Sand Substrate Possible?

[fishmad135]

Hi im setting up a 40 litre fish tank for my betta.

I am wanting to use a white sand substrate but my filter is an under substrate filter. Are there anyways i can use sand or is it impossible???

Also if it is not possible what substrate would work best aswell as look great!?!?!

thanks Immie

aged 14

 

[fishmad135]

Any ideas??

 

[Truck]

no not really...it wont let much water through, so filtration will be poor

 

[mattlee]

agree with truck, sand doesnt really work on under substrate filters as it gets compact and therefor water doesnt filter very good. you would be better off using gravel, not sure how fine gravel you could get away with but i guess too fine and the same probs might happen as with sand.....
there are some nice gravels available alternatively change the filter to an internal type, they dont cost too much but i guess at 14 everything costs too much.......lol if its only a small tank? then you could pick one up really cheap or even get a used one from the classified section on here if you really want sand

 

[OldMan47]

You would need to add a layer capable of having the sand not fall through on top of the filter grid and below the sand. A fine fiberglass window screen material might work. Once you have that fine layer on top the filter plate, you would need to keep the sand layer thin enough to allow good water flow while still being thick enough to act as the main filter element. If you can accomplish this balancing act, a UGF will work fine with sand.