Switching substrate need help

UGA_Grad_Student · 02-22-2012, 01:08 AM

So currently I have about 1 -1.5" of cat litter with about an inch or so of pea gravel from lowes. After staring at it for a week I have decided that it is just WAY too big for my liking. So I want to remove the gravel and go with the black blasting sand from tractor supply. Anyone have any thoughts or caution about using that substrate? I still plan on keeping the cat litter as the bottom layer.

samamorgan · 02-22-2012, 02:56 AM

No need to have a bottom layer, it will just end up shifting its way to the top since it's larger. Wash the sand really, really well. It will take a couple hours to rinse to clear from what i understand.

Zefrik · 02-22-2012, 01:35 PM

I have used the black diamond and It will not take 2 hours to rinse it trust me. Maybe 10 to 15 minutes. It is pretty clean stuff to be honest. It even says something like being pre-cleaned on the bag.

UGA_Grad_Student · 02-22-2012, 02:03 PM

That will certainly make things easier...I am hoping I can bribe a friend with free food into helping me removing the pea gravel currently in there. Will 1 50lb bag work?

**Sugardaddy1979** · 02-22-2012, 02:11 PM

That kitty litter will end up on top of the sand. Just ditch it all together and use the sand. I think you'll need at least a bag and a half. It took almost a whole bag to do my 30.just use the sand and some root caps. Rootmedic also has some prosand caps that will enable you to add some high cec pockets to hold nutrients.

02-22-2012, 01:08 AM	#1
UGA_Grad_Student Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Athens, Ga Posts: 200	Switching substrate need help So currently I have about 1 -1.5" of cat litter with about an inch or so of pea gravel from lowes. After staring at it for a week I have decided that it is just WAY too big for my liking. So I want to remove the gravel and go with the black blasting sand from tractor supply. Anyone have any thoughts or caution about using that substrate? I still plan on keeping the cat litter as the bottom layer.

02-22-2012, 02:11 PM	#5
Sugardaddy1979 Sic em (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 632	That kitty litter will end up on top of the sand. Just ditch it all together and use the sand. I think you'll need at least a bag and a half. It took almost a whole bag to do my 30.just use the sand and some root caps. Rootmedic also has some prosand caps that will enable you to add some high cec pockets to hold nutrients. __________________ Sunsun Pimp Club Member #068

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02-22-2012, 01:35 PM	#3
Zefrik Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Topeka, Kansas Posts: 1,017	I have used the black diamond and It will not take 2 hours to rinse it trust me. Maybe 10 to 15 minutes. It is pretty clean stuff to be honest. It even says something like being pre-cleaned on the bag.

02-22-2012, 02:03 PM	#4
UGA_Grad_Student Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Athens, Ga Posts: 200	That will certainly make things easier...I am hoping I can bribe a friend with free food into helping me removing the pea gravel currently in there. Will 1 50lb bag work?