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I have read many posters advocate sand as a substrate for a cichlid environment. They say it is more like their natural environment and promotes better breeding. However, it seems to me that sand is far more difficult to maintain and harder on your equipment. I would like to hear what you think regarding this topic.

-greg

I've had either sand or crushed coral (for tangs and crushed as small as sand) in my tanks for 3-4 years now. I love it, and I do think it looks more natural for many fish.

You do have to keep your intake tube (if you have a HOB filter) a good 2-3 inches above the surface, and if you have digging fish that might spit sand into it, a sponge cut to fit over the intake can help too (I've used a cut to fit piece of aquaclear filter).

When cleaning, you just vacuum right above the sand and all the goop comes up. I also will stop the flow on my syphon and sometimes poke into the sand just to move it around a bit. In all honesty, the time it's taken me to write this message was enough to clean the bottom of my 29 gallon tank - I find it no more difficult than gravel.

Also, keeping cichlids who like to root around in the sand at times, I think they like it. That said, there is NOTHING wrong with normal aquarium gravel unless you're keeping shellies or other fish who live to dig.


Eric

I have sand in two tanks and I'm going to switch more over. I used Quikrete Commercial, it's white and isn't full of dust particles that stay suspended in the water. I'm going to try to find something in another color that works as well.

I keep trumpet snails in most of my tanks and they do a great job in the sand. When I vacuum it I use a syphon with a grate on it. I think it was designed to keep from sucking up babies but it also keeps the sand from coming up the tube in great gobs.

Big E is right though, Keep the intakes for your filter well above the sand. Also dont use sand with an undergravel filter.

Go ahead and try it, Mike

Mike - I have quickcrete playsand. I'd describe mine as more of a light brown color - I really like it. That said, the crushed coral/argonite I used was pure white and I thought that was really pretty with my tanganyikans.

Let me know if you find any easily available dark brown sands...

Thanks,

Eric

Does the play sand settle quickly when you vacuum. I tried some play sand once and the water was cloudy for most of a day after I cleaned. I don't think it was Quikrete though.

I may try to find some silica sand for sandblasting. It comes in different sizes, the larger stuff is a light brown.

Mike

When I put it in, despite saying it was screened and washed, the tank was cloudy for about 2 days (actually, after 1 day it was much better, but next time it's going in a pillow case and being rinsed before hand). I run an AC 200 on my 29 gallon tank with 3 filter inserts in it. For about the next 3 days I rinsed out one sponge a day, but then it was fine. What the filter was catching was dust. When I vacuum, I do have to use my thumb to decrease the water flow, but it settles down immediately now. For me, this is no different than when I had crushed coral.

Eric

That commercial sand settles right down, I'm hoping the silica for sandblasting will be the same.

Thanks, Mike

I don't know if this is as good of an idea as I think it is, but before I put sand in my latest tank I "strained" it with a piece of window screening I had around the house. All the dust got washed out along with the tiny bits that cause clouds when vacing or when the fish play around in it. You will end up with only about half the original amount, but I bought 2 50 pound bags for only 3 bucks at my local hardware store because the bags had been ripped. The holes in my screen are about 2mm squared, so everything less than that got washed out when I ran the hose over it. Never had cloudy water, also my filter intake is about 1/2 inch above with no problems. As far as color, I'd say it looks very close to the "natural" color aquarium gravel you can buy at any store, only smaller. Hope this helps.

mrwelvrig, i did the same for my pond, well for some of the sand, and it settles emediatly, never clouds, and sets hard, so digging cichlids had to work at it, it makes having plands with oscars easier, my oscar wouldent beable to live happly with out his plants to hide in, i just put sand in my 10, but only about 2cm thick i dident strain, couldent take the fish out then, (it was late, and too dark to se he pond) but im going to finish today, im also going to put some in my 2 other ponds, and my 30 gallon, i use natural sand from outside, and my fish love it, and i know that its not been mucked around with chemicals.