Choosing sand

1072 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Dman911, Mar 24, 2017

Jbyrd

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2017

Hi everyone,

Looking for a little guidance here. First – I am a total newb. I set up a 10g that failed miserably about a year ago. Tried again with both that 10g and a 20g, and have had better success this time around. The 10 has been set up for a couple months, the 20 a month or so longer, and both are doing well (by my standards anyway). It’s pretty much been dumb luck if I am being honest, that and obsessively checking my levels before I added anything more than a betta and a couple dojo loaches.

I’d like to set up a 55g once Petco has their $1/gal sale, and doing research prior to actually buying my supplies. Right now, my head is spinning with all the different substrates. What I know – I like sand. I’ve had fluorite gravel and HATED it (with a passion). Both current tanks have the Nat Geo sand and I like the look, plus how easy it is to settle plants in it. I’ve read that folks use pool filter sand, blasting sand, and various aquarium marketed sand. Knowing I will have to provide nutrients, I’m really looking for the best bang for my buck, and whether you folks with more experience have any major pros vs cons for each. I want to plant the 55g deeper than I have the 20 (it only has one 20lb bag of the nat geo sand in it, making my tank’s scape very flat) and I figure I’m going to have to buy a few bags of whatever I go with.

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Nlewis

· #2 · Mar 22, 2017

Jbyrd said:
Hi everyone,

Looking for a little guidance here. First – I am a total newb. I set up a 10g that failed miserably about a year ago. Tried again with both that 10g and a 20g, and have had better success this time around. The 10 has been set up for a couple months, the 20 a month or so longer, and both are doing well (by my standards anyway). It’s pretty much been dumb luck if I am being honest, that and obsessively checking my levels before I added anything more than a betta and a couple dojo loaches.

I’d like to set up a 55g once Petco has their $1/gal sale, and doing research prior to actually buying my supplies. Right now, my head is spinning with all the different substrates. What I know – I like sand. I’ve had fluorite gravel and HATED it (with a passion). Both current tanks have the Nat Geo sand and I like the look, plus how easy it is to settle plants in it. I’ve read that folks use pool filter sand, blasting sand, and various aquarium marketed sand. Knowing I will have to provide nutrients, I’m really looking for the best bang for my buck, and whether you folks with more experience have any major pros vs cons for each. I want to plant the 55g deeper than I have the 20 (it only has one 20lb bag of the nat geo sand in it, making my tank’s scape very flat) and I figure I’m going to have to buy a few bags of whatever I go with.

You know the cheapest 2 already, it's blasting grit and PFS. I picked up PFS at Walmart for about $6 for 50lbs. Tractor supply is the goto for the Black Diamond and its roughly $9 for 50lbs. Personally i feel the BDBS is better as i like the looks of the black substrate and it makes everything around it pop.

One suggestion i have for you though. I'd get the 75g over the 55 all day long as its 6" deeper front do back which makes a world of difference when scaping the tank. It shouldn't change your budget all that much between that and a 55 other than maybe lighting.

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sohankpatel

· #3 · Mar 22, 2017

Get a 75, 18" is SOO much better than 12" I have a 55g, and would trade for a 75 in an instant.

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Jbyrd

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 22, 2017

So, saying I upgrade from the 55 to the 75, how many bags of 50lbs do you suggest I get? As I said, i got one 20lb bag for the 20gl, and I feel like it's too shallow. My dojos are forever uprooting newly placed plants that haven't had the opportunity to establish roots, and part of me thinks it's mainly because the sand is shallow.

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Dman911

· #5 · Mar 22, 2017

Jbyrd said:
So, saying I upgrade from the 55 to the 75, how many bags of 50lbs do you suggest I get? As I said, i got one 20lb bag for the 20gl, and I feel like it's too shallow. My dojos are forever uprooting newly placed plants that haven't had the opportunity to establish roots, and part of me thinks it's mainly because the sand is shallow.

I would say 2-3" is sufficient others may agree or disagree but that's my preference here is a calculator to aid you.

Just to add I use the #5 white sand from nat geo for an underwater waterfall and my dwarf hairgrass loves it. I am constantly picking the DHG out since its meant to represent water in my aquascape and I would definitely consider using it as a substrate in the future. But it is a bit more pricey than the others and i'm not sure the cost vs. gain would be there.

Substrate Calculator

Dan

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Hephaestus

· #6 · Mar 22, 2017

I would say that whether you get the PFS or BDBS, you will need a bare minimum of 3 bags, and 4 or 5 would probably be better if you actually want to scape it instead of having a flat bottom. You can also use something cheap like lava rock to build up hills, then put your sand over top of that. It will hold its shape better and use less sand.

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Nlewis

· #7 · Mar 22, 2017

I'd go with 4 bags

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discuspaul

· #8 · Mar 23, 2017

2" to 3" of sand is plenty for any sand substrate in a tank - enough to grow many species of plants low-tech & to lessen the risk of anaerobic toxic gas pockets developing.
If you're talking 20 lb. bags, then 4 should do the job well in a 75 gal tank.

My suggestion would be to get 2 - 50 lb. bags of # 20 or #30 grade density of quartz pool filter sand, and use only 1.5 bags of it, keeping the rest for replacement sand when you want/need to refresh it as it dirties.

Be sure to get your PFS from a pool supply store, as opposed to buying the 'cheaper' material from a big box store, which is generally of inferior quality, dusty, not of uniform size, and may tend to free-float into the water column when disturbed, potentially clogging filtration.

Be smart - buy $10.-$12. for 50lbs. of PFS from a pool supply shop - vs. the $6. stuff from a big box store - remember, you only get what you pay for.

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Jbyrd

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 23, 2017

Thank you guys so much for the feedback! still doing a lot of reading, and trying to educate myself. I'm definitely going to get some lava rock to serve as my foundation to hills. This may be a long planning process.

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Dman911

· #10 · Mar 24, 2017

Jbyrd said:
Thank you guys so much for the feedback! still doing a lot of reading, and trying to educate myself. I'm definitely going to get some lava rock to serve as my foundation to hills. This may be a long planning process.

Sand is difficult to build up slopes with in general due to its small size it tends to roll over itself very easily. Lava rock and other methods of building up substrates (such as ADA) are generally used to cut down on the amount of substrate needed to aquascape slopes etc. due to the high price and anaerobic concern (I personally would not be concerned about anaerobic build up but that's another topic). I'm not saying you can't make it work but if I were to attempt it I would probably incorporate substrate supports in the mix to minimize the risk of sliding and rolling over itself. These are often used even with substrates such as ADA where steeper slopes are being used.

Just food for thought.

Dan

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