Cheap substrate

jcgd · 03-19-2004, 04:29 PM

Would playsand be okay as a substrate in a large tank? Should I put some peat under it or anything? Will it give my problems in the long run? I want to use sand because florite is 38 buck a bag (canadian) and I definately can't afford enough for a 55 gallon tank.

jcgd · 03-19-2004, 07:31 PM

Anyone?

**GDominy** · 03-19-2004, 07:45 PM

I'll let you know how my little experiement turns out. I'm running white silica sand in 2 of my aquariums but It has only been a few weeks.. I have no long term experiences to share.

The good news was that I could get sand for both my 135 gallon tank, and my 90 gallon for $20 Canadian :-)

Wasserpest · 03-19-2004, 08:00 PM

I prefer fine gravel over sand. While sand looks good, it is difficult to keep clean, and not a good substrate to grow plants due to the limited circulation and missing air (water) space for detritus (fish poop) to be beneficial for plants.

**GDominy** · 03-19-2004, 08:17 PM

Heh.. when you have as many loaches as I do constantly churning the sand.. you dont have to worry about keeping it clean ;-) In my 90 gallon the sand is collecting algae now, so I stir it up by hand every couple of days. I imagine once the eels are comfortable and start rooting around in it that it will stay pretty clean as well.

I definately would avoid using sand for heavy root feeders without some form of substrate fert...

jcgd · 03-20-2004, 10:42 PM

What if I had some MTS and put florite in the sand near the heavy root feeders as well as root tabs?

Mini4x · 03-22-2004, 04:01 PM

I am using silica sand and feel it's the biggest mistake I ever made.

I'll be doing a complete teardown soon and going another route with the substrate..

**Urkevitz** · 03-22-2004, 08:33 PM

I am using granitic sand, the root growth is tremendous, but it does look messy on the surface.

wellbiz · 03-22-2004, 08:40 PM

I have sand over flourite and love it... Looks like a stream bed and is easy to take care off...

Jason

TeeItUp · 03-23-2004, 01:34 AM

I just picked up some Shultz Aquatic Soil which is basically Turface. $7 at my local garden center for a 10 pound bag. The 10 pound bag is about twice the volume of a 15 pound bag of Flourite. I do plan on mixing in Flourite and some sand but this stuff looks great.
http://www.schultz.com/proaqua.htm

03-19-2004, 07:45 PM	#3
GDominy Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Victoria,British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,276	I'll let you know how my little experiement turns out. I'm running white silica sand in 2 of my aquariums but It has only been a few weeks.. I have no long term experiences to share. The good news was that I could get sand for both my 135 gallon tank, and my 90 gallon for $20 Canadian :-) __________________ Gareth

03-19-2004, 08:00 PM	#4
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,648	I prefer fine gravel over sand. While sand looks good, it is difficult to keep clean, and not a good substrate to grow plants due to the limited circulation and missing air (water) space for detritus (fish poop) to be beneficial for plants. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

03-19-2004, 08:17 PM	#5
GDominy Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Victoria,British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,276	Heh.. when you have as many loaches as I do constantly churning the sand.. you dont have to worry about keeping it clean ;-) In my 90 gallon the sand is collecting algae now, so I stir it up by hand every couple of days. I imagine once the eels are comfortable and start rooting around in it that it will stay pretty clean as well. I definately would avoid using sand for heavy root feeders without some form of substrate fert... __________________ Gareth

03-20-2004, 10:42 PM	#6
jcgd Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,983	What if I had some MTS and put florite in the sand near the heavy root feeders as well as root tabs? __________________ Follow your Impulse, click here.

03-22-2004, 08:40 PM	#9
wellbiz Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,270	I have sand over flourite and love it... Looks like a stream bed and is easy to take care off... Jason __________________ 120g, Flourite & Sand. DIY Stand and Canopy. CF lighting 3wpg, Pressurized C02, DIY reactor. 2-XP3's, 500watt heater. Heavily planted

03-19-2004, 04:29 PM	#1
jcgd Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,983	Would playsand be okay as a substrate in a large tank? Should I put some peat under it or anything? Will it give my problems in the long run? I want to use sand because florite is 38 buck a bag (canadian) and I definately can't afford enough for a 55 gallon tank.

03-19-2004, 07:31 PM	#2
jcgd Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,983	Anyone?

03-22-2004, 04:01 PM	#7
Mini4x Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Watertown, MA Posts: 217	I am using silica sand and feel it's the biggest mistake I ever made. I'll be doing a complete teardown soon and going another route with the substrate..

03-22-2004, 08:33 PM	#8
Urkevitz Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,866	I am using granitic sand, the root growth is tremendous, but it does look messy on the surface.

03-23-2004, 01:34 AM	#10
TeeItUp Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio Posts: 493	I just picked up some Shultz Aquatic Soil which is basically Turface. $7 at my local garden center for a 10 pound bag. The 10 pound bag is about twice the volume of a 15 pound bag of Flourite. I do plan on mixing in Flourite and some sand but this stuff looks great. http://www.schultz.com/proaqua.htm

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