Sand Substrate

[mandi]

I am working right now on cleaning up the metal tank stand for my 20-gallon (long) that I just got (it's kinda rusty, so I'm sand-blasting it and repainting it).

Anyway, I'd like to use sand in this tank instead of gravel, but I've never used sand before. It's going to be a freshwater tank. What kind of sand should I buy? How much do you think (approx.) I'll need for a 20 gallon long tank? And how do I prepare the sand as far as washing it and everything?

THANKS!!

Also would a Tetra Whisper power filter disturb the sand too much? (Because that was the type of filter I was planning on buying)

 

[gadazobe]

There's quite a variety of sand that you can use in a tank, but the cheapest I think is play sand that can be bought in any toy store. Silica sand is very good and not too expensive and then you can have black sand. It's really whatever takes your fancy.

To wash it put some of it in a bucket and let water run on it while you stir it with a stick or your hand. You keep doing that until you think the sand is clean - and then some more

I doubt that the filter would disturb the sand. Just make sure that the input of the filter isn't placed too near the sand.

 

[Da_Oz]

Use the same sand your useing for the blasting. It looks good and is a little bigger. I got coarse sand blasting sand in my tank. Looks good and does not stir up easy.