I switched to sand when I started my most recent tank. The fish love it and there has been no problems with the plants...actually seem to be rooting faster! The fish love the sand, the've dug caves under some of the rocks. Great for cleaning too, not a whole lot of waste gets caught up on the bottom.
Pool Filter Sand?
- Thread starter PaulieFish
- Start date
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logansmomma1228
Aquarium Advice Addict
I read in another thread somewhere on here about doing part sand, part gravel, what are everyone's opinions on this? I was thinking about switching from gravel to this before I put my fish in the tank. I think it would be cool if you could have a little of both...
I switched my tanks from gravel to sand its amazing, looks better and its easier to clean. Until i got my MTS (the snails not the disorder) i kept getting what i can only describe as bands of algae it was very unappealing but now they are mostly gone and my tank looks more..natural. I do from time to time see random bubbles floating to the top form the sand i can only assume its the MTS having fun under the sand.
taylorodw
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Doing part sand and part gravel doesn't present any new problems, but the problems with gravel (muck getting stuck down there) and with sand (anaerobic pockets of toxicity) would both be present. Also, they will inevitably mix together so if you were thinking of something detailed or separated, you can do it but it might not last.
Mark Hewitt
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I don't think it would give you any particular advantages, but both sets of disadvantages!
I remember reading on here that someone did gravel with sand on top and eventually the gravel all worked its way back up to the top. I think they were going the lazy approach to swapping substrates - just dump sand on top. Didn't work out so good as the finer grained sand settles to the bottom eventually. Just a FYI.
Seems that using the small gravel with sand would eventually have the "garden effect"...how rocks always seem to end up on the top. I have some larger stones and glass coins in mine that always seem to get burried and then resurface.
logansmomma1228
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well that sucks, I think it would be pretty cool if you could get away with having both . Sounds like more of a pain then anything though!
logansmomma1228
Aquarium Advice Addict
what is the compatibility between those or other snails and most types of schooling fish, like livebearers? or cichlids even?
logansmomma1228
Aquarium Advice Addict
Smitty
Aquarium Advice Addict
I use straight play sand and it does not turn to mud. I know that after having a tank with gravel, and having a tank with sand, there is NOTHING to compair. The sand wins every time...
Sand: Gravel:
hehehe
reflex1
Aquarium Advice Activist
I just bought a bag of PFS at my local Lowe's and started a 20 gal bow front last night with it - LOOKS GREAT! Will be redoing a five gal in a couple of weeks with it!
mattrox
Aquarium Advice Addict
I used 250kg (551lbs) of pfs in my fish room. I love it and will get another 250kg to fill the remaining tanks.
SnailPowered
Aquarium Advice Freak
I bought aquarium sand at a LFS when I lived in Florida for a 12 gallon tank and I was very displeased with it. I would never recommend it. However, I don't think it was normal sand, I think it was some sort of synthetic crap. I am currently deployed but when I get back I definitely want to use sand in my 75g tank. So MTS are good for cleaning the sand are there things similar to shrimp that will also clean the sand? I used to feed my fish ghost shrimp but if I could have something like that that would survive I think it would be really cool. Perhaps even a crawfish or something. I would really like to make a mini eco-system in my tank...even if I have to keep putting new inverts in because my fish eat them lol. I see it as mother nature doing her thing, even in my aquarium. I am also thinking of making a sump/refugium for my tank even if I keep it freshwater so maybe I could have shrimp hide out in there during the day light hours and then find their way to the tank at night to clean...Just some crazy thoughts.
logansmomma1228
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yeah after I posted that last night I preceded to fill my 25 with this awesome stuff, and I am glad I went to get it. And no it didn't turn to mud lol. The only place I could find it, though, was at Bellows for 9$ for a 50# bag. Home Depot didn't have it, neither did anywhere else. It is really nice though, it was fun ! 
I am going to put the rest in my QT tank possibly.
I am going to put the rest in my QT tank possibly.
SnailPowered
Aquarium Advice Freak
Do you need more than one pound per gallon with sand? I would think that it wouldn't take up as much space per weight as normal aquarium gravel...but what do I know?
Aquarium1
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well I used most (but not all) of a 50# bag for my 55g tank and it ended up being ~1-2" deep. It depends a lot on the dimensions of your tank. This might help you: Aquariumlife.net - Aquarium Substrate Quantity Calcualtor
logansmomma1228
Aquarium Advice Addict
I am not too sure, but I put a good 25 to 30 lbs. in my tank. I just put about an inch to two, maybe a little more, in the bottom and messed with it. First I had more and I thought I had way too much so I took some out. I really like it though, it is really awesome and I like it a lot better than the gravel. Can't wait to get my little cories in there ! They will love it
SnailPowered
Aquarium Advice Freak
Hmmm, well I was thinking along the lines of 2-3" depth for more space for roots of plants. I am busily planning my next tank while "enjoying" sunny Iraq lol. I don't know the dimensions of my tank but it is 75g and I estimated it at 48"x16" and for a 3.5" depth the calculator said 256 lbs. lol Not sure I will go that deep if it takes that much sand hahahah
Aquarium1
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well it seems it maybe inaccurate lol. It said I'd need 110# for the amount of sand I have in my tank and I used like 45 lol. I'll try to look for another one hehe
