Silica sand or not in planted tank

Hi all.

I'm planing on starting a 1.2m planted tank.

I see on a thread that @solex69 used silica sand as a substrate. Can I use any silica sand or is there a specific "brand" that I must use?
I wanted to use fluorite but it is very expensive @ R347 per bag.
What type of fertilizer is recomended with silica sand?
If I go with the fluorite do you still have to use fertilizers?

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

 

I used silica sand for my 1.5m tank, for the exact same reason as you. was going to use fluorite but too expensive.
The bags I got where i think 25kg for R120 (might be a bit off can’t remember exact amounts)

But after i added fish and they started producing waste, the plants used that to get their nutrients and my one plant took off.
I just recently set up a co2 system, and in the future I plan to mix in fluorite with the silica.

Just remember that lighting is also important. Otherwise for a budget conscience user, there is nothing wrong with using silica in my opinion.

 

I just finished a 3ft tank for plants arriving today. I used palm fiber peat as a base with fern sticks grinded into the mulch. I topped it with a decent layer of white play sand courtesy of the local nursery. I normally use fine silica pool filter sand but I'm experimenting this time round.

As for fertilizers I use 3 liquid ferts for macro and micro nutrients as well as bio available carbon. For high tec systems I add pressurised CO2. My 2c worth

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I also use silica sand and have no problems with plant growth. i just purchased a 40kg bag from builders whouse @ R78 a bag. its most affordable and does the job. make sure you have good lighting and find a good routine of dosing ferts. i do a 20% water change a week. there was a few weeks that i went off the routine and noticed that it impacted on my growth rate. once a got back to my scheduled maintenance, all was well. as much as we all say that certain products are the best and one should use them , its our maintenance schedule that's more important. as you go along , you will get a feel of what should be right for your tank, which aspects should be increased or decreased. i say , just go for it!

 

I got my silica sand from builders. R 75 a 40kg bag.
Now time to think about plants