reel mckoi

I'm about to set up the other 55g tank in the sunroom. Because it'll be
heavily planted I was wondering about adding rough builders sand to the
gravel. The question is.... how do you vac the gravel without ****ing up
the sand? Or is that not a problem?
--

RM....
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jeffrey st. clair, ph.d.

Are you referring to play type sand? I'd avoid it as it has clay and really
hard to rinse out. You could do just sand and then you just shake your
python an inch from it and it will **** up the mulm. I wouldn't mix the two
substrates as they will mix into a sand/gravel mess. Sand is great though,
because of it's density, nothing sinks in like with gravel, etc.

natsirt

Builders sand is commonly used for masonary work and should not have
any kind of clay in it. Of course what is called builders sand here
may not be what they call builders sand in other areas. You can buy
the play sand from Lowes or Home Depot inthe bags and it is cleaned
and free of such junk, and very cheap. I use the sugar white play
sand which is very fine and does great for plants.....I have seen the
same exact (suitable) sand sold as lawn leveling sand, builders sand,.
play sand, traction sand, masonary sand,paver leveling
sand...........all of which were identical......Just watch yu do not
get a calcium based sand such as old castle or southdown as it will
alter your ph. But if your gonna keep African cichlids then the
calcium based sand would be ideal.

larry blanchard

If the tank will be heavily planted you won't be doing much vacuuming
anyway :-).

And I know I've said it before, but the best homemade substrate I've found
is the coarse "tube sand" or "traction sand" with the really fine
particles sifted out. More like fine gravel than sand. My plants seem to
love it. And it's cheap :-).

reel mckoi

No, not the play sand. It's too fine. I'm thinking about builders sand which
is a little more coarse, cheaper, darker in color and used to mix to make
concrete.

I'd avoid it as it has clay and really

I was afraid it would go anaerobic from fine mulm if I used just sand or a
sand mix and didn't or couldn't vac it. -- RM....
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reel mckoi

Builders sand is commonly used for masonary work and should not have
any kind of clay in it. Of course what is called builders sand here
may not be what they call builders sand in other areas.

Where I live the builders sand from Lowe's is courser and a darker color. I
buy it to mix with potting soil for my cacti and succulents. The white play
sand it too powdery although I've used that one in potting mixes as well.

You can buy
the play sand from Lowes or Home Depot inthe bags and it is cleaned
and free of such junk, and very cheap.

Yep! :-) Not expensive at all and I like the darker color of the
builder's sand.

I use the sugar white play
sand which is very fine and does great for plants.....I have seen the
same exact (suitable) sand sold as lawn leveling sand, builders sand,.
play sand, traction sand, masonary sand,paver leveling
sand...........all of which were identical......Just watch yu do not
get a calcium based sand such as old castle or southdown as it will
alter your ph. But if your gonna keep African cichlids then the
calcium based sand would be ideal.

Thanks for the warning. I'm not sure what kind of fish are going in the 2nd
tank yet. -- RM....
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reel mckoi

==========================
Are you talking about the stuff in bags called "builders sand" used to mix
concrete? I haven't heard of it called traction or tube sand. They may be
the same product. Where did you buy it? True, plants do make vacuuming the
bottom difficult but fear the bottom will become a nitrate factory if not
vacc'ed at all. -- RM....
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tynk

The *tube sand* that I know about (and use for traction during the
winter) is a larger grit than play sand, that's for sure. = /
Found that out when one of the tubes got a hole poked in it (sharp
metal), which isn't easy to do with tube sand. The bags are really
tuff.
The sand for concrete is a bit smaller than tube sand.
Is "builder's" and the sand for mixing concrete the same stuff? Roy
mentioned it, as well as you RM. I just know about the concrete type
and the tube (or traction) sand.
Right now I've got 4 tubes of it on the garage floor waiting until
winter. = )
I didn't know that sand like these would be safe for aquariums.
I knew some folks get their gravel from building supply places, but
had no idea about the types of sand that can be used too.
Is it prepared the same way, just rinse and use?

larry blanchard

No, traction sand is what you carry in the winter to put under your wheels
if you get stuck in the snow and ice. About 2/3 to 3/4 of it is fine
gravel in the 1/16" to 1/8" range. I sift out the finer stuff and throw
it away.

It may be different in your area - I live in eastern Washington state.

I haven't had any problems yet with gunk on the bottom, but I have a herd
of Maylasian trumpet snails in each tank :-).

reel mckoi

The *tube sand* that I know about (and use for traction during the
winter) is a larger grit than play sand, that's for sure. = /
Found that out when one of the tubes got a hole poked in it (sharp
metal), which isn't easy to do with tube sand. The bags are really
tuff.
The sand for concrete is a bit smaller than tube sand.
Is "builder's" and the sand for mixing concrete the same stuff?

Yes. It's much coarser than play sand which is a step above powder at the
Lowe's and HD where I live.

Roy
mentioned it, as well as you RM. I just know about the concrete type
and the tube (or traction) sand.
Right now I've got 4 tubes of it on the garage floor waiting until
winter. = )

Tubes? What do you mean "tubes" of it? Here it's sold in 50lb bags like
the play sand.

I didn't know that sand like these would be safe for aquariums.
I knew some folks get their gravel from building supply places, but
had no idea about the types of sand that can be used too.
Is it prepared the same way, just rinse and use?

That's also what I'm trying to find out. I would think even this coarse
builder's sand would be hard to rinse. I don't mind cloudy water in the
tank for a few days but wouldn't want it all the time. -- RM....
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