What Sand Type To Use With Aqubasis?

[Christoff]

Hi everyone, I'm new to planted tanks and after some advice. One day I'll hopefully know enough to give some!

I'm in the process of setting up my Rio 180 as a low tech planted tank. I've added 2-3cm of JBL Aqubasis Plus to the floor of the tank and have purchased some Argos Play Sand that I had intended to add 4-5cm of over the top. And I've got my Mopani wood soaking! But I'm having a crisis of confidence about whether to go with play sand or the larger grained silica sand? Is it just personal preference or is the play sand too fine for the Aquabasis to be properly contained? Second, I am a bit worried about anaerobic dead spots and so was intending to get some MTS to work over the sand. Will they cause any problems by stirring up the Aquabasis into the water?

Grateful for anyone's views. All opinions welcome!

Chris

 

[PDSimon]

I think it does contain it fairly well. Maybe top it off a bit more than usual (2inches?) of playsand. I have tropica plant substrate underneath 2 inches of argos substrate and havn't had any problems thus far. I don't stir the sand really... I've been told the time the bubbles are in the water won't effect the fish anyway. If your worried just get some snails, you can normally get MTS for next to nothing if not free. They are too small to move around the substrate that much.

 

[ian]

firstly, good choice on the aquabasis, i would n't any other now.

secondly, play sand is fine, but its totally up to you, you need 2-3 inches. You will see a cloudyness after planting though, aquabasis does tend to cloud the water. It settles after a couple of hours though.

I haven't stirred my sand for 9 months now, sand stirring is a bit of a myth. The gas, gasses off anyways and itn't actually leathal in water.

 

[Christoff]

Thanks both for the reassurance. Currently in the process of washing the play sand and will add it tomorrow!

Chris

 

[gearhead65]

Yes, I got all my MTS from my LFS for free. And I also got some that hitchhiked with some plants along with some "undesirable" snails.