Substrate Question

HI,

Can i use Playing sand as substrate (like the sand used for kiddies.) ?

And if so, how deep do I throw the sand?
My tank bottom is 120cm X 60 cm

 

Hi, play sand works well, just make sure you wash it very well. Sometimes it contains salt and anti bacterial chems. Needs to be rinsed till its clear. Another option is pool filter sand, rinse as well.

 

Thanks,

Which is cheaper? and how much will I need.

Where do I get Pool Filter sand if its cheaper?

Also the Marine shop in Midrand sells sand for their tanks, cant I just put that in?

 

Pool filter sand is cheaper

Builders Warehouse stocks it

 

Cool,

So for 120cm x 60cm , how much will i need?

 

Well why not work out the volume? Every 1 cm3 = 1ml so 120x 60x y
y=depth of sand, once thats complete just use a measuring jug and presto!

 

So, If I want to have my sand 3cm deep, its 21Kg's...
Wow thats alot. Will the tank Handle it?

 

Pool filter sand works well, you can buy it from Builder, but I found a pool shop in Michael Brink Ave, across the road from the Jacaranda Centre that is much cheaper. They have Speck pool filter sand that is a bit darker that the one you can buy from builder, and looks better that the very light one.

 

Great stuff thank you

 

Pool sand from builder ware house, I got about 30KG's in the tank

If you want plants, you'll end up making it deeper, trust me. Its just too shallow to plant properly, so keep the left over substrate,

 

U mind sending me a pic of your tank with the sand? Do you have plants in it

 

Pool Filter Sand

This is a pic of the tank with the lighters sand. When I redo the tank I am going to replace it with darker sand.

 

And I now assume, that I can get darker sand at the Pool shop

 

Pretty much white only

 

I also use the river sand from Builders warehouse and it works great, plus it's super cheap only 24 bucks per bag

 

I know the black sandlike substrate is what I really want but that costs R55 for 5kgs.....

 

You might just have to bite th bullet then... (hard to believe how much dirt costs lol)

 

apparently its the same sand they use, when doing sandblasting, so....
I will try to find out where those guys get it from.

 

Good luck Post a pic of your tank wen its done- would love to see wat the darker sand looks like

 

Well I'm between a rock and a hard place.
I have 2 Jaguar cichlids, so I just thought that the darker substrate will bring out their colour more... not?

What is your take on this?