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Okay, i've got my 20 gal setup and cycling but w/very little bottom cover...I'd like to get some sand (preferably a white or black) but don't want to spend outrageous amounts of cash on it. Any recommendations? This is my tank for tetras, cards (if i can find any) and either albino cories or panda cories (if I can find any)...So shoot away! Thanks in advance!
Robin

PS will plants do better in sand than gravel?

Last edited by dnrfleener at 07-Oct-2004 21:22

I was told plants don't do so good in sand so I divided the bottom of my tank with a large rock and put plants along one side and the back. Just be sure to put a layer of sand down to cusion the rock. Then put sand on one side and gravel on the other.

As for where to get cheap sand, go to Home Depot and get Quikrete Medium Commercial Sand. It's like $6 for a 100 lb. bag. It says on the bag that it's washed and kiln dried and it works great. It's almost pure white and doesn't cloud the water at all. I've got it in 5 of my tanks now and I love it.

Have fun, Mike

In my opinion, darker sand looks better, white sand can make the fish look a little washed out.

I have dark grey (black) sand, my vals are thriving, dwarf hair grass is doing well, and my crypt hasnt been in there long enough to tell yet...

I had gravel and switched to sand, it looks much better now

Plants normally have an easier time in gravel, because their roots have more room to anchor themselves in. I like sand for the looks, though. Some nice cheap sand that is readily availible is the Play Sand that is used mostly for sandboxes, but if you buy any of that commercial stuff, you need to wash it out a lot.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

was told plants don't do so good in sand ...

Better talk to all those plants growing in drainage lines, streams, rivers and lakes they better get their act in gear and transplant themselves to the nearest rock quarry.

Seriously though.. plants do just fine in a sand substrate.

DO NOT USE PLAYSAND!!!!

Play sand compacts way too easily... causing dangerous anaerobic pockets.

The Quikrete Commercial is already very clean, almost no dust. I tried playsand once and pulled it out after only about a week. The water would not clear.

Mike

Playsand is a great substrate . The important thing to remember, is just like any other substrate it must be rinsed till the water runs clear prior to being placed in the tank.
All substrates run the risk of forming anerobic pockets which can very easily be prevented thru regular maintence of the tank. Additionally Malasyian trumpet snails, MTS, do a great job of burrowing in the substrate and keeping it turned over, lose and slighlty less worrysome. Additionally MTS will breed on their own and will not eat your plants... sorry but I love the little guys . You can also run you hands, fish net, or I've even heard of people using a hair pick thru the sand after regular maintence in order to turn over the sand.

However not all plants like or will do well in a sand substrate. It holds no nutrients on its own, and will compact if not prevented from doing so, crushing the plants roots. If you really want a planted tank, it's better to go with a gravel, or if you are serious about it, go for specially designed plant substrate, florite is one... a tad on the expensive side though .

If you're set on corys in the tank (and who could blame you ) then plan for a sand substrate. Plants can be added to driftwood, or chose those that actually do well in sand. Unless you're going to be upgrading the light to 2-3wpg and adding CO2 a tank with a sand substrate and driftwood with java fern, java moss and anubias rooted to it will look great .
HTH a bit .

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*[/font]

Last edited by Babelfish at 08-Oct-2004 10:20