Sand

[markandjanice]

I am goin to use sand as my substrate. My question is this; is children's play sand safe? I have two large plastic containers and a high pressure powerwash which I will use to wash wash wash and wash some more.

I have found it in my local supermarket Tesco and catalogue store in Argos

I have a juwel vision 180 Aquarium which is 90x42cm I've been told to do it 1 to 1.5" deep

Any advice welcomed

 

[Salam]

Yes, it's fine to use. Just as you say, wash it like there is no tomorrow and you will be fine.

 

[markandjanice]

Thanks for that, I've got a good couple of hours so if I curve the boredum I should be fine haha, thanks

 

[markandjanice]

How much will I need? In KG for cover the tank?

 

[Akasha72]

Hi! I recently changed my Juwel Rekord 800 to sand. I got two bags of the 15kg play sand from Argos but I've only really needed one.
Obviously your Juwel is a bit bigger so I'd reckon two bags should do it

 

[Twinklecaz]

When you're certain it's clean - rinse it a couple more times!

 

[markandjanice]

Hi guys, spent a lovely TWO hours today cleanin it in the sunshine and am guna do another hour tmw doin it if its nice I was just sat on chair hose pipe in bucket so its no chore haha, thanks

Tips on fish to keep it clean was finkin panda citrus. I don't want anyfin huge as am only Gina keep rummys and cardinal and cherry barbs. Will 6 corys be enough or not???

Citrus Grrr predictive I ment corys

 

[markandjanice]

I've just bought coral sand wasn't happy how the play sand looked it goes very solid, so my boy can have this to play wiv, got good price on coral sand

 

[fluttermoth]

Coral sand isn't suitable for most fish though. It will raise your pH and hardness and is too sharp for bottom dwellers/substrate sifters

 

[Peter C]

Coral sand isn't suitable for most fish though. It will raise your pH and hardness and is too sharp for bottom dwellers/substrate sifters

i was gonna buy some of that aswell

for the heads up

went for moon sand instead

 

[markandjanice]

where i live my PH is quite soft, also the LFS said it shud be ok, im keepin rummys, cardinals, cherry barbs and as a bottom feeder i was lookin at keepin panda corys, seriously is this no good for them? they said it will be fine? its quite fine the coral sand i av

 

[MBOU]

Coral sand is definately a bad idea It will forever be raising the hardness which will drop every time you do water change and then raise over time and drop and raise and drop and... you get the idea... not good for more delicate fish that want soft water!

The only fish that do really well on coral sand is marines, african cichlids and maybe livebearers to an extent etc.

 

[markandjanice]

i'm going to be honest i'm very annoyed at my LFS now to the point i wont be buying my fish there if this is the case.

as i explained the fish i'll be keeping is it a case i'll need to buy a buffer? ive spent nearly £30 on this sand hence cant take it back etc plus to be honest if i did i might throw it all ova them so wudnt do me any good but also dont wana lost this money either.

will i be ok keeping those fish in there? i av asked bout and people say they do, if it means a litte more hard work from me this is ok i dont mind, i want to look after them properly ie: weekly water change, etc.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm sure you'll be able to sell on the coral sand; try putting an ad in our classified section, or there's a great site called Aquarist Classified, which is great for selling fish related bits and bobs.

You probably don't need a buffer. It is true that very soft water can lead to pH crashes, but if you do enough water changes that shouldn't happen.

Your stocking sounds fine for your tank, but the play sand will be much better for cories. It'll look much better once your tank is set up. I use it in nearly all my tanks.

 

[markandjanice]

I'm sure you'll be able to sell on the coral sand; try putting an ad in our classified section, or there's a great site called Aquarist Classified, which is great for selling fish related bits and bobs.

You probably don't need a buffer. It is true that very soft water can lead to pH crashes, but if you do enough water changes that shouldn't happen.

Your stocking sounds fine for your tank, but the play sand will be much better for cories. It'll look much better once your tank is set up. I use it in nearly all my tanks.

theres 20kg i live in a bit of a culd-a-sack to be honest mate selling it probly isnt an option coz it'll cost more to bloomin send!

so if/when my tank has cycled and my tap water is 7.6 will my tank sit at 7.6 or does a cycled tank find a settled ph? sorry if sounding thick here i am new to all this! all am thinking is if my tank sits at 6.6 and the sand make it rise to 7.0 can i not use a buffer to bring it back down to suit the fish?

i as told that play sand compacts and when mentioning this to my LFS they said the problem with play sand is you are not 100% sure what is in it! maybe just a ploy to sell more ie: coral...BUT!