing or fertilizer tabs? If not, i may just go all artificial plants. Thanks for any help.

 

[Underwurlde]

does this water dosing really work?

Oh boy does it! And that's the understatement of the year.

Look up 'Estimative Index'.

Direct dosing of ferts into the water column is the most efficent was for plants to get their essential nutrients i.e. through their leaves and hence right where they're needed.

If i wanted to do sand, would low-light plants still do ok with either water dosing or fertilizer tabs?

In a nutshell, yes.

Andy