20 Gallon Tank Micra Sand and some other questions about sand

So I went to my LFS and she was selling this stuff called Micra Sand. It looked really nice, but I noticed that because it is SOOOOO fine, it was actually attched to the fish's slime coat. What other possibly negative effects could this have on the fish, (for example, in their gills?) Next question, where I have bubbles in my tank, the sand will be covering the bar. With the sand over the bar, will my water continually be cloudy? Thanks for all the insight and advice!
Water Stats;
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
lower than 5 ppm nitrate

Current Stock in the 20high; (I don't know if this makes a difference with using sand?)

3 balloon mollies
3 platies
3 bleeding heart tetras
1 common pleco

 

You cannot use sand with an UGF or a bubbler. Well, you can't bury it - I've never used an air pump so I don't really know.

STAY AWAY for the super fine sand - it's horrible. It looks BEAUTIFUL, but it will foul up your filter as sand is carried in the water column to the filter intake.

 

I just used CaribSea instant aquarium in setting up my new 46g bowfront. The color is torpedo beach, and it is engineered sand, You don't have to rinse it, but I will when I add more because it's got bacteria added and I don't want it to compete with my cycle. It states on the package that it is safe for bottom dwellers, sand sifters, and invertebrates. My cories are loving it. I'll post a picture when I transfer it to my computer.

 

I just used CaribSea instant aquarium in setting up my new 46g bowfront. The color is torpedo beach, and it is engineered sand, You don't have to rinse it, but I will when I add more because it's got bacteria added and I don't want it to compete with my cycle. It states on the package that it is safe for bottom dwellers, sand sifters, and invertebrates. My cories are loving it. I'll post a picture when I transfer it to my computer.

Nice picture. I see you have your bubbler on the glass instead of in the sand. I was thinking about just doing the bigger dime size rocks over the my bubbler and down the sides to A) allow the bubbler to be hidden and B) allow for some textural interest. What do you think?

 

That's the heater

 

Yeah, that's the heater. And thanks! My bubbler is on the bottom right now, but I've ordered more sand and after I add it, I will move the heater lower so you can't see it as well, and will see how the bubbler looks on the glass just above the heater. It's a blue LED bubbler and looks really nice with the whitish sand and blue background.

 

That's the heater

oh! my bad! lol. it kinda looks like the bubbles are coming out of it, silly me! So where do you have your bubbler then?


nevermind... lol

 

nevermind... lol

 

should I be concerned with the fish eating sand? and how well do plants survive and THRIVE in sand? I plan on putting about 1 inch of organic potting soil in the bottom, any plants you would recommend? Java ferns and windelov ferms?

 

The fish know the difference between sand and food. They will leave it alone. Some will sift through it but that's normal.

Plants depend on the lighting available. What lights do you have?

 

yup, no need to worry about fish eating sand.

 

The fish know the difference between sand and food. They will leave it alone. Some will sift through it but that's normal.

Plants depend on the lighting available. What lights do you have?

I just have the lighting that came with the tank an Aqueon 15W full daylight spectrum. I don't know if that's good enough?

 

I'm assuming its a T8?

 

yes, its a T8. Sorry I didnt reply earlier, I totally thought that I had.

 

lol no problem

Because its a 20 high, you would have VERY low lighting with that light.

You could probably keep java fern and java moss, maybe some of the thinner-leaved anubias plants and some invasive plants. These will grow very slowly in your tank but will still grow. As for any other plants, I think they wouldnt survive!

Good luck!