using sand for the substrate

[topout24]

I am tossing around some ideas on my next tank set up and I want to use sand for the substrate. what kind of sand would yall recommend? what is the procedure to "cleaning" the sand to minimize cloudiness in the tank? how do you clean it once the tank is up and running? what are some of the pros and cons yall have found using sand? thanks in advance for the responses. I am really starting to like this site

[gambs]

I am tossing around some ideas on my next tank set up and I want to use sand for the substrate. what kind of sand would yall recommend? what is the procedure to "cleaning" the sand to minimize cloudiness in the tank? how do you clean it once the tank is up and running? what are some of the pros and cons yall have found using sand? thanks in advance for the responses. I am really starting to like this sight

I just changed my substrate in my 55 gal. I had crushed coral but went with black blasting sand. I got a 50 lb bag at tractor supply for $7. Looks great in the tank! All I did to clean it was put the san in my 40 gal bucket and filled with water. Sloshed it around a few times and drain water. Repeat about 5 times. When I added it to the tank, which already had water and fish, the water was cloudy for about an hour. Everything settled down and filter did a good job. Looks awesome now. They had different grain size, I used 30/60 I believe. It was the medium size.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/black-diamond-20-40-blasting-media-50-lb?cm_vc=-10005

[Horseshadow00]

FYI, you can take a piece of 2-4 inch piece of PVC pipe and take a 2-liter, or 3-liter coke bottle and silicone the mouth of the bottle inside the pipe. Then, cut the bottom of the bottle out and you now have a large funnel. It works great for aqua scraping and reapplying substrate around plants. If u want to apply sand, or gravel without causing a whole lot of disturbance and cloud up your water. The only place we've found 3-liter bottle these days are at Sam's club.

[armthehomeless]

I always just bought Leslie's Pool Filter Sand and dumped it in.It doesn't really cloud up. Just turn off the filters for a couple minutes while adding the sand . . . you don't want to get sand in the impeller.

[Andrew_B]

Yeah, we all miss those days tim. I haven't witnessed it, but apparently leslies changed up their sand to where its very dirty

[gambs]

I have 150 lb of Leslie pool filter sand and had no problems with being dirty or cloudy. I prefer the black diamond blasting sand because it is black.

[rmalford]

I've used black blasting sand for a 125. Did a bunch of rinsing beforehand. Big pain.

[DoubleDutch]

I always just bought Leslie's Pool Filter Sand and dumped it in.It doesn't really cloud up. Just turn off the filters for a couple minutes while adding the sand . . . you don't want to get sand in the impeller.

i love poolfiltersand !!! Have several kinds of substrate, but to me this really is the best there is. Cheap, rounded, no gaspockets aso .Cheers Aad

[topout24]

I am looking for some tan sand or something that discus would like. I will prob have a few libe plants in it too.

[moganman]

I have some original light colored LPS u can have for free. A whole bucket.

[AHP]

This is what I am using. Super Naturals Premium Aquarium Substrate (tan), if you are going to plant with just this substrate then you will need root tabs.

[topout24]

I've heard of people using different sandblasting sand. Is this ok for the fish? I know its a lot cheaper!

[rmalford]

^

[wesleydnunder]

I've heard of people using different sandblasting sand. Is this ok for the fish? I know its a lot cheaper!

I've used different grades of quartz blasing sand with no problems from any of them. I prefer the Texblast that is screened for aquarium use. Aqua Zoo sells it.

Mark

[topout24]

I have some original light colored LPS u can have for free. A whole bucket.

do you want to try to meet up? pm me your info and we can go from there. I tried pm'ing you but your box is full