How many kinds of sand substrate are there?

[jetajockey]

I've never given the regional thing much thought but it's possible. Everything locally here does contains clay, from low to a fairly high concentration depending on manufacturer.

I personally feel its a poor choice for aquariums due to the amount of time it takes to clean it and the way it compacts, there are loads of better of substrates.

Yeah I know our dirt products here usually have a really high quartz content and people tend to complain about it being a regional thing. Yet no one complains when they go to the white sand beaches, lol.

I agree, playsand is not high up on my list, I'm very partial to the idea of PFS and the prepared sand products even though the latter cost a little more initially.

 

[Chiroptera]

Yeah.. most of the dirt here is this horrible red clay, so it probably is.

What about pool sand/silica sand? The grains are a bit larger and it has a tad bit more color in it?

 

[paytertot]

Same here, you can't even dig a foot most places without hitting clay and rocks. Welcome to southwest Missouri lol.

 

[Keao_m]

I've seen the normal types like play sand, pool sand, black beauty, etc, but are there any types that are really unique, pretty, or otherwise? Looking for a freshwater, tropical tank. What are your thoughts on sand, and how easy it is? What are your favorites?

Do you like black sand? Black diamond sand blasting sand works great

 

[Chiroptera]

Do you like black sand? Black diamond sand blasting sand works great

At first I really loved the idea, but.. all my bottom/mid swimmers get dark. I was thinking about it originally, but now, thinking about it, dark fish and dark substrate.. eh.

If there's something golden or brown, that would be preferable.

I think there's a type of fertilizer substrate that's sandy and dark brown, but I saw it ages ago and wouldn't know where to start looking again.

 

[Keao_m]

Oh okay I see. Me personally I love it. I have a jack Dempsey in a 100 gallon and the black on the bottom makes every color he has pop. But it's up to you.

 

[Riot84]

I used play sand for the 75 gallon African cichlid tank I just set up. Did take quite awhile to clean but it only cost me 6 bucks for the 100 pounds I used. The water was still a bit cloudy after filling the tank but a little seachem clarity cleared it up nicely. Prolly gonna try pfs the next time I do a sand bottom tank tho.

 

[Perezm03]

I used play sand for the 75 gallon African cichlid tank I just set up. Did take quite awhile to clean but it only cost me 6 bucks for the 100 pounds I used. The water was still a bit cloudy after filling the tank but a little seachem clarity cleared it up nicely. Prolly gonna try pfs the next time I do a sand bottom tank tho.

What was the name brand of the play sand you used ?
And what was the pros and cons.