Sand

[oopsy]

whats the best type for aquariums?playsand?silver sand?aquarium sand?do i have to wash it in hot water before putting in the tank?

 

[Jonty]

whats the best type for aquariums?playsand?silver sand?aquarium sand?do i have to wash it in hot water before putting in the tank?

My argos playsand looks great in my aquarium - make sure you wash it thoroughly first. I think silver sand is generally too sharp for fish like corries or plecs, and aquarium sand is very expensive.

 

[oopsy]

thanx how many bags do you think a 48x18 tank will need?

 

[Jonty]

thanx how many bags do you think a 48x18 tank will need?

Well my tank was 24x12 and used only a bit of the 15kg bag

Its about 3 quid if you collect in store and should easily cover that.

 

[oopsy]

thanx

 

[Murphee]

I found the best way to wash my sand was to put it in an old pillowcase and keep the water running through it with a hose or something, until it runs clear. I got asvised this by someone and i was more than happy with the outcome

 

[oopsy]

what a good idea.thanks for passing that on

 

[oliesminis]

i used argos playsand very impressed.

if you want to be sure there is no bacteria in it you can microwave the sand to kill it. then wash it in hot water

 

[OldMan47]

For a tank that is 48 inches by 18 inches, you probably want about 25 kilograms of sand or gravel to get a nice thick layer. If you don't expect to ever plant anything and just want a thin layer on the bottom you could get away with about 10 Kg to just cover the glass. All sand and gravel, whether from the pet shop or the home improvement center, will need to be very well washed or the dirt will form a cloudiness in your tank as soon as you add water.

 

[3ndl3r]

Argos play sand is solid stuff. Can't fault it. Give it a good rinse first though.