Sand? Gravel?

[Doug4701]

I don't like traditional pet store gravel and sand is almost too loose, so what would be a good medium? Can agranite (sp?) work in fresh water?

 

[erikmoseley]

Yes if your doing Africans. In my other tank I had aragonite with some live coral sand and it was great

 

[SonicsDC25]

Pool Filter Sand is also a good alternative.

 

[cheryldooley]

Pool filter sand is amazing!!

 

[Doug4701]

Why the pool filter sand?

 

[Doug4701]

May some of you provide examples of your pool filter sanded tanks?

 

[SonicsDC25]

Pool Filter Sand has a natural color and the size of the grains are heavy enough that none will get into your filter. Below is a pic of one of my fat juvies 6 months ago after feeding time.

 

[SonicsDC25]

Here's another pic under white light (50/50 Coralife bulb), it's a little whiter in the picture, but it's a tiny bit more tan in color in person.

 

[Doug4701]

Fantastic. Do you have to rinse it out like crazy like a bag of regular sand?

 

[SonicsDC25]

I haven't used play sand, so I'm not sure. It only took me 10-15 minutes to rinse out all the dust for a 25lb bag.

 

[brennae]

I like pool filter sand or Petco brand black sand. Both have worked well for me. I also use Eco-complete (yes I have MTS) lol

 

[cheryldooley]

This is mine with pool filter sand. Started sand few weeks ago. Much easier clean up and it's heavy enough it doesn't get in the filter

 

[erikmoseley]

Here's mine in my tanks. Pool filter sand is like $10 for a 50 lb bag. Wont ever use anything but!!! First pic is much more indication of what it REALLY looks like. Others look much brighter

 

[Doug4701]

Thank you so much for the heads up. Seems so much easier to clean out and use.. Looks very natural too.

 

[peacockkeeper]

I just used sillica sand (pool filter sand) and I love it. I have black gravel in my 29g but I like the sand better. It easier to clean and my fish seem to love it. It was a pain in the *** to clean though. I bought 100# and spent about 1-1/2 hrs washing it in buckets in the tub. Even after that my water still clouded up for a few days after I did my aqua scaping but it cleared quickly with the filter (Aqua clear 110).

 

[cheryldooley]

I just used sillica sand (pool filter sand) and I love it. I have black gravel in my 29g but I like the sand better. It easier to clean and my fish seem to love it. It was a pain in the *** to clean though. I bought 100# and spent about 1-1/2 hrs washing it in buckets in the tub. Even after that my water still clouded up for a few days after I did my aqua scaping but it cleared quickly with the filter (Aqua clear 110).

Agreed. Took a while Too clean and have clear run off and when I put it in my tank it was cloudy a few days but cleared up with filter. But now after weeks it's Amazing. Will not go back to gravel EVER!