Black Diamond Sand (grit?)

I realllyy wanted black sand for my new betta tanks but the pet store employees convinced me sand wasn't good for bettas and they needed gravel...I got the gravel and added it to the tank (not a fan of the gravel look) but I looked it up later and most says sand is fine. Thankfully I didn't take any of their other advice which was more important (they said no filters and the main girl I talked to said bettas can only be in bowls or very small tanks-that the 10 gallon I got was "too big for a betta") Anyway I wanted to pick up some black diamond sand from tractor supply because it looks nice and is really cheap and I read a lot of good things about it for aquarium use. They come in 50lb bags so I wanted to use some of it for my 75 gallon tank which I plan to have some bristlenose plecos in. Should I use fine or medium grit sand for the plecos? I don't want to scratch them up.

 

Our area has ultra fine and course. A lot of people have had great success with the medium grit. What we bought feels like powder or broken glass. I suggest you feel it before you buy it. There’s always leaking bags. I ended up with National Geographic Sand. 20$ for 25#. Way more expensive but I’m happy with it. If you go the the aquarium forum tab, you’ll find a whole section on BDBS. Every question you can think of has been answered there. Post pictures when you get all set up!

 

Ok thanks will do...I see a lot of talk about the medium grit; but also some people saying it eroded their cories and whatnot (some say that's debunked)..who knows, I'm confused...I'm heading out today so I might go with fine if I can't find anything specific..thanks going to check that section out some more.

-will keep my eye out for those leaking bags

 

Ok thanks will do...I see a lot of talk about the medium grit; but also some people saying it eroded their cories and whatnot (some say that's debunked)..who knows, I'm confused...I'm heading out today so I might go with fine if I can't find anything specific..thanks going to check that section out some more.

-will keep my eye out for those leaking bags

They’re there. Always some on the floor too. Make sure the bag has the middle numbers marked. If it’s the first two or last two it’s like what we bought. My corys were in a 29 with that cheap yucky bright small gravel. Not rounded at all. All barbells fine. Now in 40 long with nat geo. Still fine. I believe water quality more important than substrate.

 

Ok thanks will do...I see a lot of talk about the medium grit; but also some people saying it eroded their cories and whatnot (some say that's debunked)..who knows, I'm confused...I'm heading out today so I might go with fine if I can't find anything specific..thanks going to check that section out some more.

-will keep my eye out for those leaking bags

Generally, the finer the sand, the more easier it is to be kicked up by movements. As for a betta tank, any grit would probably work as bettas don't normally sift through the substrate that often. The reason why cories were mentioned in the threads you found were because they like to sift through the substrate all day.

 

Generally, the finer the sand, the more easier it is to be kicked up by movements. As for a betta tank, any grit would probably work as bettas don't normally sift through the substrate that often. The reason why cories were mentioned in the threads you found were because they like to sift through the substrate all day.

Also concerned with BN plecos planning on getting. I agree on fine sand, really frustrating.

 

I use the med. grit in almost all of my tanks, all my corys and BN have all there whiskers.

 

I do medium grit, too. I looked at fine grit, but it was like powder.

 

Well online it said fine was in stock but they only had medium grit so I got that...mixed it with some of the pebbles I got earlier and I'm happy with the look and whatnot for the betta tanks. I might mix it with pool sand in the big tank. It's a little coarse for what I was wanting but maybe not overlly so...just maybe need something smoother mixed with it...I was planning on about 80% moss carpet in the big tank so I guess it dosn't really matter either way. thanks all

 

Well online it said fine was in stock but they only had medium grit so I got that...mixed it with some of the pebbles I got earlier and I'm happy with the look and whatnot for the betta tanks. I might mix it with pool sand in the big tank. It's a little coarse for what I was wanting but maybe not overlly so...just maybe need something smoother mixed with it...I was planning on about 80% moss carpet in the big tank so I guess it dosn't really matter either way. thanks all

Remember the pictures! We love pics!

 

Well there's not much to look at yet ...I will put some pics up of the completed tanks next week..I'm getting anubias and java moss and java fern for both tanks...

Ok so one issue..I read somewhere it was a good idea to put the bds in a pillow case and wash it that way. I saw the water was running perfectly clear so I thought that was it, nope..didn't realize there's perma floaters in there. Oops. I put the substrate in yesterday and still having a lot of floaters in the tank...the filter I ordered for the baby fish isn't coming in til the weekend. Is there anything else I can do to clear out the floating specks? The net I have won't get it. I'm worried he'll try to eat it if I put him in now.

 

I tried scooping the floaters up with a bowl but it did not work well....

 

Have you tried paper towels? Kind of skI'm the surface and push it to the side. Will take some time though.
BTW, he sounds so cute!