Does sand choke out plant roots?

So Ive been wanting to change my substrate to sand for a while now, and I have been doing a lot of research. I know that many people on fishlore seem to think sand is superior to gravel, but on the other hand, I’ve heard from the LFS and from googling that sand can choke out the bottom of plant roots. So my question is, does a sand tank choke out plant roots to a point where they can’t grow? The plants I have are egeria, Amazon swords, limnophila sessiflora, anubias and Java fern. Thank you in advance for any help.

 

Gravel (at least the common pea gravel) is hard for plants to root in and tends to accumulate enough mulm that it will decay anaerobically in the deeper layers, produce hydrogen sulfide, and eventually poison the plant roots. An ideal substrate for plants is about 2-3mm in diameter...unfortunately, that is larger than sand and smaller than most readily available gravels. I would recommend a coarse sand like pool filter sand if you switch to sand. If using sand to cap a layer of soil, it should not be deeper than .5-.75 inches to avoid making the soil go too anaerobic (plants actually need a modestly anaerobic substrate to acquire some nutrients like iron...just not the highly anaerobic conditions fostered by deep beds of gravel).

 

No, sand does not choke out plants. At least medium grit does not.

 

Wouldn’t the sand slowly compact over time, pressing the sand roots down? I will buy sand like yours Thunder_o_b. What kind of sand is that? I’m thinking that because not much water can flow through sand, the roots would die? Maybe I just don’t know how aquarium plants roots work…

 

I would avoid very fine sand (silt) and spend some money on a good quality sand. Because you can use and re-use sand forever; it is worth a little investment. Especially sand with a slight variation in grain size looks natural. You can make one yourself by mixing different sands, or buy something premium like ADA La Plata (a bit more fine/detailed, max 3 mm grain size, than pool filter sand). Both mixing or premiums most likely also offer some (slight) variation in color which most definitely adds to a natural look.

 

I saw some sand that is about 3 mm in diameter last time I went to the lfs. The only thing is, it was beige sand, and I want black. But if beige is the only I can find, that would work. Does BDBS work for plants?

 

I saw some sand that is about 3 mm in diameter last time I went to the lfs. The only thing is, it was beige sand, and I want black. But if beige is the only I can find, that would work. Does BDBS work for plants?

Get yourself some Limpopo sand. That's what I've always used! It's black in colour and is brilliant for plants, Tried and tested by myself for years!. Your fish will love it too! The size is like little granules of sugar almost. I prefer using dark substrate myself too because it makes the colours of your fish and plants really pop against the dark substrate it also adds depth to the tank imo! I swear by it!

 

I have 3 tanks, one with gravel, one with aqua soil and one with fine sand. I don’t notice much difference in plant health. Freshwater plants can be found in a variety of substrates including fine silt mud. Maybe we overthink this a bit.

 

Get yourself some Limpopo sand. That's what I've always used! It's black in colour and is brilliant for plants, Tried and tested by myself for years!. Your fish will love it too! The size is like little granules of sugar almost. I prefer using dark substrate myself too because it makes the colours of your fish and plants really pop against the dark substrate it also adds depth to the tank imo! I swear by it!

Isn’t limpopo a little too small? I googled that and there is a black sand at the lfs that looks like it. It is the Stoney river black premium aquarium sand. I like the look of it, but it might be too fine for plants.

 

If your lucky enough to have pest snails, they keep the sand stirred up.

 

I have 3 tanks, one with gravel, one with aqua soil and one with fine sand. I don’t notice much difference in plant health. Freshwater plants can be found in a variety of substrates including fine silt mud. Maybe we overthink this a bit.

To a very large extent, yes! Not so many plant species in the trade are hardcore rootfeeders.

But if you need to choose, if you need to invest, given you can (re)use the sand forever...let's just say, I wouldn't select play sand.

 

If you want black substrate I've had good luck with Black Diamond sandblasting sand from Tractor Supply (I assume it's available at other places).

If you're concerned about compaction get some Malaysian trumpet snails.

 

I have black flourite sand in my 40 gallon, but put gravel on the left side, about 1/4 of the tank. 4 Amazon swords were planted in the gravel and stayed about 6" tall. I moved one over to the right side under the HOB, and it quickly doubled in size in the sand. My gravel was nice at first, there were 2 sizes of sponge filters sitting on it. Then sand washed down there from the current of the HOB and it's under the gravel. Amano shrimp constantly carry gravel all over the tank! It is what is is, I don't really mind! Plants grow in both but mine, including krypts, grow bigger in sand. Now I have a shrimp tank with sand and last week built another one with gravel, and both are well planted.
If you fertilize with root tabs and a liquid fertilizer, and have a good light, it won't matter.

 

Isn’t limpopo a little too small? I googled that and there is a black sand at the lfs that looks like it. It is the Stoney river black premium aquarium sand. I like the look of it, but it might be too fine for plants.

Noo it isn't too small they are like little fine pieces of sandy gravel I recently took a picture of a plant to ID it on the forums were you can see the sand, look at these pictures below. My plants do really good in it and they can shoot runners underneath it and pop up somewhere else in your tank so definitely isn't compact at all for them. If I wave my hand in the water the sand will move easily, it isn't compact and stodgy at all. Also, I'm forever having to pull out Val's from around my tank because I like them to be in a certain place and the runners make them pop up everywhere lol

 

If you want black substrate I've had good luck with Black Diamond sandblasting sand from Tractor Supply (I assume it's available at other places).

If you're concerned about compaction get some Malaysian trumpet snails.

Just a few MTS, and soon you have 100, then 500! I used to think of them as pests but now appreciate them.

 

I use playsand, a d as others have said it doesn't harm plants.
Most fish seem to like it better as well.

 

I use playsand, a d as others have said it doesn't harm plants.
Most fish seem to like it better as well.
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Very nice scape btw mate what size is that tank? I always find it more difficult to get a good full looking scape in a large tank until everything grows out and you splash out on some nice pieces of hardscape!

 

Very nice scape btw mate what size is that tank? I always find it more difficult to get a good full looking scape in a large tank until everything grows out and you splash out on some nice pieces of hardscape!

Thank you.
This is a 75 gallon.

 

Seeing all the pictures of your tanks with sand and all of your inputs, I am definitely going with sand. Maybe a little path in the middle with fine black sand, and the rest medium grain beige sand.

 

Clarity, any idea what the name of the plant is in your top photo.

 

My plants are going gonzo in sand. Runners everywhere. No fertilizers. Whenever I hear something like this I always ask "Where does this plant live when it is in the wild?"

And low and behold, most plants live in dirt.

 

Noo it isn't too small they are like little fine pieces of sandy gravel I recently took a picture of a plant to ID it on the forums were you can see the sand, look at these pictures below. My plants do really good in it and they can shoot runners underneath it and pop up somewhere else in your tank so definitely isn't compact at all for them. If I wave my hand in the water the sand will move easily, it isn't compact and stodgy at all. Also, I'm forever having to pull out Val's from around my tank because I like them to be in a certain place and the runners make them pop up everywhere lol

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I'm always doing the same with Vals, I'm picky about where I want them and just have to keep them under control! Your tank and plants are very nice!

 

Wouldn’t the sand slowly compact over time, pressing the sand roots down? I will buy sand like yours Thunder_o_b. What kind of sand is that? I’m thinking that because not much water can flow through sand, the roots would die? Maybe I just don’t know how aquarium plants roots work…

Black Diamond Blasting Sand and Pool filter sand. I have planted aquariums that have been setup for years. The roots of plants move through the soil (sand). Look at it like this, plant roots can split rocks. Sand is not an issue.

As I have said in other topics here, look at the photos (or lack there of) of the aquariums of people arguing about something. The photos I have posted are just some of my aquariums over the years.

There is just so much bovine excrement being passed around in a circular environment it is amazing.

I guess it comes down to people feeling the need to SOUND like they know what they are talking about. It is in my view endemic in this culture.

But use sand because you want to. I grew plants in gravel for years when I used UG filters and the results were good.... But sand is better

Lots of good people here that know more than I do. They have taught me much over the years.

 

Clarity, any idea what the name of the plant is in your top photo.

Yes Kelvin, it's Limnofolia sessiliflora. Its very fast growing just to make you aware, I love it tho. Looks amazing when big and full, or you can keep it short with trimmings if you wish.

I'm always doing the same with Vals, I'm picky about where I want them and just have to keep them under control! Your tank and plants are very nice!

Thanks! Yeah they can very easily take over if left to their own accord haha

 

I was thinking a medium grain beige sand, but in the middle there would be a pathway with small grain black sand. Around the path, it would be enclosed with large pieces of ohko stone. On either side of the ohko stone, the are pieces of wood that stretch along the tank with thin branches. Wouldn’t this look cool?

 

I was thinking a medium grain beige sand, but in the middle there would be a pathway with small grain black sand. Around the path, it would be enclosed with large pieces of ohko stone. On either side of the ohko stone, the are pieces of wood that stretch along the tank with thin branches. Wouldn’t this look cool?

It would, for a while. Until the two sand colors get mixed up.

 

I really want to get BDBS, but I can’t find it anywhere near me. We don’t have a tractor supply or anything around here. Amazon doesn’t seem to sell it either. I can get seachem onyx sand, does anyone have experience with that? I can also get Stoney river premium aquarium black sand, which is about 1 mm in diameter. Would this work for plants?

 

Do you have an agway near you? They sometimes carry pool filter sand...don't know about black diamond sand and I have not tried the onyx sand before.

 

Where do you live? (no address please)

Check shops that do commercial sand blasting and ask who supplies them.

EDIT: Maybe ask them if you could add to their next order.

 

Where do you live? (no address please)

Check shops that do commercial sand blasting and ask who supplies them.

EDIT: Maybe ask them if you could add to their next order.

Canada. Ok thanks I will check them.

 

Do you have a Peavey Mart near you?
https://www.peaveymart.com/tools-we...dblasting-sand/342912?sourceCategoryCode=1005

Over priced compared to the US, but I understand this is common.

Remember you want the medium grit not the fine grit.

 

Do you have a Peavey Mart near you?
https://www.peaveymart.com/tools-we...dblasting-sand/342912?sourceCategoryCode=1005

Over priced compared to the US, but I understand this is common.

I infact do! Thank you so much, I’ll go there soon.

 

You are welcome

Check it out carefully. It looks to be the same as BDBS.

I cannot stress it enough to use the medium grit. The fine grit can get in to the filtration system and destroy the impellers.

Also, wash it well. There will be some that will float. I suggest netting it out to be sure the impellers stay safe.

And keep the depth under 3 inches to prevent anaerobic bacteria from forming hydrogen sulfide gas.

 

I really want to get BDBS, but I can’t find it anywhere near me. We don’t have a tractor supply or anything around here. Amazon doesn’t seem to sell it either. I can get seachem onyx sand, does anyone have experience with that? I can also get Stoney river premium aquarium black sand, which is about 1 mm in diameter. Would this work for plants?

Check your local hardware store. That's where I get mine.

 

Do you have a Peavey Mart near you?
https://www.peaveymart.com/tools-we...dblasting-sand/342912?sourceCategoryCode=1005

Over priced compared to the US, but I understand this is common.

Remember you want the medium grit not the fine grit.

We headed there yesterday, but there was only a super fine grit super dirty black sand. Also checked the online websites of my other local hardware stores, and they don’t sell any kind of blasting sand. I don’t really know what to do at this point, maybe I’ll just try out the 1-2mm sand at the lfs.

 

We headed there yesterday, but there was only a super fine grit super dirty black sand. Also checked the online websites of my other local hardware stores, and they don’t sell any kind of blasting sand. I don’t really know what to do at this point, maybe I’ll just try out the 1-2mm sand at the lfs.

If you tell them what you're looking for they could probably order some up for you. Where are you located? You could also check with automotive paint shops or machine shops where they actually use sand for blasting, and ask where they get theirs, or if they'd sell you a bag.

 

If you tell them what you're looking for they could probably order some up for you. Where are you located? You could also check with automotive paint shops or machine shops where they actually use sand for blasting, and ask where they get theirs, or if they'd sell you a bag.

The thing is, I think the only blasting sand sold in Canada is Black Beauty, and the super fine grit is the only sand they have. To them, there is no point in having a large grit sand, because for the purposes they want, they don’t need coarse grains. And BTW, tractor supply was completely bought by peavey mart in Canada, and they only sell black beauty fine grit stuff. I’ll check with paint and machine shops, but I doubt they would use a large grain sand.

Here is a pic of the sand at the LFS. I’m assuming the plants would do fine in this, would they?

 

I got a boatload of this stuff cheap on black Friday, it is good chunky big grain sand:



The Swords I planted in it 2 weeks ago are boundlessly happy, you can tell from the broader leaves they're doing much better than they were when I got them from the LFS where they were cramped and undernourished in some kind of mixed substrate.

I'm giving a lot of credit to the Flourish tabs and API Leaf Zone liquid supplement but the plants definitely are able to utilize this substrate well also.

Of course it is blazingly WHITE and can whitewash the aquarium especially reflecting LEDs. So I sprinkle various colors of gravel and river stones around in it.

 

I got a boatload of this stuff cheap on black Friday, it is good chunky big grain sand:

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The Swords I planted in it 2 weeks ago are boundlessly happy, you can tell from the broader leaves they're doing much better than they were when I got them from the LFS where they were cramped and undernourished in some kind of mixed substrate.

I'm giving a lot of credit to the Flourish tabs and API Leaf Zone liquid supplement but the plants definitely are able to utilize this substrate well also.

Of course it is blazingly WHITE and can whitewash the aquarium especially reflecting LEDs. So I sprinkle various colors of gravel and river stones around in it.

I don’t have a petco near me, but I’ll look for it elsewhere. Have you seen any of this sand but black? My LFS just got in some large grain beige sand… I’ll consider this…

Also found this on Amazon. It looks great but might just be BDBS that they put in a bag, relabeled and said it was for aquariums. Only downside is that it’s really expensive, 30 bucks for a 10 pound bag. Oof.

 

The thing is, I think the only blasting sand sold in Canada is Black Beauty, and the super fine grit is the only sand they have. To them, there is no point in having a large grit sand, because for the purposes they want, they don’t need coarse grains. And BTW, tractor supply was completely bought by peavey mart in Canada, and they only sell black beauty fine grit stuff. I’ll check with paint and machine shops, but I doubt they would use a large grain sand.

Here is a pic of the sand at the LFS. I’m assuming the plants would do fine in this, would they?

How about these guys? They're in Canada.

Blasting Abrasives In Eastern Canada | Shaw Resources