Sand!

[Seahorse]

The hardware store sells bags of playsand for 99 cents, is this appropriate for fish tanks?

For cleaning I should just run a hose through it for awhile outside, yes? How long does it take to settle?

Is it easier to maintain than gravel? How easily does it get stirred up? Shall I just clean with a siphon? Is there any other way to maintain other than with a siphon? Surprisingly I've never had to use one to maintain my tanks but I suppose sand is a bit different!

Thanks for helping with all these questions

 

[Seahorse]

Heading to town in a bit tonight so if anyone could respond by then, I'd appreciate it! Would love to buy some sand today...

Edit: Is it possible to get sand from a lake, and boil it?

 

[cla55y19]

childs play sand would be fine its already been sterilised but you should prob rinse it out to get any dust or something, you have to stir it to stop a dangerous gas building up i aint sure what its called but read about it on here you might have trouble growing plants in sand aswell as when you put water on it, it compacts down and stops water getting around the roots hope this helps a bit

 

[newfishies]

there are TONS of topics on this in tropical #### chat. i also think there is a pinned topic on how to change over in the FAQ.

rinse, rinse, rinse.. the playsand will have lots of dust in it.
i use my gravel vac and hover over the sand to clean it. it's no more difficult than gravel.

 

[Seahorse]

Thanks guys!

I searched on google and I see that you CAN use beach sand, which might be nice too, after a verrrry thorough cleaning.

I am kind of worried about the plants part though! I have the following coming:

Crptocoryne Wendtii, Java Fern, Anubias, Java Moss, Echinodorus Bleheri...

Aye ye ye

 

[newfishies]

i'd stay away from the beach sand, you never know what has touched it!
i have crypts, java fern and moss and anubias in my tanks. they are doing well

 

[Seahorse]

That's true. And we have so many lovely areas around the great lakes too

 

[cla55y19]

java fern and moss and anubias dont do well burried in any substrate they are better attached to wood or rock

 

[Seahorse]

Yup I have some java fern growing on a "cave", and will do the same with the rest.

I decided to order some very light beige sand, since I think the bettas would like it, and I want a very natural look.

It is going to be a very heavily planted tank for the girls especially, with natural looking rock formations, which I don't think will look as nice with just tan gravel.

So exciting

Thanks for your help everyone.

One more thing. I need sand for two 10 gallons and 5 gallon. At 5 pounds per bag, how many bags should I need?

 

[newfishies]

i used a 50# bag for a 20 gal and 2 10's, so that 's 1.25 # per gallon. it really just depends on how thick you want the substrate to be.

 

[Seahorse]

Thanks again for everyones help, I transitioned to sand today! The boys (and girl!) are loving it.

That is a total of four tanks in my bedroom alone

I have a tank cycling and waiting for Yeevia's bettas. He is shipping me 12! It is going to be nuts.

The sand looks much more beautiful than gravel ever could