Play sand as a cap?!?!

[cheddar254]

Can i cap my first layer of substrate with play sand? don't tell me play sand is bad..blah..blah...blah, i just want to know if the plants roots can penetrate properly to get to the nutrients beneath?! I am currently using play sand in my 94l tank and it works great! and is aesthetically pleasing :) see attached pic. please reply :p

[PeterWest]

I think the plants will definitely get to the nutrient bed. Ins't 94l a bit small for those kind of fish?It looks alor bigger than 94l.

Regards
Peter

[cheddar254]

oh my bad! haha im mean 357! or maybe not someone calculate for me, measurements are 130cm * 55cm * 55cm.

[TroyFish]

393? Thats what i get.

Iv never used PS but always wanted to, just worried that plants cant root properly?

[SuperPrit]

393.25, give or take a mil.

[cheddar254]

yey! my tank is bigger than i thought! :D

[PeterWest]

haha ok Cheddar but can I just ask how did you turn out by 94L?

[cheddar254]

mistype :P

i actually thought it was 357 L, must have gotten measurements wrong.

[PeterWest]

haha ok

[cheddar254]

haha, fix you're location, says northen suburbs, ape town :P

I think you should fix your location, says northern suburbs, Ape Town :P

[Zoom]

In theory PS is actually too fine as the soil goes anaerobic. Roots also need water movement through the soil to bring new nutrients to them all the time, as well as Oxygen. However in practise I have seen people using it very successfully. Just never seen the long term application of it.

You also need to make sure that it is pure PS, and not treated with salt and pesticides, as a lot of PS is nowadays.

[cheddar254]

In theory PS is actually too fine as the soil goes anaerobic. Roots also need water movement through the soil to bring new nutrients to them all the time, as well as Oxygen. However in practise I have seen people using it very successfully. Just never seen the long term application of it.

You also need to make sure that it is pure PS, and not treated with salt and pesticides, as a lot of PS is nowadays.

maybe pool filter sand? but i really love the playsand look :(

[Zoom]

Pool filter sand is probably more widely used.

[cheddar254]

Pool filter sand is probably more widely used.

tough choice.

[Singularity]

Alot of the marine guys use play sand for their display tanks and dsb`s, just have to be rinsed thoroughly.

[gaf7808]

I have play sand mixed into my substrate in my planted tank that came from ToysRus and had no problems so far, plus my refugium in my marine tank has had it in there for about 5 years.

[Whipme]

I'm using playsand from ToysRus as well, I originally had it over Seachem Flourite and the plants had no problem rooting and growing at quite a rate. I've also got just plain playsand in other tank, but the plants aren't rooting so well there, but that's most likely because the loaches are digging quite a bit. Just be aware that you're definitely giong to get some of the bottom layer coming up if you've got fish that root around a bit. My Loaches and Cories have both had that effect in different tanks.

[EyeCandysings]

I currently use a super fine white sand from Carib sea and everything from large crypts to small HC will root fine in it. It does not go anaerobic. Have had the substrate for over a year now.