Types 'o sand

[Mattf]

Sooo, you realized you need to get sand into your tank. But what kind to choose? Here I'll run through the advantages and disadvantages of whatever ones pop into my mind, starting with my personal favorite.

BTW, all clean about the same.

Pool filter sand:
Advatages: Cheap and fairly widespread. $8 for 50 lbs at Meijer or $9 at the pool store is dirt cheap. Grains are fairly large as far as sand goes, so it sinks well. Stays out of the filter well. Fish dig fine in it.
Disadvantages: I don't know, doesn't buffer? The tan color can be considered ugly? Your call. SOMEWHAT difficult to dig in? But that's NEVER stopped any of my fish

Play sand:
Advantages: Found EVERYWHERE, and really really cheap. $2-$3 for a 50 lb bag. Small grains make it ultra easy for them to dig. Comes in two types, WHITE play sand (stays white when wet, I had some ages ago, really nice, just as cheap) and your run of the mill dark brown play sand.
Disadvatages: Gets into the water column easily, and doesn't sink that quickly, which can lead to it getting into the filter. Also, does not buffer.

Sandblasting sand:
Advantages: Also, quite cheap, about the same as PFS. Can be purchased at hardware stores (I saw it at Menard's). Black color is nice.
Disadvantages: Really sharp and abraisive. Also, I've heard of accounts of it containing toxic substances such as heavy metals, but this part may be unclear. I kind of want to experiment with it, but don't exactly have a tank to set up with it...

Tahitian moon sand / other kinds you buy at petsmart:
Advantages: Pretty? easily diggable?
Disadvantages: Pricey. Doesn't sink to quickly? (I think, I've never had it).

Cichlid sand / crushed coral sand (two different types, but similar):
Advantages: Buffer, pretty, I don't know.
Disadvatages: REALLY expensive and fairly hard to come by.


Hopefully, some one with a broader range of experience can come in and fill in.

[StoneyMcPot]

nice job man i think u've covered just about everything lol i used brown playsand, make sure u wash it really well its super dirty and i didnt have a problem with the sand sinking it sank fairly quick and i havnt had a problem with it gettin in the filter yet

[Skunk_Punk]

Just thought I would say that the type of sandblasting sand I have is white.

Great Article!

[multi_man]

just got back from lowes, bought a 50lb bag of pool sand for $1.58

[sman91wing]

The play sand is back in season finally!  Load up.  

I haven't had a whole lot of trouble with the sand sinking.  A lot of times it appears to not sink because it isn't properly washed and it makes the water dirty.

[cichlidtom]

I use Quartz/Silica sand or something in all of my tanks. I buy it at Menards. it was like $2.50 for a 50 lb bag. its a nice white color and pretty fine... i like it a lot

[Miles44]

I just started a new 20L with repti-sand.  So far it seems to be working great.  Got it at petsmart.  The bag said it is not dyed.  It was real easy to clean.  And looks real natural.  And it sinks real well.  When I first bought it I was worried about that.

[Skunk_Punk]

I use Quartz/Silica sand or something in all of my tanks. I buy it at Menards. it was like $2.50 for a 50 lb bag. its a nice white color and pretty fine... i like it a lot

Yea, I am pretty sure that is what I got too. The lady at the store said it is used for sanblasting. I think it looks really good ! I definatly recomend it.

[Mattf]

Thanks!

Hmm. Maybe I'll set up my 29 with that instead? Only I want the black kind.

I was pretty hyped on the sinking because my old multi trio used to dump the sand it dug out RIGHT on the sponge that covered the filter intake. So naturally, you can see how it got through...

That reptisand.. Doesn't it have a lot of calcium? (mm... yum)

No, seriously, I think that would buffer....

[Miles44]

Yeah I think it does have alot of calcium.  And my gf said the same thing about it buffering.  I hope it does.

[straitjacketstar]

Neat thread!
I use white playsand in my malawi tank and a more coarse all purpose sand for my South American and newly set-up Tang tank.
I don't care too much for the white playsand though it's not difficult to keep clean. It's cheap enough to be easily replaced by the darker brown playsand for a more natural look.
The all purpose coarse sand I'm using for the Tang and S/A tank looks great. I like that it's fine enough for safe digging but coarse enough for proper plant growth.
Hey Matt, hows about some pix of each sand for illustrative purposes? That would be real handy .

[KimmyM]

I bought plain old builders sand for sand and cement, and such. It got oh so fine granules. I got it for about 3-4 dollars, so that might be around 1-3 american currency.

[belmont0182]

I only use play sand, i have the white kind and the tan kind.  i like both equally well.  the sand only clouds the water when you pour it into a tank with water already in it; as long as you put the sand in first you wont have any problems and the water will look great after about 12 hours.  on the tanks that i have put sand in with water already in it the sand took about 2-3 days to settle and ive had no problems to date with it.




you can see my white sand here <-----

[BuZz]

I just did a search and I'm surprised no one has mentioned or asked about or talked about Rift Lake Authentic Gravel. Although I'm guessing maybe its not suitable for shellies because it's gravel and not sand?

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=20547&category_id=1675&pcid1=1695

[Mattf]

^ Exactly.

Suppose I could edit in pictures of each, but they'd have to be from a solid website, tag linked, because I change my photobucket account around too often to keep such an ongoing thing there.

I have only one type at the moment anyway, so others would have to contribute...