"Live sand" in FW tanks. - Aquarium Advice

DannWunderlich · 08-04-2008, 03:56 AM

I AM BRINGING THIS BACK FROM THE DEAD

i really love the look of SW aquariums - the sand makes it look soo bright and sharp

could i do that in fresh water?
have sand substrate with some angels and gourami's?

how would i do it and what are the set backs?

SpeedEuphoria · 08-04-2008, 04:01 AM

pool filter sand is fine and many use it. The color varies depending on your location so it could be light or darker brown.

**Fishyfanatic** · 08-04-2008, 08:21 AM

I split your post from the 2004 thread into it's own thread.

Yes, you can use sand in a FW tank. In fact, all of my tanks are PFS mixed with a little black sand.

gheitman · 08-04-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannWunderlich

I AM BRINGING THIS BACK FROM THE DEAD

i really love the look of SW aquariums - the sand makes it look soo bright and sharp

could i do that in fresh water?
have sand substrate with some angels and gourami's?

how would i do it and what are the set backs?

I use sand in several of my tanks and there is no reason you can't use it in yours. Black sand makes a good backdrop for many fish allowing them to look their best. I use salt-and-pepper sand in three of my African rift lake tanks because it helps keep the pH high and the fish sift through it. I think sand makes a particularly good substrate if you are going to have cories or other similar bottom feeders.

There is a possibility that the sand will become compacted and trap gasses created by anaerobic bacteria but there are ways to avoid that (stirring the sand regularly or getting some MTS).

Phoenixphire55 · 08-04-2008, 10:47 AM

weren't you interested in whether or not you can have live sand in an FW tank? I don't know exactly what makes live sand "live" but it sounds cool, lol. Is live sand possible in a FW tank?

blazeyreef · 08-04-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenixphire55

weren't you interested in whether or not you can have live sand in an FW tank? I don't know exactly what makes live sand "live" but it sounds cool, lol. Is live sand possible in a FW tank?

no, its not (as far as I know). Live sand is called "live" because of the living (SW) bacteria and organisms in the sand that are beneficial to the (SW) aquarium, if it was put in a FW they would all simply die and it would become regular sand basically.

**roka64** · 08-04-2008, 01:48 PM

I agree with blazey, but I wouldn't risk putting SW live sand in a FW tank. The die-off could cause a cycle and make a mess of things. I find it hard to believe live sand purchased in a LFS is truly "live" after harvesting, shipping, storing in a warehouse, shipping out to a LFS and sitting in an air conditioned store shelf....
Just to go along with blazey, if you have sand in your FW tank, that has gone through a cycle, you have live sand too, because it houses the beneficial bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrItes and into nitrAtes.
I would look into the pool filter sand.

DannWunderlich · 08-04-2008, 03:00 PM

could i put a sailfin pleco in with the sand, angels and gourami's??

i am gonna start up a 55 gallon in the upcoming months

**Fishyfanatic** · 08-04-2008, 03:01 PM

Yes, you can definitely put a pleco with sand.

DannWunderlich · 08-04-2008, 03:07 PM

thanks alot fishy

08-04-2008, 03:56 AM	#1
DannWunderlich Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31	"Live sand" in FW tanks. I AM BRINGING THIS BACK FROM THE DEAD i really love the look of SW aquariums - the sand makes it look soo bright and sharp could i do that in fresh water? have sand substrate with some angels and gourami's? how would i do it and what are the set backs?

08-04-2008, 08:21 AM	#3
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	I split your post from the 2004 thread into it's own thread. Yes, you can use sand in a FW tank. In fact, all of my tanks are PFS mixed with a little black sand. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

08-04-2008, 10:47 AM	#5
Phoenixphire55 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 393	weren't you interested in whether or not you can have live sand in an FW tank? I don't know exactly what makes live sand "live" but it sounds cool, lol. Is live sand possible in a FW tank? __________________ 20 gallon: 5 African clawed frogs 10 gallon: fb toad and 3 fb newts 25 gallon: 8 Mollies, 4Corys, betta, bristlenose

08-04-2008, 03:01 PM	#9
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	Yes, you can definitely put a pleco with sand. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

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08-04-2008, 03:00 PM	#8
DannWunderlich Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31	could i put a sailfin pleco in with the sand, angels and gourami's?? i am gonna start up a 55 gallon in the upcoming months

08-04-2008, 03:07 PM	#10
DannWunderlich Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31	thanks alot fishy