Sand

[Platiesareawesome]

Hello! I am planning a 55 gallon goldfish tank, and I would like to have sand as the substrate. I am looking at Seachem's Fluorite Black sand, but it is expensive.
I plan to plant the tank also. Would play sand or pool filter sand work even if I plant the tank? Can I just use fertilizer and root tabs? Would you guys recommend pool filter sand, play sand, or Seachem's sand?

Thank You!

 

[Mebbid]

Sadly, gold fish and plants generally don't mix. The goldfish will shred the plants to their hearts content.

You can use any sort of substrate for plants but for sand the larger the grain size the better. The pool filter sand works well for plants but keep in mind that you will have to add root tabs for any heavy root feeding plant whether you have plant substrate or not.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I have to disagree. Goldfish only go after plants if they aren't provided enough greens in their diet. Tough plants are always a good start. Java fern, anubias, bolbitis, moss, large swords, elodea and lilies do well in goldfish tanks. Pool filter sand should be sufficient IMO.

 

[jwh0818]

I have to disagree. Goldfish only go after plants if they aren't provided enough greens in their diet. Tough plants are always a good start. Java fern, anubias, bolbitis, moss, large swords, elodea and lilies do well in goldfish tanks. Pool filter sand should be sufficient IMO.

This is definitely true. Ive kept goldfish in heavily planted tanks in the past without problems. Only time I ever saw them pick at plants was when there was food that got stuck to it

 

[Mebbid]

I have to disagree. Goldfish only go after plants if they aren't provided enough greens in their diet. Tough plants are always a good start. Java fern, anubias, bolbitis, moss, large swords, elodea and lilies do well in goldfish tanks. Pool filter sand should be sufficient IMO.

Hmm that's interesting. My friends goldies demolished her plants.

 

[jwh0818]

Hmm that's interesting. My friends goldies demolished her plants.

I know ive heard they are supposed to but try getting your freind to feed something else. Omega one tropical flakes is what I fed mine and they were great

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Hmm that's interesting. My friends goldies demolished her plants.

She feed vege? I feed peas, zucchini, cucumber and broccoli regularly and have maintained a planted goldfish tank for over 18 months. It contained some fairly large ones at one stage also.

 

[Platiesareawesome]

Thanks for the answers! I kind of like the color of play sand more than pool filter. Is pool filter sand still the way to go?

 

[Prediscus23]

Thanks for the answers! I kind of like the color of play sand more than pool filter. Is pool filter sand still the way to go?

I would go with the pool sand, it is a larger grain, your roots will be able to spread a lot easier.

 

[Platiesareawesome]

I would go with the pool sand, it is a larger grain, your roots will be able to spread a lot easier.

Do you think the pool filter sand will look good? Thanks, btw!

 

[Fresh2o]

Do you think the pool filter sand will look good? Thanks, btw!

Idk. Anyway to get a sample of it and place it in a saucer and see what it looks like in the tank?

 

[Platiesareawesome]

Idk. Anyway to get a sample of it and place it in a saucer and see what it looks like in the tank?

Should I just go with the Seachem stuff?

 

[Prediscus23]

Either or looks good, just depends what you want in a tank

 

[jwh0818]

Either works just the same no matter what. The pfs is larger grain and falls to the bottom faster when picked up or disturbed by fish

 

[Platiesareawesome]

What would you guys do? (Considering price and looks).

 

[Prediscus23]

Pool filter sand, it's cheaper

 

[Fresh2o]

Pool filter sand, it's cheaper

(PFS) Probably easier to clean than play sand

 

[jlk]

Agree on the pfs. I have it in all my goldie tanks and they are heavily planted. Lots of daily veggies are a must if you don't want your plants to become a free salad bar.

 

[Platiesareawesome]

Will this work?

Aqua Quartz® 50lbs Pool Filter Sand (61308) - Pool Maintenance Equipment - Ace Hardware

 

[jwh0818]

Will this work?

Aqua Quartz® 50lbs Pool Filter Sand (61308) - Pool Maintenance Equipment - Ace Hardware

Yes. Its a more expensive one but yes its the same thing. The one I use is quikrete