Coarse Play Sand?

I'm fixing to change my substrate as my KuhlI loaches have been trying to bury themselves in gravel lately. I've been planing to do this for a while since I want to plant that particular tank and the gravel is just not working for me. Anyway. I'm trying to avoid pool filter sand since it's ugly though if that's my only option I will go for it. I don't really have the funds to purchase aquarium sand, I was wondering if there's a brand of play sand that's a coarser than typical play sand that will work just as well?

 

I recent changed to sand. Used quikrete play sand. I don't know if it's coarser than typical play sand but it's close to what I would call almost a beach sand.

 

I recent changed to sand. Used quikrete play sand. I don't know if it's coarser than typical play sand but it's close to what I would call almost a beach sand.

How long did you have to rinse it? Was your water cloudy afterwards, if so for how long?

 

How long did you have to rinse it? Was your water cloudy afterwards, if so for how long?

It was cloudy for 2 days or so. Took about 2 hours to rinse 70lbs. Filter floss helps lots.

 

In my 90 I used dirt with a little black sand on top and around the sides (so you couldn't see dirt through the glass). I don't know how many plants you'd want to add with loaches but my plants are going great! The pic for me is my 90. It's been set up 3 months and all the plants have more than doubled in size. I'm in Indiana so we have pretty hard tap water so the only fert I add is potassium once every other week. If you decide to go dirt let it settle for a few days before turning on your filter and get purigen packs from seachem to add to your filter (I run them in place of carbon. I've never been a carbon fan.). I bought the most organic dirt I could find by reading the ingredients not the false advertising on the front of the bag. (Any ingredient that your not sure about google before buying to make sure it's not a pesticide.). I will be doing dirt in all my tanks soon regardless of the plants that will be in there. I really like making my tanks as natural as possible. Best of luck!!

 

It was cloudy for 2 days or so. Took about 2 hours to rinse 70lbs. Filter floss helps lots.

My experience too. Nothing at all wrong wrong with it in the end but it needs cleaned thoroughly to clear the fine particles or tank will be cloudy for a day. I was cycling so I didn't care.

 

I'd love to use dirt since I like natural tanks too, but khulis need to bury themselves and I don't think they'd be able to in dirt!! Thank you though!!

I went ahead and went with the safe option of aquarium sand, this thread was pointless for this particular situation but I'll keep what you guys said in mind next time I set up a tank