play sand

redtail · Post by **redtail** » 01 Oct 2004, 21:55

i was wonder, if anyone else uses play sand in there tank. i have about 2 inches of play sand in my 29 gal tank for two week now and its still very cloudy. does anyone know if the water will clear up.

Post by **Barbie** » 01 Oct 2004, 21:59

In my opinion, you don't want to have more than an inch of play sand. It's hotly argued whether the anaerobic pockets and the gas they form will actually kill fish, but I do know they will definitely stress them out. There's no reason to have sand that deep, but if you like the look, you might add some trumpet snails, or something that will at least burrow around in the sand to keep it from compacting.

Barbie

Post by **medaka** » 01 Oct 2004, 22:12

hi redtail

barbie is right no real need for your sand to be that thick. also i do use play pit sand ,
the first time i used it; because the bag stated that it had been graded,ph neutral, sterile
and washed i put it straight into the empty tank...
i didnt rinse it first

.added the water...
the water was cloudy after two days i drained the tank
and rinsed the sand, refilled the tank with water and
put in the sand, the next morning the water was clear,

i now always rinse the sand..

zebraplec · Post by **zebraplec** » 02 Oct 2004, 06:42

I use play sand in nearly all my tanks but again I have to agree an inch deep is plenty. I wash the sand over and over again untill the water runs clear and then when you add it to the tank it setles to the bottom and the tank water is crystal clear.

Alan_au · Post by **Alan_au** » 02 Oct 2004, 17:04

For goodness sake !!!!!!don't ever consider introducing trumpt snails (Melanoiodies tuberculata}if you intend to breed fish. They are the bigest curse ever in a breeding set up using sand or gravel substrate. They are notorious egg raiders! they multiply at an unbelievable rate and are darn near impossible to kill.

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » 02 Oct 2004, 18:03

Well washed sand is what needed to be done!

Post by **Barbie** » 03 Oct 2004, 03:17

Where did it say it was going to be a fry tank? The snails are very effective at keeping the substrate turned over. They also don't multiply out of control without excess food, IME, but I do hear YMMV. ;)

Barbie

tjudy · Post by **tjudy** » 03 Oct 2004, 04:27

I use play sand and rinse it thoroughly. I also let the gravel siphon collect the smallest 'dust' sand particles over the course of water changes. I start with about 1/2 inch and end up with about 1/3 inch over a few months that is more coarse.

play sand

play sand

Sand substrait.