Concerns About My New Tank

[Fishyfanatic]

The waste will sit ontop of the sand. But it depends on what kind of fish you are going to stock with. I can not see any fish waste on any of my community tanks. Honestly, one would think they don't poo at all. The African tank is a different story. But we have the current moving the waste into three spots so we can easily just suck it all out. I like sand because you can see the waste during water changes. With gravel it all sinks into the substrate and you have to find it. Plus, I think sand is easier to aquascape.

[theotheragentm]

I stopped by a Home Depot on an unrelated trip, and I just decided to check out the pool supplies. They only had pool filter powder, not filter sand. I think these are two different things, as they said it would be too fine and unsettle in a fish tank with a filter running. Is this right? As I have never seen pool filter sand, can someone point me to a product page for it or let me know how to ask a pool supply store about it?

[SparKy697]

Filter powder? I wonder if this is diatomaceous earth?

[theotheragentm]

Is Diatomaceous Earth not right? I looked online at filter media here. The second page has something that says it's non-toxic, non-hazardous, and silica free. The last thing I want to do is put a few gallons of poison in the tank. Anyone know what I should be looking for here?

[SparKy697]

I believe what you want on that site is the Zeosand. It is called Zeolite and I see many people on this forum using it as a sand bottom. As I understand it, diatom. is super fine and tends to not stay in place very well.

[Fishyfanatic]

Go to a pool supply store and ask for Pool Filter Sand. Home Depot and Lowes are a hit or miss. I've never seen it in either store but some people have. The pool supply store should have it and know exactly what you are talking about. I've never heard of the powder before. The sand is heavy and will keep it's place on the bottom of the tank.

[theotheragentm]

Yeah, I did a search and someone in this forums actually works/worked at a pool supply store and said Zeosand even is something that is half the weight of sand, because it is much more porous on a microscopic level. Regular pool filter sand is what I will be askingn for in a pool supply store.

[SparKy697]

I'm not sure that more porous is a bad thing. The wieght part myght be a pain I guess if it flies around a lot.

[theotheragentm]

Yeah, I think that's the negative about it. Half the weight of sand is quite a bit I think. This was the thread I was talking about if anyone is curious.