Sand A Good Idea?

[TropicalLad21]

Playsand defo the way forward... just added sand to my new 160l tank, looks much better then gravel.

 

[fishguy2727]

Cheap sand is a cheapo sand not made for aquariums. It works well enough almost all the time, but I personally hate the color, that alone is enough for me to not use it. It is also not very uniform in size. From what I have heard if you are going to cheap out the best option is pool filter sand, not play sand. It is a lot more uniform.

IME all the problems people frequently blame on sand have everything to do with the type of sand, not sand in general. The sand I recommended is very uniform and large enough to allow oxygen to get to the whole sand bad.

You don't need 3" of sand for plants. Not that they will mind it, but it is far from needed IME.

 

[mike455555]

Cheap sand is a cheapo sand not made for aquariums. It works well enough almost all the time, but I personally hate the color, that alone is enough for me to not use it. It is also not very uniform in size. From what I have heard if you are going to cheap out the best option is pool filter sand, not play sand. It is a lot more uniform.

IME all the problems people frequently blame on sand have everything to do with the type of sand, not sand in general. The sand I recommended is very uniform and large enough to allow oxygen to get to the whole sand bad.

You don't need 3" of sand for plants. Not that they will mind it, but it is far from needed IME.

but as long as you wash the sand your getting rid of most of the lighter partials ... and making it more uniform. or at least to an extent that its tank safe (why we wash the sand well and take time over it)

 

[Zikofski]

Cheap sand is a cheapo sand not made for aquariums. It works well enough almost all the time, but I personally hate the color, that alone is enough for me to not use it. It is also not very uniform in size. From what I have heard if you are going to cheap out the best option is pool filter sand, not play sand. It is a lot more uniform.

IME all the problems people frequently blame on sand have everything to do with the type of sand, not sand in general. The sand I recommended is very uniform and large enough to allow oxygen to get to the whole sand bad.

You don't need 3" of sand for plants. Not that they will mind it, but it is far from needed IME.

okay thank you , i shall look at both types of sand and see which looks best i will be going for natural coloured sand not the coloured unfortunately lol other half controls that :'( okay 3" okay at moment our gravel is at 1" to 1.5" at the max in places without plants but thats just enough to anchor the fake plants we got in there so i may go for a safe 2"

but i shall get enough sand to cover up to 3" if need be as spare

 

[Dieses Madchen]

My sand is uniform for the most parts, and the bits that are a little bigger than the others only provide for a more natural look IMO. Sand in the river or lakes is far from uniform.

 

[mike455555]

My sand is uniform for the most parts, and the bits that are a little bigger than the others only provide for a more natural look IMO. Sand in the river or lakes is far from uniform.

+1

i said 3 inches as i thought that i saw it on the planted section somewhere... i could be wrong...

 

[Zikofski]

My sand is uniform for the most parts, and the bits that are a little bigger than the others only provide for a more natural look IMO. Sand in the river or lakes is far from uniform.

true altho I've never looked under a river XD

mike i read your journal and nice tank one question the substrate you put under the sand if we where decide to get plants n say 6 months time is it best to add the substrate you put in now? or would it be best to do it later i was looking at a low tech setup if possible

 

[mike455555]

depends on your plants... id say no... cat litter and stuff is all right but if it go's wrong you have more trouble...

you dont need substrate to grow plants,(i dont think,someone will correct me if im wrong)only to root them. instead you can just dose the water collum with chemicals. that will do the job (once again it depends on your plants,also your light weather or not you need to do this)...

if your going for a low tech set up you could still dose the water collum. to be honest the fish should provide for the plants in a lowtech (maybe they will need occasional dosing) *people correct me if im wrong*

and thanks =D... its got cloudy water at the moment and no fish in it... stocking it soon i hope tho =D

 

[Zikofski]

depends on your plants... id say no... cat litter and stuff is all right but if it go's wrong you have more trouble...

you dont need substrate to grow plants,(i dont think,someone will correct me if im wrong)only to root them. instead you can just dose the water collum with chemicals. that will do the job (once again it depends on your plants,also your light weather or not you need to do this)...

if your going for a low tech set up you could still dose the water collum. to be honest the fish should provide for the plants in a lowtech (maybe they will need occasional dosing) *people correct me if im wrong*

and thanks =D... its got cloudy water at the moment and no fish in it... stocking it soon i hope tho =D

wikid ye my lighting I'm getting at moment will be 2x 54w T5 not sure on what tubes to get any recommendations would be gd but would this be okay for a low tech? and i also have an LED blue strip for night viewing, i highly recommend them it creates an amazing view

okay i shall avoid the extra substrate then i probably just screw it up some how XD

nice i shall keep an eye on your journal looking forward to see how it develops

 

[mike455555]

thanks and yer avoid for now...
6 months down the line alot can change... iv only been in the hobby a year ;p you can allways add substrate later if you want to

2x54w t5... what size is the tank?

 

[Zikofski]

thanks and yer avoid for now...
6 months down the line alot can change... iv only been in the hobby a year ;p you can allways add substrate later if you want to

2x54w t5... what size is the tank?

tank will be 54" x 19" and either 20 or 25" tall

 

[mike455555]

so how many G?

 

[Zikofski]

so how many G?

sorry,

20" tall
73G UK 88G US 336L

25" tall
92G UK 111G US 420L

is that what you was on about i think i worked out 0.3W/L if my calculations are correct pls correct me if I'm wrong that was for the 20" tank

 

[mike455555]

you got 1.2wpg give or take... so its probably going to be a medium light setup.. low to medium

 

[Zikofski]

you got 1.2wpg give or take... so its probably going to be a medium light setup.. low to medium

aah okay kl sorry I'm a newbie dose that mean if i wanted plants i will need CO2 injection? was looking at it the other week but i thought il w8 a few months before i dive into that side