Substrate Question

[MadridKid]

I'm looking to purchase black sand for my 10 gallon aquarium project... Is any sand fine? Also, how should i go about finding the correct light fixture for my tank? It will be planted....

[Rayneuki]

I know for the sand, you can't buy live sand or marine sand. Play sand (If you can find it in colors) works really well... It just has to be cleaned uber well. I'm loving my play-sand tank... It looks beutiful. Looks like a river bottom <3 And that works awsome for a SA community tank!

[ishar]

yeah I am having a hard time myself looking for black sand. Let me know if you find any!

[MadridKid]

just found some at a real LFS so, if you really wanted me to i guess i could ship it to you... its apparently like flourite and its a bit cheaper.... im going today to pick it up...also, i will grab a light and heater. Any recomendations on a cheap, yet reliable light i should use?

[ishar]

ol no no I just was looking for where you found it if you found it at a hardware store or something.

If it is like flourite then it is likely onyx sand, and I have not heard many people talk of it so I do not know how good/bad it is.

For light I recommend a Corallife dual t5 fixture.

[MadridKid]

alright. well i got all my supplies...almost. i still need a heater, and a tank divider, but other than that im good. i went to a LFS and the guy there had just opened the shop up, so it was neet to see what was going on there. great salt tanks! Oceans Tropical Fish is what its called if you wanna head over there. I was going to purchase some tahitian moon sand, but remembered it would raise my ph to the 8's....so i bought some slightly coarse gravel at petsmart.

[MOsborne05]

I like Tahitian Moon Sand, and Fluorite just came out with a new black sand too. The TMS doesn't do anything for live plants, but the Fluorite does.

[RCHanlin]

You'll have to excuse me but I'm seeing alot of discussion about using sand as a substrate... I'm putting my 150 back into operation after tearing it down from being a reef and I'm very curious... this is going to be a planted tank ... Sand is good for that ? I was really leaning towards a fine substrate like Eco-Complete. I'd really like to know more about sand. But it's got to be a PITA to clean plus you've got no way of maintaining biological filtration.. what about nitrates spiking up ?

[joy613]

Originally Posted by RCHanlin

You'll have to excuse me but I'm seeing alot of discussion about using sand as a substrate... I'm putting my 150 back into operation after tearing it down from being a reef and I'm very curious... this is going to be a planted tank ... Sand is good for that ? I was really leaning towards a fine substrate like Eco-Complete. I'd really like to know more about sand. But it's got to be a PITA to clean plus you've got no way of maintaining biological filtration.. what about nitrates spiking up ?

Sand works good for certain plants and makes for easier planting. I have MTS in my tanks that helps out with the aerobic pockets in the sand. You will have to use root tabs for heavy root feeders like swords. Cleaning the sand for that large a tank is going to be a work out for your arms. I do like the looks of sand but have better luck with a mixture of aqua soil and fluorite.

[minihorses4ever]

I have play sand, and it has worked just fine. Just added a few fish on Saturday, and everyone is flourishing. I just cleaned it REALLY well.. I was sure not to take a short cut in cleaning it, because I didn't want to deal with the consequences!