FishProfiles.com Message Forums

could i use sand as a bottom for my fresh water tank?

yes u can what size tank u have i have a 55 gallon and i use 20 punds of i would recamend black tabition sorry if i miss spelled it i seen people use live sand wash the sand before u use it

I use the tahitian black aslo. That sand is inert so it doesn't affect Ph. Be careful with the amount you put in, though, I've heard people talk about anaerobic bacteria and stuff. Hopefully someone will chime in on that.
The problem, from what I'm told, with live sand and some others is that they will raise the Ph.

I love my black tahitian, though cleaning is a pain. Every little poop shows up so I vacuum at least 3 times a week.

Sometimes the sand can turn black in patches, if you do not vacum it at regular intervals. Personally I would not suggest using sand for this very same reason.

Try going for fine gravel. That will be easier to clean and maintain.

is that sand expensive?

Good site that describes sand as a substrate:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/sand.php

Recognize that if you use sand, you must rinse the sand, then re-rinse the sand and then rinse the sand again before you rinse the sand for the final time. The emphasis is that sand contains a very high level of particulate dust that will not only cloud your water but also mess up your power filter.

If you decide to use sand be sure to very slowly, I repeat, verrry slowly, one more time, verrrry slowly fill the tank. You are doing you best not to stir the fine paricles that no one can rinse out of the sand. If you get some clouding. Siphon down the water level and start over in filling your tank. This time, go much slower!

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Hi,
Sand, as a substrate, is about the least expensive
way to go. You can purchase it at nearly any hardware
store for penneys on a dollar. It comes in shades of
brown to white, and even black. The common ordinary
"play sand" is the least expensive, the white even
more expensive, and the black the most expensive.

Sand comes with cautions however. You must wash it
throughly to not only eliminate the dust and dirt,
but also to rinse away any organic material that is
dug up with it such as roots and twigs.

Generally speaking, when sand is thought of for a
substrate, folks tend to dump it into the tank so
that it forms a 2 to 3 inch thick layer, as if it
were gravel. This thickness can pack tightly,
stunting plant growth, and also form the dreaded
pockets of anaerobic bacteria (black, foul smelling,
hydrogen sulfide, rotten egg odor, stuff).

One way to eliminate it, is to keep the sand layer
thin, no more than an inch and a half.
Another way is to keep the layer thin and introduce
some MTS, a live bearing snail, that digs into and
through the sand keeping it loose and aeriated.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I have the Black Tahitan Moon Sand in my 30G. I bought 20 pounds of it and it works out well, I have not had a problem with anarobic pockets, though it is a trial to keep looking clean if you have very messy creatures... aka don't get a pleco and expect your sand to look pretty for longer then 10 minutes. =P

I think I bought that 20 pounds for about $20.00-25.00

Yes, you must rinse it very very well. I have did not have a problem with lots of floating particles AFTER rinsing, and filling up my tank.
Though yes, from time to time there is still bits of sand stuck in my filter. You'll do best with a TOP mounted motor in your filter when using sand, vrs a bottom mounted one.