Sand Type?

[fish mad]

This may be a silly question but what type of sand as there are so many as i know when we had the builders in lol

 

[bogwood]

Silica sand is excellent as a substrate... try an inch or so over a gravel/Laterite mix... ideal if you are going with real plants...

 

[fish mad]

Silica sand is excellent as a substrate... try an inch or so over a gravel/Laterite mix... ideal if you are going with real plants...

thanks for your reply i wanted to keep my original gravel for my new tank (for bacteria ect) and i just wanted a new look on top and silica sand sounds perfect

 

[Ami]

You can also use pool sand or play sand in your tank. Both are suitable and can be used over gravel. Play sand is cheap and you just need to rinse it until the water goes clear before using it.

All sand and gravel will eventually mix a bit due to fish burrowing and your own maintenance routines, so you may prefer to go straight to sand.

 

[bogwood]

All sand and gravel will eventually mix a bit due to fish burrowing and your own maintenance routines, so you may prefer to go straight to sand.

looks nice and natural though... If the gravel becomes too exposed for your liking, just dump a little more sand in... I find the best way is to fill a small plastic bag with 'wet' sand (use a little tank water), cut the corner off and twist the top tight (cake icing stylee)... this allows you to get the sand to the bottom without it all 'wafting' up into the water... just squeeze the bag and out it comes... directly where you want it...