Flourite + Sand

fraggle · 01-24-2003, 02:14 AM

I was just thinking, if I have 2" flourite, then put 1.5 inches of sand over that, isn't the sand going to mix in with the flourite?

**Buck** · 01-24-2003, 01:10 PM

Yes it definately will...
What I did was to work the sand into the flourite with my fingers so that it fills the gaps between flourite chips. Then when you have it pretty much "filled" add another layer of sand over it.
When you plant in it you will stir up some flourite also but if you want it covered just add scoops of sand after planting and you are all set.
I have been in and out of my substrate getting the final scaping done to my likes and I am going to wait a few days to be sure that I am sure and then I will add a final sand layer and let it grow.

I really like the sand look and I am happy I decided to try it... I was worried about it being to "compact" a substrate for fine roots but after uprooting a few plants for friends and also for rescaping the tank the roots obviously have no trouble whatsoever ! They almost root TOO good... LOL
Even the Cardamine lyrata which has very fine roots has done very well in sand...

fraggle · 01-24-2003, 01:20 PM

So you are really mixing the sand and flourite, not layering it?

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 01-24-2003, 01:39 PM

Yeah, it amazes me how well plants root in a seemingly compacted substrate! The most impressive roots I'd ever seen were in a tank with exlusively kitty litter! That stuff is like a granulated fine powder. Makes a mess, but the plants LOVE it.

**Buck** · 01-24-2003, 03:40 PM

It is impossible to keep it from mixing...
once you put in all your Flourite ...only add a little sand to it and work it into flourite and repeat until you have no air bubbles in substrate.
If you do not work the sand into flourite first you will get " sinkholes " later down the road as it settles.
Then just add however much more sand you want for looks over the settled layer you just created.
I add sand here and there and have also pythoned some right out the door to my lawn in places that I had to much...
Also
The bottom feeders love the sand...my cory will vaccum this stuff like no tomorrow...he sucks the sand in and blows it back out through his gills ... very kool to watch.

PhishNeslo · 01-28-2003, 02:55 PM

what kind of sand do you use? silica play sand? corse filter sand for swimming pools?

tyler · 01-28-2003, 06:40 PM

don't forget to rinse either. a pillow case works very well for this.

**Buck** · 01-29-2003, 02:53 AM

I got the sand from home depot and it works awesome... no regrets here...
The best part other then the looks is that it changed no parameters whatsoever in my water column which was one of my concerns.
I would use this stuff again in a heart beat...

Bucks Sand

01-24-2003, 01:10 PM	#2
Buck Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, CT Posts: 4,939	Yes it definately will... What I did was to work the sand into the flourite with my fingers so that it fills the gaps between flourite chips. Then when you have it pretty much "filled" add another layer of sand over it. When you plant in it you will stir up some flourite also but if you want it covered just add scoops of sand after planting and you are all set. I have been in and out of my substrate getting the final scaping done to my likes and I am going to wait a few days to be sure that I am sure and then I will add a final sand layer and let it grow. I really like the sand look and I am happy I decided to try it... I was worried about it being to "compact" a substrate for fine roots but after uprooting a few plants for friends and also for rescaping the tank the roots obviously have no trouble whatsoever ! They almost root TOO good... LOL Even the Cardamine lyrata which has very fine roots has done very well in sand... __________________ Buckmanshome.Com

01-24-2003, 01:39 PM	#4
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	Yeah, it amazes me how well plants root in a seemingly compacted substrate! The most impressive roots I'd ever seen were in a tank with exlusively kitty litter! That stuff is like a granulated fine powder. Makes a mess, but the plants LOVE it. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

01-24-2003, 03:40 PM	#5
Buck Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, CT Posts: 4,939	It is impossible to keep it from mixing... once you put in all your Flourite ...only add a little sand to it and work it into flourite and repeat until you have no air bubbles in substrate. If you do not work the sand into flourite first you will get " sinkholes " later down the road as it settles. Then just add however much more sand you want for looks over the settled layer you just created. I add sand here and there and have also pythoned some right out the door to my lawn in places that I had to much... Also The bottom feeders love the sand...my cory will vaccum this stuff like no tomorrow...he sucks the sand in and blows it back out through his gills ... very kool to watch. __________________ Buckmanshome.Com

01-28-2003, 02:55 PM	#6
PhishNeslo Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan Posts: 79	what kind of sand do you use? silica play sand? corse filter sand for swimming pools? __________________ 90g planted tank & 55 g planted tank/sump, with opposing 12 hr photoperiods. Filter: DIY rapid sand filter w/ 5 liters Eheim effisubstrat and 50 pounds of corse filter sand, 600 gph pump. dump returns. Substrate: Gravel and laterite substrates, capped with Flourite and home depot sand. Lighting: 6.7 watts/gallon on top (2x175) of 10,000k MH, (2x128) ODNO GE P&A 3 watts/gal on bottom (4x40) triton t-8 flourscent Fertilization: Seachem liquid fertilization (iron and comprehensive), Tetra initial sticks CO2: DIY 14 liter yeast (seven bottles connected to a gang valve) 400 gph reactor (gravel vacuum tube filled with bio-bale and a powerhead on top)

01-29-2003, 02:53 AM	#8
Buck Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lebanon, CT Posts: 4,939	I got the sand from home depot and it works awesome... no regrets here... The best part other then the looks is that it changed no parameters whatsoever in my water column which was one of my concerns. I would use this stuff again in a heart beat... Bucks Sand __________________ Buckmanshome.Com

01-24-2003, 02:14 AM	#1
fraggle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 34	I was just thinking, if I have 2" flourite, then put 1.5 inches of sand over that, isn't the sand going to mix in with the flourite?

01-24-2003, 01:20 PM	#3
fraggle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 34	So you are really mixing the sand and flourite, not layering it?

01-28-2003, 06:40 PM	#7
tyler Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 32	don't forget to rinse either. a pillow case works very well for this.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mix flourite with sand?	doublefake	Substrate	4	07-26-2004 07:56 PM
sand in a 55gal flourite?	cookingnerd607	Substrate	1	06-21-2004 01:45 AM
flourite and sand	hooha	Substrate	4	03-30-2004 07:07 PM
Sand and flourite, or laterite.	Sebastian	Substrate	8	12-18-2003 08:56 PM
Flourite vs Onyx sand	SaM dA MaN	Substrate	4	09-06-2003 07:34 PM