Can I use sand in a freshwater setup?

SPANKYSREEF · 08-20-2005, 04:46 PM

Hello
Can I use sand in a freshwater setup? If so what type is best...Thanks

wharyat · 08-21-2005, 06:26 PM

Tagging along.

I am starting to dislike gravel.

Twitterbait · 08-22-2005, 01:35 PM

You can use sand... But it needs to be a silicate based sand not a crushed aragonite. you can also get some very fine gravel. I have had to use sand with rays and burrowing catfish like the banjo cat.

vanz · 08-22-2005, 05:51 PM

yes. I've heard lots of people use sand for freshwater. Get the one from homedepot...although you will have to wash that thing like 100X or so.

Stang69 · 08-24-2005, 10:57 PM

Yes you can use sand in a fw tank. However like was said above wash wash wash it.

Jeff

xaoss23 · 08-26-2005, 09:39 PM

you should have no problem with sand... I had a tank setup with it for qute a while. Just remember that youre going to need something to clean it up since it shows everything that falls to the bottom. I actually had a crew of ghost shrimp running around mine for a while. Rinse, rinse, rinse... keep it clean and you should do okay.

Barbie F · 08-28-2005, 06:33 PM

Pool filter sand is preferred by some people. It's a bit fine for my tastes, but it definitely works. Try not to get the sand deeper than an inch or you'll end up with anaerobic pockets that tend to be bad juju for FW fish. You can actually use aragonite sands for african cichlids that like the higher pH. The sand keeps it buffered up and stable for them. It will really depend what you want to do with the tank long term

.

Barbie

tabwyo · 08-31-2005, 10:51 AM

You can use an argonite based sand in FW. I use it for my cichlid tanks to maintain the higher Ph they preffer. When you clean your substrate hold the gravel vacum off the bottom so as to not disturb the anoxic lower layers of sand. Or as stated befor get a small clean up crew. Gohst shrimp are great and so are a variety of Loaches.

krackel · 09-03-2005, 08:58 PM

I even used old chunks of live rock from an old SW setup in a FW tank, did just fine, I also used crushed coral as gravel and noticed no difference.

tabwyo · 09-04-2005, 01:58 PM

you, BTW, most definetly don't want to use argo base sand in soft/ acid water systems. You'll be fighting a looseing battle there.

Sprayin70 · 09-11-2005, 09:47 AM

Isn't there a onix sand for freshwater? It is black in color and will work with planted aquariums. Good luck.

Awestralian · 09-21-2005, 11:59 PM

Crushed coral will usually put your Ph through the roof.
Ok for certain fish, no good for discus, etc.

We use sand in all our freswater tanks, the same stuff you buy for childrens sand pits... The plants love it.

Edit--> And Corys are excellent at keeping the sand clean and collecting junk

Tviokh · 09-25-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprayin70

Isn't there a onix sand for freshwater? It is black in color and will work with planted aquariums. Good luck.

There is.
I forget the brand name, but we use it in the cichlid tank.

I think it's specifically marketed for planted aquariums.
We've had very good luck with it both fish and plant wise.

Loverotties · 09-25-2005, 07:36 PM

Yes,don't forget to wash it.

ErinGoBragh · 10-12-2005, 11:25 AM

I know this is an older thread, but it brings up some questions for me. I have been fighting green water in my FW aquarium, and the substrate is sand. It came from the river a few miles from my house. Could this be a part of the problem? The river itself is very clean, probably more of a mountain stream than a river. There are plenty of fish in the river, trout and char.
Also, the rock in my tank came from the same place. I would hate to have to redo the tank, it looks great when it is clear.

what makes is worse is if I have to replace the substrate, I will have a lot of work to do, as there is about 1.5 oz. of gold in the sand from all of my panning trips. (what thief will steal dirt?)

I