Sand FAQ

[depthC]

Here is my FAQ on sand. There have been plenty questions asked about it and I compiled a bunch of questions to help those with the same questions. I’ve used the search feature on this site to get all the questions and some out of my head so I’m sure there are more questions to be asked. So if you have another one please PM it to me and Ill update the FAQ.

Q: Where can I get sand?
A: You can find sand in many places, your LFS, local hardware store, building supply store, or at a pool supply store. You might want to avoid sand at your LFS because they jack up the price a great deal.

Q: Are there any sands that I should avoid?
A: Some sand that you might want to avoid are sands that can raise your kh and pH values. Sands such as marine sand which can contain bits of coral that raise your kh. There also is reptile sand which has calcium carbonate, a supplement for reptiles, that acts like a buffer and will raise your kh value and possibly your pH.

Q: Do I need to wash the sand?
A: Yes, if you don’t you’ll have some bad cloudiness.

Q: When will the sand clouds settle?
A: Depending on how well you washed the sand it could take a day or up to a week.

Q: How do I wash sand?
A: Fill a 5 gallon bucket up half way with sand and use a garden hose and blast at the sand and let it overflow so all the tiny particles that would cloud your water are dispersed. When the water is clear or near clear you can stop rinsing it and put the cleaned sand in your tank. Also make sure you do this in your grass or any area that won’t make a mess. Don’t do this in your bathtub.
You can also put sand in a old pillow case and wash it off that way, either method you choose you should get the same outcome; clean sand.

Q: Can I use a HOB filter with sand?
A: Yes, but be aware that your filter can be damaged by sucking up sand particles.

Q: Should I have my filter off while the sand is settling?
A: Yes, to prevent filter failure keep the filter off while the sand is settling so you don’t damage the impeller. If you’d like you could put a sponge over the intake to possibly speed up the time it takes for the sand to settle while protecting your impeller from sand particles.

Q: Should I have my filter off while im cleaning the tank?
A: Yes, its a good idea so that the sand you stir up doesnt get sucked up and create a filter problem.

Q: What kind of sponge can I use to cover my filter intake?
A: Any kind of sponge that was not used with chemical cleaners. Then just cut it down some to fit over the intake.

Q: Can I use a UGF with sand?
A: Nope, I wouldn’t try it unless you’d be willing to tear out the filter when a problem arises.

Q: Will sand be sucked up by my gravel vacuum?
A: Yes, you can’t stick it in the sand like you do with gravel because sand is less dense.

Q: How should I vacuum my sand?
A: Hold the vacuum a half inch to an inch away from the sand and it will suck up the debris on the sand since it cant settle in the cracks like it does with gravel.

Q: Does sand affect water parameters such as pH/KH/GH ?
A: Its possible that it could but it depends on the brand of sand you get. To be 100% sure take a hand full in a glass and fill it up with water. Wait a day and compare the results to your tap water.

Q: Can sand cut or damage my corys barbells?
A: Yes, depending on how fine and sharp the sand is, it could damage them.

Q: How should I prevent anaerobic bacteria?
A: Stir up your sand at least once a month to prevent it from forming.

Q: Can plants grow in sand?
A: Yes, they can grow in it just like they can in gravel.

Q: Do my plants benefit from sand?
A: Yes and No. No, because sand is inert so it provides no fertilizers or nutrients for plants to thrive. Yes, because it is a medium for the plants roots to grow and establish themselves. If you buy Seachem onyx sand which is sand formulized for plant growth they will benefit from that particular sand.

Q: Is sand better than gravel?
A: That’s up to you, its all a personal preference.

Q: Can sand be mixed with gravel?
A: Yes, but the outcome may not be what you expected and over time and lots of digging the sand will settle under the gravel because of its size.

Q: Can fish choke one sand?
A: No, in most cases. If the sand is fine grained it will just be pushed through the fishes gills. But if the sand has large grains then it may cause some problems but this is quiet rare and doesnt happen very often.

Q: How can I get sand off my decorations?
A: After your done aquascaping use a turkey blaster to blow the sand off.

- depthC

[c_paan]

Good Job DepthC! I have sand in two of my tanks, HAd some of the problems noted here, so this will definetly be good for onther enthusiasts, who want sand!

[Flex26]

Since this was posted mysteriously close to my question (on another post) about plants growing in sand, I'll ask a question.

If plants do not benefit from sand, then how do they grow? More specifically, how do they absorb the necessary nutrients to grow/thrive?

I have read that gravel is the preferred/ideal subtrate for plants.

[depthC]

To be technical sand is beneficial to plants because of the medium for their roots, but it does nothing other than provide a medium for their roots. It doesnt provide other essential nutrients they need unless its onyx sand. That was the point i was making and i see how it could cause some confusion. Ill edit it to make it more techincal. Thanks for the heads up Flex.

- depthC

[HanshaSuro]

Originally posted by Flex26
If plants do not benefit from sand, then how do they grow? More specifically, how do they absorb the necessary nutrients to grow/thrive?

I have read that gravel is the preferred/ideal subtrate for plants.

That is a tough question to answer. I think the quick answer is that sand is not ideal for growing plants. A substrate that is composed 100% of sand will compact over time. Compaction leads to anaerobic zones that release large amounts of toxic chemicals. That combined with the general inability of quartz sands to bind minerals for absorption by plant roots make sand a poor choice for planted tanks. Some people put a thin layer of sand over a more suitable substrate in the case that they want plants but enjoy the look of sand.

For the same reason, plain inert aquarium gravel like you buy at the pet store is not ideal for growing plants either. Its grain size is larger and therefore resists compaction, unlike sand. However, most gravel is still poor at binding minerals for absorption by roots. From what I've read, the best substrate for plants is one that resists compaction, and is good at storing minerals for uptake by plant roots. Clay based substrates are good at both of these things.

Nutrients can make their way into the sand either through fish waste or from substrate fertilization. This has been long winded, but I'll to try to get back to your question... how do plants grow in sand? The best they can, I guess. The odds are stacked against them, however.

[HanshaSuro]

I could be way off here, but is it possible that Onyx Sand is not really sand at all? I have never used it, so someone who has, please give your opinion.

It seems to me that the only difference between Onyx Sand and Onyx Gravel is the grain size. I'm betting the gravel is some kind of enriched baked clay. (Again, please correct me if you know.) In that case, could the sand simply be smaller grains of the same composition? Does it actually feel like play sand that depthC described? I bring this up because I find it hard to believe that they could enrich "sand" as we know it to be beneficial to a planted aquarium.

[depthC]

My guess is its also just grain size. It being that fine grained they would just call it sand anyways.

Im still unsure because on their product page they say "this naturally black sand will perfectly complement and enhance the appearance of your tank. Onyx Sand™."
This leads me to think that its natural sand but maybe not. Anyone have further insight to this?

Onxy sand product page

- depthC

[Somonas]

you can also get different grain sizes of sand at building supply stores and pool filter sand at pool supply stores
maybe we can update Q#1. As I mentioned before lets see what people can contribute before it comes part of the board faq.

[Lotus]

Good job, depthC

One tip I read on MFT was to use an old pillowcase to wash the sand in. I guess you could add that to the FAQ if you think it's a good idea.

You might want to add on the part about stirring it up how often it should be done (I think it's every couple of months) and to remember to turn off the filter when you do it.

Another FAQ about sand is whether you can mix it with gravel. I have heard that sometimes it doesn't look too good, but I'm not sure on that one.

[depthC]

Alright Somonas and Lotus i made the changes.

Keep em commin the more edits and questions the better the faq so i have no problem adding them.

- depthC