aquarium sand types

[icedmilk001]

I recently got 4 blood parrots, and they seemed to really like pushing things around the tank, so I threw in a couple of pebbles, which they like.

i’ve been told that these blood parrots like digging sand, and I would like to know which type of sand fits best for these fishes, their ease of maintaining and the tank.

Any tips will be appreciated!

 

[WhistlingBadger]

The easiest and cheapest is to get "play sand" (I don't know if they call it that in Hong Kong) from a hardware store. Rinse it thoroughly until the water runs clear before you use it.

 

[Colin_T]

just have normal white light above the tank, it's better for the fish.

 

[icedmilk001]

just have normal white light above the tank, it's better for the fish.

i have the light set to that colour when it’s nighttime

 

[icedmilk001]

The easiest and cheapest is to get "play sand" (I don't know if they call it that in Hong Kong) from a hardware store. Rinse it thoroughly until the water runs clear before you use it.

we don’t really have hardware stores in the traditional sense, but i get what you mean. Thanks!

 

[StandbySetting]

Is that a fluval flex 123? The only reason I ask is if it is, it will be unsuitable for your 4 blood parrots long

 

[FishHobby99]

I have a small group of blood parrots. I use Playground sand I buy at Lowe’s, $5 for 50 pounds. Has to be thoroughly washed. I place all I can carry in a 5 G bucket, take outside & fill with water from the hose. Swirl & repeat & empty until dust goes away & water is clear. Necessary to add a few cups of sand every so often as some is lost to vacuuming. I dump the sand in at substrate level.

Very interesting about the stones! I have some sitting around & am wondering now if they’d pose a hazard to my much bigger fish in the tank, as in would they try to eat them? Maybe I should find some bigger stones.

Yes! Cichlids are excavators. They dug up the plants, so now I have some tied to vertical acrylic poles.

 

[Ellie11]

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I recently got 4 blood parrots, and they seemed to really like pushing things around the tank, so I threw in a couple of pebbles, which they like.

i’ve been told that these blood parrots like digging sand, and I would like to know which type of sand fits best for these fishes, their ease of maintaining and the tank.

Any tips will be appreciated!

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I like your tank