Playsand Ok As Substrate?

[PDX]

Could anyone please tell me if this playsand available from argos is safe to use in aquariums, i am getting two tanks one to house a breeding pair or firemouths and the other a breeding pair of convict cichlids...

http/www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3652620.htm

Is this suitable?

 

[CFC]

Yes argos playsand is fine. Just wash it really well first as it is quite dusty.

 

[PDX]

Yes argos playsand is fine. Just wash it really well first as it is quite dusty.

Thanks solves my problem of getting to a LFS this week as argos is much nearer and the sand is cheap!

Would i need more than one bag to fill two approx 2ft tanks maybe nearer 3ft.

 

[Phoenixfish]

this may sound alittle stupid but hpw do u wash sand do you put it in the bottom of a bowl and then slowly pour in water so not to desturb it at the bottom or what? cuz id end up loosing most of it

 

[PDX]

this may sound alittle stupid but hpw do u wash sand do you put it in the bottom of a bowl and then slowly pour in water so not to desturb it at the bottom or what? cuz id end up loosing most of it

Glad you asked this i was just going to say the same thing, it's not as if you could use a seive or anything...

 

[CFC]

Put the sand into a large bucket then with a hose running swish the sand about with your hand allowing the dust to be carried away by the water flowing over the rim of the bucket, when the water is clear the sand is clean. If you have a lot of sand just do it a bit at a time.

 

[Phoenixfish]

could you not use a grav vac? like if you were cleaninig out the old food etc in a tank? but then it have to be a very thin layer hmm...

 

[Squid]

I use that sand too.. and did what CFC said, so can vouch for that advice.. it doesnt take long.. just swirl it about a bit, and make sure you leave some sand in the bath for the next person that wants one..

Squid

 

[Jules H-T]

You will find that cleaning lots of little loads is a hell of a lot quicker than fewer large ones.

 

[Phoenixfish]

id think you would loose more too if you did large goes

 

[BigIan]

i used almost 40 kg to put a nice layer of sand across the bottom of my 4 ft tank...


and washing it is simple... just do as above..

I found that B&Q was better value on play sand

 

[Phoenixfish]

well im trying to convince my mum to let me buy the fluval duo deep 800, ive got most the cash just not the permisson but she has agreed to go to the local sometime soon and i want sand in that cuz of the numbers of corys i want lol
but i havnet worked out how much ill need just another thing to work out

 

[Spiceweasel69]

i put this sand in my tank last weekend. Filled bucket with half water half sand, and swooshed it all about and after about 30 secs empty out water. repeat 6 times - i found this optimum.

Im gonna change back to gravel and UGF run by an eheim as i cant maintain sand - it gets dirty really quick and i dont have alot of time. Changing back this weekend

 

[Phoenixfish]

..is that you level of matance or is sand just difficult..?
because im still a noob

 

[Spiceweasel69]

with sand you will need to hoover it every day. it looks ice and bright, but gettin back at 7pm evert night, i just dont have it as a priority.

I HAD my eheim 2028 set up with the intake powering an undergravel filter. It was ultimate low maintanence. Just hoover once a week and thats it.