Experiences with sand?

Hi all,

I am seriously thinking about switching gravel out for sand. I currently have black gravel and it's just so dirty. Gravel is what I started with and always used. I'm pretty sure it also doesn't hold root tabs well either even when pushed all the way down (leaches faster). I'm ready to switch it out and have been but it's a long task to switch up substrate it seems.

I have a 10 gal, cycled, heated, planted, 1 betta. I am looking at Estes Stoney River black sand. It looks coarse enough not to compact and be an issue (I will ofc poke the sand each week jic), and the roots can work their way in it without being compacted. I plan on using only 1.5" or so depth to avoid anaerobic pockets.

How many of you have that brand sand? Do you like it? Or what else would you suggest for a coarser sand?

Thank you so much!

 

Switching substrate isn't that hard IMO. Just drain the tank completely, put half in a tote/bucket and put the fish and plants in there. Remove the gravel, add the (rinsed) sand, fill up about half way then replant, fill the rest of the way with the old tank water and you're done. I recently removed the dirt layer in a 36gal planted tank, took some time and it was certainly messy. A 10gal would be a breeze, probably only take an hour tops.

I have both sand and gravel planted tanks, some are even dirted. I've only ever had issues with sand compacting in one tank which ended up killing off some crypts. I think this is because I tried to keep trumpet snails out of this tank and with no little snails stirring up the sand it became compacted, I've since let some trumpet snails start doing their thing. Also, there is no need to "poke the sand" IMO. I did it when I first started out but haven't done it in years, no ill effects as far as I can see. Another reason to add trumpet snails, aka the earthworms of planted tanks.

For coarse sand you can try pool filter sand (though some brands have different consistencies). I have play sand, pool filter sand and medium grade blasting sand in different tanks. I couldn't tell you what is best, plants grow in all of it.

 

For planted tank sand you can't go wrong with seachem fluorite sand. It's a little more expensive then the sand you mentioned but it's worth it if you have a planted tank.

 

I have no experience with that brand but I use BDBS (black diamond blasting sand) in all my tanks and plants grow just fine in them. Its a fairly coarse sand. Holds root tabs well as I use them in several tanks for amazon swords. I don't poke the sand, theres MTS in all my tanks, I've never had an issue with gas pockets.

 

I also use BDBS and all my plants are thriving. I would recommend getting it. It’s also pretty cheap and I think you can get something like 50lbs for $10.

 

Switching substrate isn't that hard IMO. Just drain the tank completely, put half in a tote/bucket and put the fish and plants in there. Remove the gravel, add the (rinsed) sand, fill up about half way then replant, fill the rest of the way with the old tank water and you're done. I recently removed the dirt layer in a 36gal planted tank, took some time and it was certainly messy. A 10gal would be a breeze, probably only take an hour tops.

I have both sand and gravel planted tanks, some are even dirted. I've only ever had issues with sand compacting in one tank which ended up killing off some crypts. I think this is because I tried to keep trumpet snails out of this tank and with no little snails stirring up the sand it became compacted, I've since let some trumpet snails start doing their thing. Also, there is no need to "poke the sand" IMO. I did it when I first started out but haven't done it in years, no ill effects as far as I can see. Another reason to add trumpet snails, aka the earthworms of planted tanks.

For coarse sand you can try pool filter sand (though some brands have different consistencies). I have play sand, pool filter sand and medium grade blasting sand in different tanks. I couldn't tell you what is best, plants grow in all of it.

Tysm! I was thinking about MTS but it seems like their population can explode if there's food available. I always seem to have some sort of dying plants somewhere in the tank.

I would rather get shrimp, I love amanos but my betta is little aggressive and the last batch didn't work out well with him.

I would like to stick to black sand if possible. I've heard good and bad things about BDBS, some sah it's too oily? And can kill off stock?

 

I use home-depo playsand, though it requires some cleaning- very cheap, 50 pounds for 5 dollars. It looks quite nice- though it isn't black(it is a brownish(a bit like river sand(though I have no ideas what rivers with sand looks like))).

 

For planted tank sand you can't go wrong with seachem fluorite sand. It's a little more expensive then the sand you mentioned but it's worth it if you have a planted tank.

Ty. I've looked into this. A few people I know has it and been having trouble with it leaching ammonia constantly, then had an algae outbreak, it seems to be a big hassle.

I have no experience with that brand but I use BDBS (black diamond blasting sand) in all my tanks and plants grow just fine in them. Its a fairly coarse sand. Holds root tabs well as I use them in several tanks for amazon swords. I don't poke the sand, theres MTS in all my tanks, I've never had an issue with gas pockets.

Thank you.
It seems like the consensus is BSBS. Is there a certain grit to get? 20/40 I've seen?

I'm leaning away from MTS, they seem to overpopulate tanks quite fast. I wish they were like nerites so I could put however many I want and the pop size stays that way.

I also use BDBS and all my plants are thriving. I would recommend getting it. It’s also pretty cheap and I think you can get something like 50lbs for $10.

Tysm! How long did it take you rinse it? My SO said they could make use of the rest since I only need a bit of the giant bag.

I use home-depo playsand, though it requires some cleaning- very cheap, 50 pounds for 5 dollars. It looks quite nice- though it isn't black(it is a brownish(a bit like river sand(though I have no ideas what rivers with sand looks like))).

Ty! I've heard that playsand is quite fine isn't it? I do like black substrate over other colors.

Do you have MTS in your tank also? Or do you poke and rake the sand manually?

 

About 45-60 minutes for maybe 70-80 pounds? but I had to net out some floating sand afterwards that I missed. However, there wasn’t much floating sand and it was fairly easy to net out.

 

I decided to go with CaribSea Peace River. It looks like fine gravel which I like, and the colors are beautiful. It shouldn't compact much.

I've been trying to find this type of gravel for a long time. I wish I would have researched it before I filled this 10 gal up...

Ty all for helping!

 

Update...we did it! I swear my betta is such a trooper for dealing with my shenanigans lol.

Also rinsing this substrate gave me super smooth and soft hands it's like coarse sand and I love it! Will be adding more plants ofc but I kind of like the minimalistic look...