Second Tank

[Rynofasho]

+1 sand. Gravel needs to be dug down in to vac and some detritus will inevitably stay down there. It stays on top with sand, plus Corys, plus plants, etc.

 

[Crazycat lady]

although silly me spent aggges trying to rinse it, then read the bag which said "aquarium sand - no need to rinse"

 

[fluttermoth]

Better to be safe than sorry! Nothing worse than filling a tank with so-called 'pre washed' substrate and then having thw whole tank look like milkshake for the next week

Love your new tank btw; very unusual

 

[laxzilla123]

As far as sand goes can you use any sand for example sandbox sand or something you go to a beach to get?

 

[fluttermoth]

I assume by 'sandbox sand' you mean playsand? (I'm in th UK, lol) If so, yes, it's perfectly safe, as long as it's well washed. It's very cheap, so I wouldn't risk collecting it myself from the beach; apart from the salt you wouldn't know what other pollutants might be lurking in there.

I don't know exactly what it would be in dollars, but I paid appoximately $4 for enough sand (two 15kg bags) to do two 48"x15" tanks, plus half a 36"X12" (although I did use some gravel for the plants, just to hold them down!). You don't need a thick layer.

 

[This Old Spouse]

50 lbs of Play Sand at Home Depot for $2.98. Can't beat it!!

 

[laxzilla123]

Alright thanks. Yea i was talking about play sand. Also does anyone know if sand is more taxing on your filter, that's what I've herd. I have a pretty small tank/ filter so if i were to switch to sand i think i would need a bigger filter.

 

[fluttermoth]

No, you don't need a bigger filter. I suppose more filter power might help by giving more circulation and 'swooshing' the mulm towards the filter inlet, but it's not needed as such. I certainly haven't upgraded filters since changing to sand in any of my tanks.

Just make sure you switch your filter off before doing water changes or re-planting so any kicked up sand doesn't get sucked into the actual filter; sand in the impellor chamber would be a bad idea!

 

[Crazycat lady]

Better to be safe than sorry! Nothing worse than filling a tank with so-called 'pre washed' substrate and then having thw whole tank look like milkshake for the next week

Love your new tank btw; very unusual

thankyou i got the sand coz it will go with my room once its decorated i also heard that fishies are happier with a darker substrate (no idea where i heard that, may have dreamed it)

it is currently housing 3 endliers and ickle fry(mollies and gupps) once they are big enough not to be eaten by full grown mollies they are moving house to my mums

 

[Rynofasho]

Just make sure you switch your filter off before doing water changes or re-planting so any kicked up sand doesn't get sucked into the actual filter; sand in the impellor chamber would be a bad idea!

Perfect.

 

[Crazycat lady]

Just make sure you switch your filter off before doing water changes or re-planting so any kicked up sand doesn't get sucked into the actual filter; sand in the impellor chamber would be a bad idea!

thankyou for that one. never even thought about it!