Should I Replace Gravel with Sand?

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

"Quikrete"

Very little chance I'll remember that spelling the next time the topic comes up My apologies in advance!

 

[Slaphppy7]

Very little chance I'll remember that spelling the next time the topic comes up My apologies in advance!

LOL, no big whoop

 

[Essjay]

There was a discussion about Sakrete sand a while ago, and their website said not to use it in aquariums.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

There was a discussion about Sakrete sand a while ago, and their website said not to use it in aquariums.

I'm questioning what I know about sand, but don't want to confuse myself googling since I'm brain fogged today...

I know that silicates can affect water chemistry somehow. But then was thinking, isn't all sand silicate?

So I dunno anymore, my brain hurts

 

[Essjay]

Sand is silica, silicon dioxide. But it's insoluble - ever tried dissolving sand Silicates are the anion half of silicic acid. Silicates are soluble - they dissolve in water.
That's not to say that some types of sand don't have silicates on the surface of the particles just waiting to be put in water so they can dissolve.


In the case of Sakrete pay sand, their website says

Sakrete Natural Play Sand's mineral make up is silica, which is the same as any beach sand.

But then goes on to say

Applications Sakrete Play Sand Should Not Be Used:

1. Aquariums - A commonly asked question is whether Sakrete Natural Play Sand can be used for fish aquariums. For that application, a special manufactured sand is needed which won’t affect the pH level of the water.

Quotes from here https://www.sakrete.com/blog/play-sand-and-is-it-safe-for-my-kids

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Glad you went with the play sand, @mbsqw1d has the same one, and his cories love it

I've heard mixed reviews about the black diamond blasting sand. Would want to see some up close personally to form an opinion, but have heard that it can be quite sharp, and since cories like to filter/sift (choose which term you like!) sand through their gills, I'd be wary. But I think @WhistlingBadger has used it and not had problems, if I'm remembering rightly?

I've used blasting sand (black diamond and another cheaper brand from a construction store) in two tanks and had very healthy cories for multiple years in both. I think it's one of those things that kind of make sense if you think about it (blasting sand=abrasive=sharp=bad for cories, right?) but it doesn't quite work that way in the real world.

@Slaphppy7 I've heard about the oily thing, too, but never had an issue with that, either. It does tend to be dusty, but so is play sand.

I'm not saying neither of those problems exist, but in my experience, blasting sand is great stuff!

 

[madmark285]

A comparison of the sand in my area, Western NY. Starting on the left, Quikrete play sand, a quartz pool filter sand and Sakrete Play sand which is not recommended for aquariums.

 

[Mick85]

I've done the switch a couple of times now on 2 different tanks. Both times i left the fish in the tank and just removed all hardscape, used a cat litter shovel thing to scoop out the gravel and then added washed sand. It didn't harm the fish at all and everything was fine. Definitely recommend sand for kuhlis and corys. Their behavior changes dramatically when they go from gravel to sand (in a good way).

 

[vanalisa]

LOL, no big whoop

"LOL, no big whoop"

LOL
???

 

[itiwhetu]

Nothing beats natural river gravel ( fine). Sand is just horrible to manage. Fresh water fish live on gravel. Sand is produced once the river gravel reaches the ocean, and is beaten up by the currents. You never find true sand in river systems.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Nothing beats natural river gravel ( fine). Sand is just horrible to manage. Fresh water fish live on gravel. Sand is produced once the river gravel reaches the ocean, and is beaten up by the currents. You never find true sand in river systems.

Freshwater fish also don't live with 1000l/h filtration systems and spray bars, but they don't seem to have many complaints about that... ?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Nothing beats natural river gravel ( fine). Sand is just horrible to manage. Fresh water fish live on gravel. Sand is produced once the river gravel reaches the ocean, and is beaten up by the currents. You never find true sand in river systems.

Where I live, there's sand in many of the rivers...

 

[vanalisa]

I've done the switch a couple of times now on 2 different tanks. Both times i left the fish in the tank and just removed all hardscape, used a cat litter shovel thing to scoop out the gravel and then added washed sand. It didn't harm the fish at all and everything was fine. Definitely recommend sand for kuhlis and corys. Their behavior changes dramatically when they go from gravel to sand (in a good way).

Which sand?

 

[vanalisa]

A comparison of the sand in my area, Western NY. Starting on the left, Quikrete play sand, a quartz pool filter sand and Sakrete Play sand which is not recommended for aquariums.

View attachment 133004

I'm fond of the look of the pool filter sand. Does that kind get sucked into the filter? .....
I mean the vacuum tube? Do you just wave it back and forth? I'm not changing until I get a hold of some pygmy cory, though.
Budget ?

The play sand reminds me of some stuff that came in a wooden box that was to be used to play with for stress and tactile stimulation. It seemed sticky. Is this kinetic sand, and is that the same as the play sand?

 

[Slaphppy7]

I'm fond of the look of the pool filter sand. Does that kind get sucked into the filter? .....
I mean the vacuum tube? Do you just wave it back and forth? I'm not changing until I get a hold of some pygmy cory, though.
Budget ?

The play sand reminds me of some stuff that came in a wooden box that was to be used to play with for stress and tactile stimulation. It seemed sticky. Is this kinetic sand, and is that the same as the play sand?

Nope, PFS does not get sucked into your filter(s), or the siphon tube...if you jam the siphon tube into the sand (which you shouldn't do), it will suck some up, but if you use gravity to vacuum, it will fall right out, it's too heavy to be gravity-vacced out of a tank...