Should I Use Sand?

[Tetraking]

Hi all,

my latest tank (96litre) has been up and running for about 4 months now and i intend to get lots of plants (have not got any at the moment,don't ask ). I only have fine gravel but have always liked the look of sand, however i have never used it before and am in need of advice.

Is it hard to maintain, how do i maintain it?

Is it good for plants?

Do i need to mix it with anything?

You get the idea, any info would be great.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Hi all,

my latest tank (96litre) has been up and running for about 4 months now and i intend to get lots of plants (have not got any at the moment,don't ask ). I only have fine gravel but have always liked the look of sand, however i have never used it before and am in need of advice.

Is it hard to maintain, how do i maintain it? Easier then gravel imo, just gravel vac with the vac end aimed slight above the sand so it sucks up the gank not the sand (take the big nossel off the gravel vac so its just the piping)

Is it good for plants? Im not sure it gives any nutrients to the plant, but I hear they root better in it

Do i need to mix it with anything? If you wanted to go fully planted you could get a baselayer of substrate like TetraPlant or Eco Complete, which is a substrate which contains lots of nutrients for plants. As Eco complete is intented to be used as main substrate it has a hefty price tag when buying in bulk, tetra is the budget option.

I just bought Taihtan Moonsand and think this looks very good, its black sand basically

You get the idea, any info would be great.

 

[Tetraking]

Thanks for the feedback.

So a good base layer for the plant and then the sand on top, sounds easy enough. The only thing i am concerned about is, Will it get full of dirt over time and ruin the look (don't think i have never used a vacum thingy) although i do want a natural look, i don't really want to be stirring it up very often as i have heard this makes water cloudy, i am also concerned that the base layer and the sand will mix together completely and cause a right horrible mess.

Do you have lots of plant with your black sand (sounds interesting, any chance of a pic) and if so are you using the base layer?

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Thanks for the feedback.

So a good base layer for the plant and then the sand on top, sounds easy enough. The only thing i am concerned about is, Will it get full of dirt over time and ruin the look (don't think i have never used a vacum thingy) although i do want a natural look, i don't really want to be stirring it up very often as i have heard this makes water cloudy, i am also concerned that the base layer and the sand will mix together completely and cause a right horrible mess.

Do you have lots of plant with your black sand (sounds interesting, any chance of a pic) and if so are you using the base layer?

I dont think I will need the base layer as ive opted for lowtech, so only hardy plants for me. And sorry no pics, one camera isnt working, two still setting it up. Post in the Plant section of forum, some very knoweledgeable people in that part of the forum

 

[tenohfive]

Anther option available to you is plain white sand, best picked up from argos (assuming you're from the UK)

http/www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/s...p;Submit=GO+%3E

Personally, I prefer the look of white sand. It'll be fine for plants also.

 

[Tetraking]

Argos, lol i would have never have thought of looking there, cheers

Is it pure white, or do they do it in light brown, which is proberly the colour i would like.

 

[johno]

Ive just bought a bag of that argos sand today actually its in the tank now, just waitin for it to settle!

If ya want ill take a pic on my mobile and show u the colour?

 

[justjon]

I was thinking of switching to sand too, new tank setup and have actually changed my mind on coloured gravel.... but I would need a ton of it to cover over the plant pots... as they are quite deep (about 2 and a half inches deep i think)

Problem is... how would I go about switching it over..... just put my fish in a bucket for a while whilst I take the gravel out, suck up the dirt then put the sand in? Could it all be done without draining the tank out completely?

 

[johno]

This is quoted from SuperCorley1 on another thread;

Remove fish to a container
Remove plants to a container
Remove deco/hardscape
Remove decent quantity of tank water to a container
Scoop out old gravel
Thoroughly clean tank (good opportunity to do it)
Pour complete dirty contents of filter into the tank*
Put in sand (search for rinsing if you are bothered but I don't)
Add Hardscape/Deco
Fill 1 third of the tank with (some of) the old tank water
Plant up
Fill tank to top with remainder of old tank water and then new+dechlor
Turn on equipment again
Leave to get up to temp
Acclimatise fish and return them


hope it helps

 

[justjon]

This is quoted from SuperCorley1 on another thread;

Remove fish to a container
Remove plants to a container
Remove deco/hardscape
Remove decent quantity of tank water to a container
Scoop out old gravel
Thoroughly clean tank (good opportunity to do it)
Pour complete dirty contents of filter into the tank*
Put in sand (search for rinsing if you are bothered but I don't)
Add Hardscape/Deco
Fill 1 third of the tank with (some of) the old tank water
Plant up
Fill tank to top with remainder of old tank water and then new+dechlor
Turn on equipment again
Leave to get up to temp
Acclimatise fish and return them


hope it helps

What do you mean by "pour complete dirty conetns of filter into the tank"

I think i'll deffo switch to sand when I get paid. - Suitable for shrimps though?

 

[johno]

Quoted from SuperCorley1;

*Adding the dirty content of the filter means that you give the substrate a kick start (referred to as seeding) as the mulm that is in the filter will give the substrate and instant source for bacteria to feed on.

I didnt actually do this myself.

 

[rossitt]

play sand from argos 2.49 ive just set up my 6 foot tank and it looks well nice

 

[justjon]

How many bags to fill a 70L (2ft) tank with about 3 inches upwards?

 

[rossitt]

How many bags to fill a 70L (2ft) tank with about 3 inches upwards?

about 2 or 3 should do

 

[davefish]

(take the big nossel off the gravel vac so its just the piping)

Why do you do that?