Best Play Sand feom Lowes or Home Depot

[CichlidLady0312]

Whats the best playsand for my peacocks. Something that isnt rough and nice looking thanks

 

[Andrew McFadden]

You can use the quickrete play sand, just wash it good.

 

[ghostking010]

Good threa I'm also looking for a good thick sand to get for Home Depot

 

[Elkairos]

How big is ur tank? Might be better off getting the quality stuff

 

[ghostking010]

Mine is a 55 but I'm working on a budget lol so 5 bucks on each sand bag sounded good lol what do u suggest

 

[CichlidLady0312]

I was looking on lowes website but they dont have prices so how does this help a shopper?

 

[CichlidLady0312]

I found on home depots website. Pool filter sand 6.00 for a 50lb bag I say thats a good deal

 

[Elkairos]

1 bag will need to be clean with about 50gallons or more (homedepot).. Despite the cleaning. It will produce brown algae. That you will have to clean every other week..off sand, walls, decor...

 

[CichlidLady0312]

1 bag will need to be clean with about 50gallons or more (homedepot).. Despite the cleaning. It will produce brown algae. That you will have to clean every other week..off sand, walls, decor...

So its better to buy live sand than

 

[lbirath001]

I used Home Depot play sand. It was 4.99 for its worked good for me. No algae or anything.

 

[CichlidLady0312]

I stumbled upon purewaterpebbles.com it has all the african cichlid substrates

 

[Elkairos]

I used Home Depot play sand. It was 4.99 for its worked good for me. No algae or anything.

Very interesting! I have been unable to get rid of the silicates in the sand.. Perhaps different brand?

 

[CichlidLady0312]

I can only find substrates in 20lb bags is there some place where I can purchase 50lbs

 

[Andrew McFadden]

I can only find substrates in 20lb bags is there some place where I can purchase 50lbs

Home depot / Lowe's

The play sand and the general purpose sand can be both used. I've never had a problem with brown or any other type of algae. Just make sure you rinse it real good to remove the dust or fine particles of sand in it. It still may make your water cloudy but the filters should clear it up after a couple days.

I have 6 or 7 bags of the play sand in my sump and my 180 gallon Malawi tank. Also I have half a bag mixed with a black gravel in my 20 gallon planted tank.

Another option would be to get blasting sand from tractor supply company and I believe it has also been found at menards

 

[lbirath001]

Very interesting! I have been unable to get rid of the silicates in the sand.. Perhaps different brand?

Maybe. I rinsed it for like 2 hours though.

 

[Jmedic25]

Another good option is pool filter sand. It's a larger grain than play sand. It stays put better. It's important when you start adding flow to your tank. Finer sand seems to get pushed around more than PFS.

 

[CichlidLady0312]

But then if I use regular sand as opposed to Live sand which will cost 100.00 to do my tank. How long will it take for my tank to cycle if I used play or pool sand

 

[CichlidLady0312]

The Live sand on the bag says I can put my fish in the tank right away which doesnt sound right to me

 

[Jmedic25]

You can add fish in no matter which sand you choose. IF you follow this.

Live sand is really for reef tanks but it will work fine. Pool filter sand and play sand are cheap. I've had plenty of tanks with PFS sand in for a long time. Never any issues. Here is a link to in fish cycling. Also Ill link a video to my 125 with PFS
Fish-in Cycling: Step over into the dark side - Aquarium Advice

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f100/125-hap-peacock-275589.html

 

[Jmedic25]

Depending on your stock size you could instantly be cycled with enough seeded filter material. If you can find a friend that will give you some old filters that have enough colonized good bacteria to combat the ammonia that your fish produce. I just succesfully cycled my 125 gallon tank in 8 days with seeded filter material from my 75 gallon tank. I never got a positive nitRITE test result. This confirmed the cycle was complete. NitrITE was always zero. Keep asking good questions and read that guide. You're on the right track.

Justin