Sand and Plants.

[Dakota Ice]

Hey all, it's been a while since I've shown my face around here. I doubt anyone remembers me, but I'll continue on anyways..

I am re-doing my 20 gallon. I'm taking out the gravel, and adding fine, white sand. Does anyone know any good sand I should use and where to get it? It needs to be very white or light tan, and fine. Any links on the process of switching would be nice, aswell. However, it won't be much of a problem if I don't find one anyways because there are no fish in the tank currently to worry about.

I'd also like keep the plant level low. I have a 15 watt light over a 20 gallon, and that pretty much kills all hopes of a planted tank. I want white sand, with lots of bogwood, and one or two plants here and there. I hope some of you can envision that..

So does anyone have any plant suggestions that would do well in these conditions? ..Or any help on the sand situation? My mother and I are going out tomarrow to get what we need.

x3 Dakota.

 

[Dakota Ice]

Meep.. no one can help?

 

[FishSticks]

I have pool filter sand in my 55 gallon planted aquarium. It's fine and looks like the white sand of some exotic island. Many people can't find "Pool Filter Sand" because it's not sold as that, it says something like: 100% Quarts Crystal or Silica Sand. I'm not familiar w/ Tennessee so I don't know if you have Ace Hardware around there? That's where I bought 100.lbs of sand for like $15.

To tell you the truth I kinda regret using white sand because the sand gets dirty real quick and looks bad, that's why I'm now stuffing my tank with plants until you can no longer see sand and they're growing great in the sand too. Just my personal experience.

 

[Dakota Ice]

THANK YOU FOR REPLYING!!

Yeah, I've heard it takes a lot to keep it clean. I'm willing to do that.. I just love the exotic island sand look. With the nice deep touch of green from a nana plant or some other anubis the tank would look great.

Do you think Home Depo would have something like that?

 

[gaya]

I have white sound and had an out break of algae and now there's a ton algae sitting on the sand, along with poo. It doesn't look good. I've had problems with plants and sand. They don't seem to grow well but I've never put a root tab in there so maybe that's the problem. Banana plants seem to do well and the free floating ones are thriving. My whisteria has sand all over it.

 

[FishSticks]

Yeah, pain in the neck to clean poopie and algae of the sand in my 55 gallon My Anubia Nana's look great in the white sand though, good idea Home Depot is like 10x bigger than Ace Hardware, so I'm pretty sure they will carry it. Poke a little whole in it b4 buying it just to make sure your getting what you want, tee hee I never knew there was like 30 different type of sands sold in stores until I searched for mine.

 

[Dakota Ice]

Hmm.. I'm going to be careful about algae. I've had algae issues before. Why don't you just suck up the poo and algae next time you clean with a gravel vac? Does that not work? (( If not, someone tell me how to clean sand! ))

 

[Dakota Ice]

Yeah, pain in the neck to clean poopie and algae of the sand in my 55 gallon My Anubia Nana's look great in the white sand though, good idea Home Depot is like 10x bigger than Ace Hardware, so I'm pretty sure they will carry it. Poke a little whole in it b4 buying it just to make sure your getting what you want, tee hee I never knew there was like 30 different type of sands sold in stores until I searched for mine.

I also plan to keep the livestock light. Just 10 or so fancy guppies. I know the aquascape is more suited for something like cichlids, but I just love guppies. I don't believe they are pooping machines and they don't get very big either.

 

[FishSticks]

You really don't know what your getting yourself into, but if you feel like you can handle it go for it You see what happens is that the grains of sand stick to the poopie and algae creating ugly clumps that are too heavy for a gravel vac! I usually run my net through the sand to get all those clumps, it doesn't really help much.

 

[Dakota Ice]

You really don't know what your getting yourself into, but if you feel like you can handle it go for it You see what happens is that the grains of sand stick to the poopie and algae creating ugly clumps that are too heavy for a gravel vac! I usually run my net through the sand to get all those clumps, it doesn't really help much.

Lol, you are kind of scaring me here Fishsticks. Do you think guppies will create the same havoc you seem to be having with poopie and algae?

 

[FishSticks]

Well algae problems depend on your lighting and excess nutrients in your water. And Guppies are one of the few fish I haven't kept ) Sorry, hope someone else can help you with that one.

 

[Jen]

I too have pool filter sand Heres a link to a picture of it. It used to look very white, but has gotten 'dirty' and now is a nice neutral beige/tan colour.

As for plants. I had .57 wpg (that was a 20w bulb on a 35g) on my tank and had a good bit of sucess with my amazon sword. It really started to grow when I upped it to 1.75. I also grew some hygro polysperma that grew fast, but got leggy fast, so you might have more luck with that in your tank, since you have more light. I suggest finding a fish store that you feel is reputable that has lots of plants and ask a few of the employees what they thing will work. Thats's hat I did, and found a guy who really knows plants.

Cleaning is a breeze. Yes you can see the poo on the top of the sand, but that makes is easier for cleaning. you just hover your syphon above the surface, how high above depends on the strength of the syphon, and you slowly make circles to create a poo sucking tornado. I don't know what guppy poop looks like, but my platties and barbs leave little 'c'shaped coils, and short sticks (cylendrical shaped). And the pool sand is heavy and packs down, and it doesnt stick to the poo at all.

 

[Dakota Ice]

Nice tank!

Well, guys, you answered all my questions. Thank you very much!

Expect me back in a few days with pictures.

 

[gwlee7]

Home Depot does in fact carry Pool Filter Sand. The brand I got from there is called Lighthouse Pool Filter Sand and it cost like $5.99 U.S. for a 50lb. bag. It did not cloud at all and is heavy enough to clean like regular gravel.

 

[reddeerhobbiest]

i have a sand bottom 20 gallon. i used playground sand bought at home depot. just use your gravel vacuum in a swirly motion, that will lift the dirt off of the sand. i havent had a real problem with it and its been over a year.