Home improvement store, hardware store for sand maybe both kinds. Or pool supply store.
sand or gravel?
- Thread starter Paulcm10
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Bearchumjs
Aquarium Advice Addict
There is a thread called "Jill's 55g build on a budget" and she used black sand blasting sand. You may want to look it up. She posted a picture of her tank with some DW she just put in it. The black sand looks really nice.
Sand, hands down. I've used PFS, playsand and store bought sands. I prefer playsand to PFS. I prefer both PFS and playsand to store bought brands.
The PFS around my neck of the woods is large grain, almost like a grain of rice cut in half. I liked smaller grained sand so the bottom dwellers can dig through it easier. It doesn't take long for it too settle either.
I got a bunch of geos in my tank which are notorious sand movers and they spit mouthfuls of sand all day long and don't have any issues with it getting into my filter.
As far as maintaining sand vs gravel. Sand is 100x easier to clean. Just swirl the gravel vacuum above the sand and all the gunk floats right up. When I ran gravel I would have to push the vac down into every last inch of the substrate to get it clean. The sand prevents detritus from getting trapped beneath the surface.
The PFS around my neck of the woods is large grain, almost like a grain of rice cut in half. I liked smaller grained sand so the bottom dwellers can dig through it easier. It doesn't take long for it too settle either.
I got a bunch of geos in my tank which are notorious sand movers and they spit mouthfuls of sand all day long and don't have any issues with it getting into my filter.
As far as maintaining sand vs gravel. Sand is 100x easier to clean. Just swirl the gravel vacuum above the sand and all the gunk floats right up. When I ran gravel I would have to push the vac down into every last inch of the substrate to get it clean. The sand prevents detritus from getting trapped beneath the surface.
yah i want like a wall bubble i just don't know how to make it or get one. i need one with the suction cups like you were just talking about.
and no problem you seem to know a lot about the hobby unlike me I'm starting out like don't even know anything at all until now haha
you want the gravel on top of the sand? cause I'm thinking if I'm cleaning most likely ill be stirring up the sand so it won't get toxic
Mr.Pleco
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Works for me
Mr.Pleco
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Paulcm10 said:
Forgot this one. The gravel is only visible in spots and around the rocks to hold them better.
I wasn't trying to siphon the sand. I was siphoning just above it to get debris off the top of it and I accidentally dipped it too far down. Fish waste and food settles on top of it. I have a 55 gallon tank. It's about 20-22 inches in height. I have a big filter- rated for up to 90 gallons and it cycles 400 gph. I have not seen it kick up any sand. So, last night I did a pwc and started pouring the water in too fast. It stirred up a little sand but the sand sank right back down and didn't linger in the water column. You get PFS from a swimming pool and spa store. I believe it only comes in a light color.
I THINK you can use sand blasting sand and that you can get that in black. However I have absolutely no experience with it.
I have no advice on the fish and shrimp. Ghost shrimp don't kick up sand. That's about all I know.
ohhh okay. how long does it take you to clean up a tank?
and how often do you siphon to get the debris off the sand?
also would you suggest turning off the power filter when cleaning the tank?
I wasn't trying to siphon the sand. I was siphoning just above it to get debris off the top of it and I accidentally dipped it too far down. Fish waste and food settles on top of it. I have a 55 gallon tank. It's about 20-22 inches in height. I have a big filter- rated for up to 90 gallons and it cycles 400 gph. I have not seen it kick up any sand. So, last night I did a pwc and started pouring the water in too fast. It stirred up a little sand but the sand sank right back down and didn't linger in the water column. You get PFS from a swimming pool and spa store. I believe it only comes in a light color.
I THINK you can use sand blasting sand and that you can get that in black. However I have absolutely no experience with it.
I have no advice on the fish and shrimp. Ghost shrimp don't kick up sand. That's about all I know.
oh also whats sand blasting sand? where can i get one of those?
Mumma.of.two
Aquarium Advice Obsessed
You should have all filters and heaters off while you have your hands in the tank, including during syphoning. You need to keep your equipment and yourself!!
can malaysia trumpet snails dig in pool filter sand? since it is a larger sand?
and what are geos? (sorry new to the hobby no experience at all haha)
also speaking of maintaining how often do you get the debris off the top of the sand?
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Bearchumjs
Aquarium Advice Addict
Paulcm10 said:
Pool filter sand will not raise or lower pH, which is why I got it.
ohh okay. I am liking what i hear about the sand so far. haha
Bearchumjs
Aquarium Advice Addict
It probably took an hour to clean and refill my tank (55 gallons- I only removed 15 gallons.) It's not hard to vacuum with a siphon. That part actually only took 5-10 minutes. The long part was draining out the 15 gallons I needed to remove for my pwc and then refilling it. To clean the sand you just swirl the siphon just above the sand on you'll be able to see debris getting sucked up the siphon.
I imagine MTS won't have a problem in the pfs at all. I'm planning on getting some.
I imagine MTS won't have a problem in the pfs at all. I'm planning on getting some.
oh okay so with a 20gallon it will not even take me an hour to clean I'm guessing?
Bearchumjs
Aquarium Advice Addict
Paulcm10 said:
Probably not. 25% is about 5 gallons so if you have a 5 gallon bucket it will be simple unless you let your tank get really bad. I had to make 3 trips to the front door to dump my tank water and about 5 trips from the bathtub to refill my tank using a 5 gallon bucket. I only filled it about 2/3's full because lifting it up to pour it was too heavy if I filled it all the way. I bet a 20 gallon would only take 15 or 20 minutes total time.
Mumma.of.two
Aquarium Advice Obsessed
Took me half hour to wash enough sand for my 70g (40kg I think I ended up using) and overnight to settle/clear after I added it. PFS doesn't change pH, play sand can.
Anyone here used black blasting sand? I am interested in learning more, I wold want black probably but isn't silica sand for blasting and isn't sharp???
I will check out Jill's 55 gal too.
I will check out Jill's 55 gal too.
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