How To Get Cheap Sand For Your Aquarium! (Pool Filter Sand, Play Sand, Black Diamond Blasting Media)
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- Опубліковано 23 січ 2025
- Do you need a cheap substrate for your aquarium? Today, I show you what I use! Between Pool Filter Sand, Play Sand, and Black Diamond Blasting Sand, I'm sure there will be a sand option for you!
I get my Pool Filter Sand and Play Sand from Home Depot, and my Black Diamond Blasting Media from Tractor Supply.
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Nice. Better than most videos about aquarium sands because you actually showed examples of what you are using.
Thanks!
The
I bought the same exact stuff at Lowe's this morning. Be prepared to spend a few hours rinsing it all out. It's worth the time you put in.
was it worth it Mr. Andrew?
I use the same sand and love it! Good for you for showing examples. Great video!
Awesome tip!! Just got 100lbs of sand for 18$ at tractor supply!!! My 90gl is looking beautiful
That’s great advice and I’m ready to buy a little pool sand at the right price. Thank you!
Qickrete from The Home Depot is perfect! My only hard gripe is using it as a cap over organic potting soil can be untidy, so watch yourself. I’ll eventually get into black diamond blasting sand; I’m hoping it’ll prove better than PFS.
I don't cap over soil. Currently I haven't planted the big tank, and the only plants I have another tanks are things like mosses and anubias.
What is aquarium co-op I’ve seen that brand in ever aquarium videos
Great video!!! Will save me a lot of money, for sure. BTW, I lived in the bay area for a number of years. Loved it.
used black aquarium sand for my shellie aquarium. Just recently discovered Black Diamond, I had learned almost as recently about using pool filter sand but I wanted black again for my new dirted planted tank and that is when I came across Black Diamond, went and bought some today and now tonight I been watching videos about it. I don't know why, they are all pretty much the same its great stuff make sure and wash it first, but I like seeing peoples opinions I guess.
I was looking at the prices of white sand, I'm glad I clicked your video. Thank you for the tip. I'm on my way to buy my pool filter sand.
How did you get your lava rocks to stick to the glass?
Thinking of using a pool filter sand and black diamond mix. Shouldnt have any issues correct?
This saved me so much money, thank you!
FINALLY! Someone that tells where to buy bdbs! Thank you!
Are there any tricks to cleaning the tank with sand in it?
Nope! I sometimes will wave my hand or the siphon or something over the sand to get the debree in the water column but thats it.
@@TrekOnTheAir not sure why YT JUST got this to me a month later!
I have had the BDBS in my 55g for about a month now and I LOVE it! Much better than the play sand I used in my 60g, though I wish it wasn't so sharp looking, I'm kind of worried my corys might hurt themselves on it. (I got the medium size, not fine or coarse).
Is this good for turtles as well or no?
What a good depth for sand substrate? 2 inches?
Sand is amazing in tanks bud I have a few tanks with sand in them. Great video 👍💪🤜🤛
Thanks!
I did exactly what you did except I didn't overflow the bucket. I thought it was clear enough so I put in my tank and it was so cloudy after I fill up with water. Hopefully the filter I bought would fix that problem.
@el taco Well I got the hang on filter pump and it's even more cloudy in my tank. So I'll clean it tomorrow.
What grade Black Diamond sand do you use, medium or fine?
Medium!
@@TrekOnTheAir Same here.👍
I tested both. Definitely get the medium!
@@dad3562 I got the fine cause I didn't pay attention the tractor n feed store. Get the medium.
Is the medium big enough to impact a turtle, or is it still pretty tiny where they could pass it if they eat it?
Thanks for the information on the sand great video bro
Very informative. Thanks!
Thanks!
I use concrete mixing sand. It looks very natural
Really good information thank you I had spent over 100$ for my 132gal tank for sand and now I’m goin with black sand my question is can I change the sand while having the fish in there ?
Yes, just turn off filters
you deserve way more subscirbers
What u think about using that sand in a saltwater tank??
My dad has "Pavetone Patio/Paver Sand". Can I use that? It says it's Silica based but doesn't say 100%, but it also doesn't mention any other compounds included. I've heard mixed answers about whether or not paver Sand is safe.
Is that an aquarium co-op scarf?
3:44 how are you doing the filling? I tried so many times and it doesn’t work?
Python system. It hooks to the faucet
Bay Area Aquatics oh that’s the water changer
THX SO EXCITED FOR THE TIP ! HUGE HELP
Great video, quick & to the point! Just found your channel! New subscriber! Any tips for cleaning sand in the dead of winter, without access to a hose. Ready to switch to sand after 5 years of gravel. I don't want to wait until summer! Great video! Thanks again!
Can you use your shower?
Bay Area Aquatics- yes, prob my only option, hopefully I don't clog anything up! Wish me luck!
I use the regular cheap type tank vacuum and two hoses. I used electrical tape and taped one hose to the hose part of the vacuum and I run that one out my back door. Then I screw the other hose onto kitchen sink. That way I'm putting water back in as I vacuuming crud out. Works great for me lol no more carrying buckets or anything.
Does it affect ph?
Which color sand do you feel brings out the fish coloring?
That would completely depend on the fish
Will you be doing any fish store tours?
Yes! Hopefully sooner rather than later. I'd like to do the one in my local town, then there's a couple of the town next to me, and I'm about a half an hour outside of San Francisco.
@@TrekOnTheAir Great! It would be good for the store as well as they may get more costumers. Looking forward to it!
I’m I able to use multi purpose sand?
I use home depot or lowes sand. They are great cheap alternative to the overpriced ones in ur local pet store. Downside is that they need to be cleaned thoroughly before adding to ur tank. Also, i forgot which sand it is.. one is too fine that if u have a strong flow of water in tank or have a big fish that likes pushing ur substrate it will floating around in ur tank which will get sucked by ur filter and mess the impeller up. Or ur tank is always gonna look cloudy whenever ur fish swims through it....either play sand or the pool filter sand, forgot.✌️👍
Nice video I just subscribed
Thank you!
What about Quikrete all purpose sand?
el taco seems Home Depot doesn’t sell Quikrete pool filter sand anymore. Doesn’t show up in the search. They only have HTC brand at $34 a bag.
el taco $12??!!! That’s a major difference. How the hell Home Depot justify their price? It’s more than double.
el taco I googled it after you told me Ace had it for $12. Google searched pool filter sand and the Quikrete pool filter sand from Home Depot and Lowe’s comes up but you can’t add them to the cart. Seems they’re discontinued.
Great vid! Loved it! A couple questions tho....can I have a fertilizer under sand? Something like a dirt clay like fertilizer and I want to cap it off with sand. How many inces of sand should I be using to cap it off? Also do you stick your gravel vac into the sand when cleaning it or do you just hover over it.
I know several people who use sand to cap organic potting soil. I personally haven't. And for gravel vacing, I just gover over it
How do you clean the black diamond sand?
One the tank is set up or before it's set up?
Yo do u have any stickers
Do you think a fill grown RES turtle will stir this stuff around ?
No they like sand. I've met alot of people who have sand as their turtles substrate.
I am thinking replacing my gravel to sand in my tank. Would Home Depot pool filter sand raise your PH level?
Hi, I watch and love your videos I have a question which pool filter Sand is the white sand you can't see it through the bag? I'm looking for white and can't find it no where I'm located in Martinsferry Ohio I've looked in all the Lowe's and they had none will home Depot be my best bet to find it? I'm new to this please can you give me any advice please anything would be appreciated.
I wish I could find pool filter sand for $5. It's $11-$12 in my part of the world, but still cheaper than the store sand. I've debated between pool filter sand and the Caribsea african cichlid snad (salt/pepper) for a 125g. I've always had Black gravel in my tanks and wanted to do something different and why I may go with the pool filter sand. Now, that I can see what it looks like against the red rock (I use red lava rocks) I may go with the pool sand.
Update: I went with pool filter sand and it's now in the tank. A totally different look from the Black gravel.
@el taco Who said I can't afford $12. How did you come to that conclusion? I'm merely stating that the sand cost more where I live. Did you read my update where I stated that I purchased the pool filter sand?
Has anyone used pool filter sand for a saltwater tank?
Where do you get your black diamond sand?
Tractor Supply
Great video.
Where can i buy pool sand?
I buy mine from Home Depot, but most hardware stores, pool supply stores, etc carry it.
Seems Home Depot doesn’t carry Quikrete pool filter sand anymore. It doesn’t come up in the online search. The brand HTC is the only search result at $34 for a 50lb bag.
Nice vid! Thank you for sharing! Enjoyed watching!
Thanks for watching!
My grandpa just bought a bag today (Im not sure exactly what he's using it for) anyway he's not using all of it so he's giving me some for my 20 gallon
I'm a little jealous a year later the price has almost doubled and I bet it's because of these videos. The first review now for that sand is literally a fish tank review. Oh well still super cheap.
@David Hyde that's totally not true at all. All my pool chemicals are all the same price 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️no one's wasting money on pool supplies during covid. Literally all the reviews for the sand now are mostly aquarium substrate reviews. Watch any major UA-camr and they talk about how they boast about products they love and or sell on their site and they tell you about how the brand immediately sold out after they mentioned it and sometimes they raise prices when they realize they can. I promise you this is inflation due to higher demand caused by aquarium enthusiasts. I'd go rn and buy 4 more bags at the same price double what it was just because I know I'll use it and it's a decent price that idc about. Way better than going to the pet isle of the same store and paying the same price for fractions of the amounts of substrate.
Is there white blasting sand. I heard the medium black diamond blasting sand is good. But I don't think pool and play sand is the same grit.
Not that I'm aware of. The Black Diamond stuff is Coal Slag
I just put play sand in my 29 gallon... wish me luck
How did it go
Do u own a store?
I do not
Thanks man I didn’t want to spend 50$ in petco for something I didn’t like
Well,I'm not convinced Pool sands of any type is better then smooth gravels. I like years ago a silica sand used for sand blasting..but it was white and more like a small grained gravel and not a sand. Sands? ALL of them,even pool sands I think are not good for healthy roots. It compacts and even larger pool sands seem to stop roots for more then 2" deep.
PLUS.. I KNOW..that sands now in fashion are the cause for the Blue Green algae plague that has so many aquarists. The silica powder or just raw sands feeds BGA and brown diatoms. It will fade eventually..but what a hassle it can be beating down that stuff.
I totally understand all that. If you're looking specifically to grow plants, I think gravels the way to go. But I personally like the look of sand a lot betterso that's what I know with. I had gravel in this tank and hated the look of it.
@@TrekOnTheAir I use a thin layer of sand in my 240..but the plants are either in pots or they are epiphytes tied to wood or rocks. It's why Amano used the sands as forefront and the plants went into that hydroponic gravel he sold in back.
I notice too that Jacob on his plant site is having trouble with slow growers in sands..even with Co2. He needs to dump that sand and go gravel.
At the moment, the only thing that I really have in my other aquariums are anubias and java fern. So the sand hasn't been too big of an issue for me
The sand is now $20.00. at Home Depot.
It’s been five years. No duh prices have increased 😂
Great content man. I hope you keep it up. Suggestion: Unless a podcast-style channel is what you're going for, mix-in more (or longer) scenes of related video while you're talking. Or even just closeups of that tank behind you for some eye candy while you chat. Watching a talking head for 90% of the YT video is a bit tiresome and has been done to death.
I will keep that in mind! Thanks man!
I actually found his voice and mannerisms quite helpful to pay attention.
You covered this topic very well. Thank you!
I've done play sand in the past and will be heading out tonight to pick up some sand from Home Depot. I've got a 110 and a 75 I'm setting up.
However, for my 150 and 90 gallon, I bought the substrate from a big box pet store and it was REALLY expensive!!! I did this because it was winter here in MI (when I was setting up the tank) and I couldn't get outside to wash the sand properly (I do it exactly the same as you do in this video - even the same orange buckets LOL). So, because of the crappy snowy, cold weather, I went with the expensive stuff from the store and let my filters do the dirty work (which they did).
I've got a few (some would consider boring) videos showing my 90 gallon etched glass aquarium set up where I used the expensive sand .... AND I have another video where I used the play sand for 75 gallon tank I picked up at a yard sale.
Sorry, I got sidetracked. My reason for this post was to say thanks for posting an informative video about the very topic I am researching for my project I am doing tonight.
Cheers from the Gebo's Garage Channel:-)
For those looking for that same sand it’s $24 a bag now your welcome
$14.99 now 😵
Now the sands 30$
I thought it was wet 💩