Sand And Algae

[andyboy!!]

Hi

I have been weighing up whether to get sand for my tank.

I decided yes, so off I goes to the pet shop. One thing is that its hard to get hold of were I live and places that do stock it only seem to have white (silica).

Anyway in one particular shop the lady told me 'yes it looks nice, until the algae starts to grow on it'. This is one thing I didn't even think about. She said it starts to grow on top and then when you do your stirring thing it gets mixed in and looks bloody awful. She did say you could net the top layer and add some new on top. Or add treatments (which I'd prefer not to do).

Anyway I've seen loads of posts on here about sand but none about the algae on it so was wondering if anyone new anything about this? Also, I may get black or dark sand(if I can ever get hold of any) which wouldn't show the algae up as much??? - would it???

I know all about pockets of gas etc etc......

Cheers!
Andy.

 

[my fat fish]

get a bn plec keep it in cheak

 

[andyboy!!]

My tanks only 2ftx1ft and I'm not a big fan of big fish (sorry). What else is there?

Khuli loaches?? I've had these before.

Andy.

 

[K.J.]

Otos are lovely, and perhaps amano shrimp. However I would reccomend otos, lovely little fish but they prefer to be in 3+.

 

[The-Wolf]

if you have algae growing on you sand, I'd be more concerned about what is causing the algae to grow than how to clean it.
there will be something very wrong with your water parameters.

none of my sand tanks have ever had any algae growing on it.

 

[Matty P]

Yeh there shouldn't be algae growing on it

 

[andyboy!!]

He seems cute.


Maybe a stupid question but do they contribute to the maximum no. of fish (can't remeber what it's called).

Do they eat food leftovers also?

Andy

 

[doresy]

I had white gravel once that grew algae like my block paving grows weeds (where's that mower)!

Sand is great, have it in my new little tank....when it's cycled I moving my fish over while I change my main tank to sand too. Oh boy my cory are going to love me