Sand For Frontosa Tank

[Lisa67]

I'm moving my frontosa to a bigger tank and cant figure out what kind of sand to use. Currently they are in a 55gal tank with mbuna and I have some special cichlid sand (forgot the name) but it keeps the ph in my water very high. I'd really like to use in in the front tank, but at $28/bag I need more than I can afford. I've heard play sand is good (and cheap) but I don't like the light brown color and I don't think it will do much to help with the PH. I've also read suggestions of hard to find sand (3M) but I don't think I'd be able to find it in my area.

So, I'm looking for a dark colored sand that is cheap, safe and easy to find.... any suggestions?
Thank You!

 

[creg]

thats a very hard question not many cheap sands other than play sand, im gonna use argos play sand in my next tank and put some limestone in the tank or filter to buffer ph

 

[Lisa67]

Is Argos a brand? Does in colors in colors? It doesn't have to be that cheap, just a lot less than $28/bag.

 

[creg]

oh i guess you dont have argos in the US, im from england but its a light and realistic sand anyway. the only dark coloured sand i know of is black tahitian moon sand, ive used it before and its great but not very cheap i dont think

 

[minnnt]

Crushed coral sand and ocean rock is the usual substrate used to raise the pH. I have used the play sand, and when I was washing it I thought I had made a big mistake, but when its in the tank it is more white so I was very relieved and very happy with the outcome. I don't think it will do anything for the pH but if you can find a buffer of some sort then I think it will work out cheaper in the long run.

 

[bullit]

Pool filter sand?

 

[Lisa67]

I've used play sand before but I don't like the light brown color (I'm pretty sure pool sand is the same). Also, it took FOREVER to settle... atleast it seemed that way. The cichlid sand I mentioned settled almost immediately. I will look into the crushed coral. The fonts seem to really love picking up the sand in their mouths. Would they still be able to do that with coral?

 

[minnnt]

You can get different grades.1mm 3mm 5mm etc. The play sand I used looked brown in the bucket hence.me thinking I had made a mistake. Once in the tank though it was excellent. Took less than 24 hours for the water to become crystal clear.

 

[Lisa67]

I think I may try mixing the cichlid sand with the finest black gravel that I can find at my LFS. The fonts love moving the sand around in the tank that they are currently in. Will they do the same with gravel?

 

[minnnt]

I would imagine so, my firemouths do it and they're only about 3 inches.

 

[bullit]

kiriyama had some black sand which could be mixed rather than the gravel. (just an idea)