Sand is a great substrate. A very well trusted source recommended the switch. I've had black sand in my 29 for over a year now with no problems. Plants are doing quite well. Hope this helps!:thumbsup:
Question about sand substrate
I was going to aquascape half my tank with fluval stratum and the other half with sand. I'm and amateur at this so i read as much as i can then beat it to death over and over. I was understanding that sand was ok as a substrate, "(using it more for looks than planting)" but when I went to the lfs today the cute little spanish girl whom i've trusted for everything and is very knowledgeable told me SAND is the hardest substrate to maintain, she said it will look pretty for a week then it will be covered in crap and algae and you can't siphon it. She said she had to remove it from her tank. Now I know there could be many factors involved here but if i have a medium planted tank with a small school of rummynose and 3-5 cory's is my sand going to be a nightmare to clean??? I forgot to mention im lazy and want low maintenance. The tank is only a 29g. the filter is an eheim pro 2236.....
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As long as you don't over feed and don't have more lighting than you need it should be fine. I have had sand in all my tanks with only one problem. I had too much light and as soon as my plants and I gave it a chance algae spread onto the sand and spread like wildfire. I didn't attack it soon enough and it spread quickly. I really had a battle on my hands after that. The heavy stuff that I couldn't siphon I used a turkey baister on, but it was a huge PITA. That being said I am sure I would have had the same type of problem on gravel but it wouldn't have been as easily noticeable.
As long as you keep a decent balance sand is far more attractive than the alternatives IMO and my cories love to sift through it all day. Most plants are fine but there isn't much for nutrients in it so plan accordingly for that. I use osmocote+ diy tabs for root feeders in sand alone.
As long as you keep a decent balance sand is far more attractive than the alternatives IMO and my cories love to sift through it all day. Most plants are fine but there isn't much for nutrients in it so plan accordingly for that. I use osmocote+ diy tabs for root feeders in sand alone.
I use sand size substrate in all my tanks but 1. The one tank I have Eco-Complete in (which is larger granule) I constantly have to gravel vac and it doesn't grow plants nearly as well as my sand based tanks. Plus planting and scaping in sand is easier and to top it all off cory's like fine grade substrates like sand. I say go with sand
though I've had algae everywhere else in my tank, it has never grown on my sand, I believe it's because the corys are like little brooms, always turning it over and over and never really giving algae a chance.
I love playsand. I add laterite for iron, plus root tabs as needed. The only algae I have problems with s diatoms, and they go away as the tank matures. It isn't hard to vacuum the sand, and with lots of plants it isn't so important to vacuum.
This is very true! Fish that move or sweep through the sand will help keep algae in checkthough I've had algae everywhere else in my tank, it has never grown on my sand, I believe it's because the corys are like little brooms, always turning it over and over and never really giving algae a chance.
So your saying I shouldn't worry too much about the sand correct?
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