can i use fine sand for my pleco tank

[autumnspecial]

hi to all friends here. just want to check with members here for help,can i use fine sand for my plecos tank.thanks.

[Bas Pels]

I got sand in all my tanks - and plecos in the ones large enough

I fail to see any problem

[racoll]

In general, sand is okay, but some sand can be too fine for the aquarium. It can compact as well as clog the filters.

Short of measuring the grain size, it is very hard to say what is too fine.

The best plan is just to buy sand from the LFS. It might be a bit more expensive, but it is likely to suitable for an aquarium.

[apistomaster]

"Fine sand" means to me something about like granulated sugar sized particles. I use it but never deeper than 1/4 inch. Corydoras especially enjoy sand they can sift through their gills as do plecos. If fine sand is getting in your filters then your intake is set too low in the water column. Usually this will be sand sold at sand blasting suppliers and is much cheaper there than at your LFS. Use the quartz sand.

[liljayyiz]

i was wondering how sand would be in a tank with mainly synodontis? i have a new 65 on the way and i was toying with the idea of using sand for a substrate.

[Birger]

i was wondering how sand would be in a tank with mainly synodontis? i have a new 65 on the way and i was toying with the idea of using sand for a substrate.

This should be no problem...I use sand with everything from microsyno's to synodontis angelicus...the angelicus will take in mouthfulls and throw it out their gills as they look for food....the advice above about too fine of sand would go here as well...I would also worry about sand that is too fine giving trouble as it is passes through the gill area in those species that sift in this way.

Birger

[liljayyiz]

how about filtration, i always thought that gravel is a place where a lot of beneficial bacteria for biological filtration are.

[Suckermouth]

how about filtration, i always thought that gravel is a place where a lot of beneficial bacteria for biological filtration are.

Gravel contains beneficial bacteria on its surface, but volume per volume, sand has more surface area than gravel, and thus potentially can have more bacteria. On the flip side, many people run bottomless tanks just fine, so bacteria on the substrate is not integral to the health of an aquarium. Either way you look at it, not a problem from the standpoint of biological filtration.

[liljayyiz]

that makes a lot of sense, i never even really thought about the fact that people run the bottomless tanks. thanks for all the advice guys.

[racoll]

I didn't appear very enthusiastic about sand in my first post, so I'd better correct that.....

Sand is fantastic! I use it on all my tanks, the catfish love it, and it looks more natural.

As Larry stated, don't use more than a thin layer, and he described the sugar grain size you want very well.

Also, remember to always leave a good 4" between the sand and your filter inlet!

[autumnspecial]

thanks to all bro reply n i have already put in my plecos,5pcs of L333 n 2pcs of L27 i thinks so.tonight collecting some DW to place in too.thank you. ps; can anyone sent me pleco from your place need to have more of the L333.,thanks.