Pool filter sand as substrate? Pictures please!

[heyimeugene]

Hello~! I'm about to change from my gravel to sand and I heard the only sand I can use in my FW Tropical tank is Pool Filter Sand...

1.) What does it look like? Compared to other sands so to say... Any pics of people around here using pool filter sand?

2.) Taking out 20-30 lbs of gravel will be a long task for me Wish me luck


3.) Thanks

 

[jeffrey]

you can use playsand, jsut have to wash it better, you can also get sand at the lfs.

pool filter sand is a real washed out almost white color, fairly fine, but lighter then some other sands, so the current can move it more.

 

[Fish Buddy]

There must be a few grades of pool filter sand. I have a pool and the filter sand (size of unsharpened led pencil end) we use is course compaired to beech sand (size of salt grain). They look like little quartz crystals.

 

[Jen]

I used pool filter sand... its white with little black specks here and there.

I dont have a pic on this computer, but when i get home from work, ill post a pic. No fish though... i only just set up the tank last week.

 

[heyimeugene]

Thanks guys! And canoechiq I look forward to that picture!

 

[jeffrey]

Hmm, our sand is faily fine, and real soft. Its a few years old now though, maybe thats why.
cause if its sharpe I wouldnt use it. why khulis would hate sharpe sand.

 

[vantgE]

Pool filter is not the only useable type the lfs also has alot of sand and their is also something called silica sand availible, i used play sand for my tank

 

[Teelie]

My Pool Filter sand is a heavy grain that doesn't easily get moved around.

 

[heyimeugene]

OOOo nice pictures ..

 

[Fish Buddy]

and their is also something called silica sand availible,

I would never use silica sand as, if the fish eat it (cories/catfish/whatever) the silica can get lodged in their throat and it causes irritation (possibly die), or so I read.

as for the pool filter sand... I went to a pool shoppe to day and asked how much they sold their pool filter sand for. The man (was really wierd in behaviour) asked me why I needed sand (duh, dumb question...-sorry) I told him why and he said that that wouldn't be a good idea. Then he asked another associate (because she had an aquarium) and she said she would not put in her tank -no reason though. She asked where I heard I could do this- I mentioned this forum- and she went silent. Anyway- it doesn't concern her... The pool filter sand was 8.99 for 50 lbs.

 

[heyimeugene]

LoL shows what those pool store workers know .. I'm about to go get some after work and start on my daunting task of taking out gravel from a 29-USGAL.... gunna be a long night

 

[Teelie]

Trust me, pool filter sand is safe for aquariums. It's probably safer than it needs to be because normally it goes into pools used by humans and because of regulations and laws, the sand must be clean of any kind of dangerous toxins or pollutants not to mention lawsuits.

Play sand has to be clean too for children to use so it's also safe but IMO it's not as good and it's not meant to be put into water and will cloud far easier under normal circumstances.

 

[Jen]

Ok. here we go. I couldn't post here... so heres the link to the board where they are posted.

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...pic=43323&st=0&.

I have a 35 galon tank, and probably put about 45 lbs of sand in

Hope this answers your questions

 

[yhbae]

Here's another variation of the pool filter sand. This one is much darker than the white sands you have seen so far. Personally, I like this one better...

<http/www.anzwers.org/free/jbreeder/BPleco.jpg>

Notice the grain size, they are far larger than the regular sand. Power filter generated water current will not move these grains around the tank, but the grains are small enough that debree will not get trapped. I'd say PFS is the easiest substrate to maintain.

Oh, and I have tanks with large grains, PFS and play sand.

 

[Teelie]

That looks more like small gravel actually and I've never seen purple sand.