Sand Vs Gravel... Helpp

[Squidward]

I agree with RossC & greggswimm, I am not a fan of sand

Sand gets in the filter and can jam the impellor.
And also, when you use a magnet to clean algae, you have to be careful that you don't trap any between the magnet and the glass, otherwise you will get fine scratches and will damage the glass.

 

[RossC]

I agree with RossC & greggswimm, I am not a fan of sand

Sand gets in the filter and can jam the impellor.
And also, when you use a magnet to clean algae, you have to be careful that you don't trap any between the magnet and the glass, otherwise you will get fine scratches and will damage the glass.

Good point about the magnet cleaner.also sand is a lot slower to clear in the water when first introduced or disturbed. I changed my entire 95 litre tank gravel yesterday and after only a light rinse the water was crystal clear instantly.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I love my black sand and hate my play sand. Also have some nice nasty scratches from the algae scrubber. Don't even use one if you go with sand. Use a sponge

 

[dbanner]

I used to use gravel in a lot of my tanks but then changed to sand... Best thing I ever did.

I used play sand in 2 tanks but u get a build up of bacteria and mess is noticeable on a daily basis so you find yourself doing more sand vacs to keep it clean... Although I then went for Limpopo black sand and I love it.

As its very dark you can't see mess so a weekly sand vac is fine and using sand also allows you to have a wider choice of fish to what gravel does

I would pick black sand over anything else every time. It also would only cost around £22 to fill a small tank of around 250 litres.

 

[Crossfire]

sand.

 

[Dazzler666]

I changed from quartz gravel to black aquarium sand & so far the sand looks great tho only just ser it up & haven't cleaned it yet!!!!
Do find it easier planting things in sand than gravel though.
Upto now, I'd go with black sand.... Although not cheap I think it looks great!!

 

[Staxx]

im going to change from gravel to sand soon aswell

 

[meggyw]

where is the best place or cheapest place to buy black sand??

 

[dbanner]

I'm in the uk and got mine off a website called chemistdirect and paid £23.99 for a 25kg bag but needed a further 10 kg bag which was around £10. This was to fill my 5 foot 450 litre tank. I have the sand just under an inch or so all around the tank. I think you would be ok with around 20 kgs for your tank

 

[Salam]

I'm in the uk and got mine off a website called chemistdirect and paid £23.99 for a 25kg bag but needed a further 10 kg bag which was around £10. This was to fill my 5 foot 450 litre tank. I have the sand just under an inch or so all around the tank. I think you would be ok with around 20 kgs for your tank

I can only find silver sand there. Could you possibly directly link it please?

 

[Salam]

Found it! Silly me

 

[dbanner]

Haha least you found it now

 

[FishLover66]

Does anyone here use pool filter sand? If so, would you please answer the following questions:

1. Is it easy to vacuum and keep clean? Can you stick the end of the vacuum in the sand without all/most of it getting sucked up (no way you could do this with aquarium "beach" sand).

2. Does it allow for air to penetrate the bottom of the tank so bad bacteria doesn't multiply there and turn the sand black and stinky or do you still have to stir it up every so often?

Thanks!

 

[Dazzler666]

I bought & used 50kg for my 5ft!!! It's about one and a half inches throughout ... Roughly!!! Wasn't cheap as bought mine off e-bay but delivery was timely, etc. wouldn't mind but I spent a fortune around 4 months ago on fine quartz gravel which was in my 120 litre, but my other half has now taken over that tank and doesn't want my expensive quartz gravel and wants blue gravel to replicate the ocean for her theme!!!! Lol.
Can't win .... Honest!!!

 

[dbanner]

35kgs for my new type rio 400 (450 litre instead of the 400 from the older type). Around an inch deep, maybe a bit less.