Sand

[sparky_555]

I've recently bought a new tank and want to use sand for a change. I've heard people say that play sand is good or builders sand is good. But which is the best/ easiset one to clean?

Thanks

 

[BigIan]

see if you can find some silicate sand. or pool filter sand,,, its heavier than normal sand so is easyer to clean

 

[cooky]

i got my sand at tescos kids play sand just needs a little wash and its fine its around £1 odd for 10KG

i put 3 bags in my 33g tank its 31" long x15" wide it has given me a nice depth for planting into

 

[The-Wolf]

don't use builders sand, it has caulking agents and other chemicals to help it bond to cement.

the best sand, IMHO, is pool filter sand but many use play sand as it is cheap.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I used play sand, it looks really good. For washing, I filled a 5g bucket with sand and put it in my bathtub. I turned the water on full blast and ran it over the bucket for about 10 minutes... That's all I did. My water took about a day and a half to clear. But I also removed my UGF so that may have made it take longer.

 

[thegnu]

i used sillica sand from my local garden centre for my 3 36"X12"X12" breeding tanks

 

[Azaezl]

I used Tesco play sand, only used 1 and a half bags on my 48x16 and there's a good inch depth. I filled a 10L bucket halfway with sand, filled it so the water was near the top, swirled the sand around then emptied the water, repeated a few times, I got like a foam of sand on top of the water which I scooped out. I think I washed / removed the foamy stuff about 4 times before putting it in the tank. Then once I'd put it all in I put a plastic tray on top of the sand and slowly poured the water in. It was a tiny bit cloudy(only noticeable if up against the glass) but by the end of the night it was totally clear. Did the same with my 24x12 cory tank which took about half a bag of sand and I'm thinking of doing my other 2 tanks in it as well because I think the sand looks so much better.

 

[AndyOleszczuk]

I used silica sand from my lfs. It was only £10 for a 25kg bag.

 

[fish-r-fancy]

I also use pool filter sand. To wish it I just pour the bag/s into a pillow case outside and clean it with the hose. It works really well and I don't lose any sand using this cleaning method

 

[TammyLiz]

I used a bag of sand from the hardware store the first time I tried sand and it was miserable--hours of work went into rinsing it. Last time I went ahead and bought pool filter sand from a pool supply store and the difference was amazing. I gave it a little swish in a bucket, added it to the tank, poured in the water, and all was crystal clear. I like the color, too. Not quite as bright white as play sand, and since it isn't as fine I'm not as worried about it getting compressed and gasses forming.

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

I used a bag of sand from the hardware store the first time I tried sand and it was miserable--hours of work went into rinsing it. Last time I went ahead and bought pool filter sand from a pool supply store and the difference was amazing. I gave it a little swish in a bucket, added it to the tank, poured in the water, and all was crystal clear. I like the color, too. Not quite as bright white as play sand, and since it isn't as fine I'm not as worried about it getting compressed and gasses forming.

i have used builders sand purely because i couldn't find no play sand the night i went to buy it.

how ever my sand is fine my water went clear pretty quickly and i washed it before i put it into the tank...

but next time i'm gonna get play sand