Here are our favorite aquarium sands: ua-cam.com/video/W4nULCIHJs8/v-deo.html If you want to learn more about aquarium substrates check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/oflQNgzh_0I/v-deo.html If you want more information on how to maintain and aquarium with sand check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/OeFp0iLw4yQ/v-deo.html Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
I’m doing a massive tank upgrade and overhaul soon, and I’m looking to change my gravel, but brand aquarium sand for a 125 gal tank is looking to be $200+ for 3 in., hence why I’m here looking at pool sand. My biggest worry is said sand destroying the new $400 canister filter I just bought. Does the sand make its way into your filter at all, and what brand sand did you get?
I use Aqua Quartz pool filter sand in my 75 gal. I find a wavemaker/circulation pump helps with the detritus buildup on the sand. I also found this brand of sand rinsed really easily (only did 10-15 min rinse per 30-40lbs of sand) and it cleared up within 24 hrs.
Same here. We have 4 tanks and all have AquaQuartz pool filter sand. It took minimal rinsing to clean. Vacuuming it is simply a learned process, at first I would suck up a lot of sand using a large siphon vac but now I can vacuum the tank really well and only end up with a trace of sand in the bucket. The added bonus with AquaQuartz is that it's white, not tan colored.
I have used sand from landscaping supplies store and it looks great! Very natural. Turns out it raises PH slightly but good for endlers.I think you're right about build up which I didn't deal with quite quickly enough and now I am dealing with the consequences. Algae.
I bought 150lbs for $9 at home depot and it looks awesome it was Quikrete brand. Very light tan with some black speckles. Was definitely dirty but for $9 no way you can beat it. Use a pre filter and never any problems with sand in the filter.
Another great video. I'm an old salt, and back in my day as a student in marine biology at school, we were taught to keep it simple. Simple, meaning we didn't have any money, so we had to be creative and use what was on hand. After thoroughly understanding the nitrogen cycle and what was needed to achieve it, it was really very simple after that. We just now had to connect the dots. For my freshwater tank, my filtration consisted of an air-driven under gravel filter followed by baked clay gravel used on baseball infields (natural kitty litter) and topped off with plain sand. About a 5 inch substrate. I lived and still do on the Gulf Coast, so I had access to all the sand I needed. After a few months of maturing, I was able to achieve a complete cycle with such a basic and simple setup. Soon after, I added HOB's. To this day, all of my tanks are set up basically the same way, only now utilizing canister filters and a DIY plenum based, under gravel filter with Safe T Sorb (montmorillonite clay) topped with a 50/50 mix of medium and fine Black Diamond blasting sand. In other tanks, I use play sand and mix in some fine Black Diamond to get the colors I want as my top substrate. Two bags each of Safe T Sorb and Black Diamond cost me $35 filling one of my 75 gal tanks to a 5-inch depth. I have never had a system crash but as Jason pointed out, there could be drawbacks with sand. But I believe the same can be said of all substrates. What a drawback is to one, is but a simple drop in the bucket for another. As my father taught me, you only get out what you put in so daily tank maintenance is a must. We can all make it as simple or as complex as we want it to be. My system and substrates of choice, along with strictly following my aquarium equipment and husbandry maintenance schedule, work for me in achieving a full cycle as should yours. We all can use different methods to achieve similar objectives and as long as your system is healthy and thriving, no one system is necessarily ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the other. Ultimately, use whatever substrate you like but as Jason stated, sand may require more maintenance than others but if it's just a simple drop in the bucket for you, then go with it. Only you can control your domain. Jason, we all learn something with every post. Knowledgeable aquarist masters such as yourself sure keep the learning curve low. Keep on keeping on.
Excellent! When I needed to prep/cycle tanks for large fancy goldfish. So after researching sands and chatting with goldfish keepers, I decided to go with a larger grained pool filter sand. Also, I wanted a warm natural color for the two tanks. The brand I ended up choosing is HTH Pool Filter Sand available at most ACE Hardware stores. I selected it because I learned from other folks that it's heavier, cleaner and does not easily get sucked up while siphoning. For me, all of those things are true. I've been thinking about starting a shell dweller tank (thanks to you!). For that tank I will purchase one of the Carib-Sea sands. Regarding Black Blasting sand. I bought a 50 pound bag, and returned it because I noticed tiny needle-like shards in it. It was the actual sand that was sharp and dangerous looking, not metal shards as has been reported here and there. I wasn't willing to risk it even though many, many people swear by it. I can imagine the difference, though it was the same brand mentioned in numerous comments regarding sharp shards or metal, comes from where it is manufactured in the US and possibly quality control. Great and helpful video. Many thanks! Can you make a video about diatoms, and ow to deal with them in new tanks and long-term in tanks with different kinds of sands? That would be sooooo helpful to many of us.
Great video. Pool filter sand is what I've been using after removing the gravel from my tank. I've had no issues with it but it was dirty and took some time to get it clean before adding it as a substrate
Have used the medium grit Black Diamond blasting sand in about 14 of my tanks for nearly two years now and have had some issues with vacuuming it up. Ot as. Ad as pool filter sand but long term (after about 12 to 18 months) it starts looking a little unsightly because I can't get a good vacuuming. Long term it's worth the extra money yo go with either an aquarium sand or gravel or fo with a pea gravel if you like a natural look. In some of the guppy breeding tanks I will be going with a couple layers of larger river rocks and see if I can't get a higher survival rate from the spawns. Thanks for sharing you wisdom and experience!
I am considering adding pfs to my setup as a norm and was thinking of ways to avoid your issue. Do you think it would work if I were to vacuum just the top layer of sand up and replace with new sand? Can't imagine the sand with as fine as it is getting stuck in plants on the way down
I am using pool filter sand in my tank right now and haven't had any of these problems. Maybe it depends on the brand of pool sand you buy. I didn't rinse my sand and it was not cloudy at all. No issues with fish health. I use a gravel vac with no problem, but you have to have the right tubing diameter so the flow is not too fast. Grain size was fine for me and never had issues with it getting into my filter. Still a great video. Thumbs up.
I've reading the comments about pool filter sand and I'm coming to the conclusion that people don't understand that there are thousands of different sand manufacturers. Pool filter sand should come pre-washed. On the bag there should be a data sheet with the composition and the manufacturing process. Pool filt sand is made to much higher specs than aquarium substrate because there's a much smaller grain variation. Also, don't generalize it by being too coarse or fine because there are different sizes to chose from.
Pool filter sand is a specific sized grain so it doesn't completely compact. This is so water can pass through it. Very good for your aquarium. If he is having the problems he is saying its because he's getting some cheap ass junk filter sand.
You are right about pool filter sand looks great boy boy can it produce diadem's brown algae I have used black blasting sand it don't seem to produce brown algae as bad is inert the only problem with that black blasting sand is for a little while it will leave an oily residue on top does not hurt the fish or plants but after several water changes it will eventually go away great video and tips on how to still save money
I'm absolutely certain that the detritus issue must suck for an aquarium shop where you have certain fish in certain tanks and you're constantly moving new livestock in as you sell off existing livestock. I don't think the detritus issue exists for hobbyists, however, because any proper aquarium is going to have a mother load of a cleanup crew. Snails, Khuli loaches, corey cats, pleicos and (the best of all) shrimp will take care of all that nonsense for you. You just need a lot of them. IMO the cleanup crew should be the biggest bioload in your tank by a lot. Inverts and bottom dwellers are very interesting too. Underrated!!!
I've been using pool filter sand in my 75g African chiclid tank for like 3 plus years now and I've had no issues. I did rinse it as much as I could though before using it. Now I'll watch what are the cons. Would I use it again? Absolutely 😂👍
Cheap sand is great, just be patient with the few floating grains they will eventually sink. Increasing water flow will also help with making the extra grain sink.
Lighthouse pool filter sand, silica based, I don’t even have to rinse it- never have and never had an issue. It’s amazing, I recommend getting it shipped to you from Namco or if you can find it on Amazon.
I bought a third 75 gallon aquarium in Nov and put in pool sand instead of gravel which I have in my other two aquariums. So far I prefer the sand to the gravel. I just bought a 125 gallon fron PetSmart that was marked down 75%. Going to use sand in it.
@@amandawitherspoon3988 it was one of my favorite tanks with the Cory's digging around. I set up a 55gal with a pair of Angels and wasn't working well till I added a Pleco. He keeps the sand nicely turned over and the plants are doing good.
I bought quikrete pool filter sand and cleaned it in a bucket with water and stirring it with my hand. That's when I realized I didn't want to use it. The sand is extremely sharp and was very rough on my hands. I bought some Caribsea Supernaturals and comparing the feel of the two is VERY different. The Caribsea is a much softer feeling sand. I'm setting up a tank for Whiptail catfish that like to burry themselves and don't want sharp sand in the tank with them. Pool filter sand works in pool filters by being sharp, something you don't want with fish.
It has nothing to do with sharpness. Sand filters work because they use graded sand that is a certain size required by the filter. Different filters use different sizes. The sand trap debris because it's tightly compacted by the water flow. The more waste it traps, the better it works. The dirtier your filter,, the more you catch Size not sharpness.
Good morning guys.. yes your substrate video is one of the best and was one of the first I checked out. I went with Fluval stratum for the tall tank only because I didn't need that much. The other day, I decided to try Joanna's favorite, the top fin black sand in one of my little tanks... I really Love it. I have never used pool filter sand. I have a 10-gallon I'm getting ready to set up for divided betta tank and I was planning to use the pool filter sand in it. Since using This top fin black sand, I think I changed my mind.. I really like it and it looks so nice. If I was doing a really big tank I think the pool filter sand would be really perfect.. when it's left alone it has so many benefits. And your tank s look amazing. in small tanks I feel like I just make a mess. I also picture the whole bottom of my tank looking green 😂 on top of the white sand.. that's just my silly fears. I've seen so many good tanks with sand. I had Joanna on my mind when this video popped up.. I was watching Jurijs jutjajevs live stream with the cutest little nano canister filter ever... The price and if it's worth it,is the question .. none the less.. it was adorable 😂😂👍.. I hope ya'll have an amazing day!!
Thank you! It can be a huge money saver in very large tanks, but I found the extra time I was spending on the maintenance didn't make it worth it for me.
I use pool filter sand in my 55-gallon and I love it. No issues and stays very clean, although I have two geophagus tapajos that sift through it, which is why I got it.
@@robbennett1810 Hi Rob, I still vac the tank, in fact, I am about to do that now. Dirt seems to accumulate in areas where the geos can't get to, like around rocks and driftwood. For the most part, the open areas of the sand stay pretty clean though. They sift through it and release it over the rocks and plants, so things get covered. Be prepared for them to rescape your tank! Mark
@@drfter240sx great idea thx. Setting up a 30 gallon soon still debating gravel or sand. I currently have sand in my smaller tank for the Kuhli and Zebra loaches. It is aquarium sand but is still much too fine to use a gravel vac on :( I accidentally wound up with trumpet snails buying fish locally so I guess they are my gravel filter heh.
I put 50 pound of the larger top fin gravel in my planted tank I haven't bought fish yet so I was thinking of putting aquarium sand over it but people on here say it will just work it's way to the bottom. Is that true ? I was just thinking about getting some Corey's and I heard it would be better for them to shift sifft through. I guess if that doesn't work I can just move the gravel to the back an sides an put the sand in the front half. I would appreciate any advice. I subscribe to you and love your videos.
Thank you. I watched your video you explained it very good. If I just get a nother bag of the smaller top fin gravel would the Cory's be happy with that on top of the larger gravel.
I wonder if the amount in the tank makes a difference. 3 inches will be alot harder to keep clean than just one inch. And if you have burrowing fish like kuli loaches, they could really move the one inch deep sand around. I heard some people stir the substrate up with a chop stick and have the vac above it to help separate poo from sand.
I add a 10# bag of Carib Sea Aragonite Aquarium Sand to each 50# bag of Quikrete Pool Filter Sand for my 75 gallon mbuna tank - they love it. No problems here, but much like you suggested, I have pre-filters on my canister filter intakes. To be safe I might want to consider investing in a couple back-up impellers. Thanks for the review.
I need some sand for my crayfish, I got some that was very muggy and hazy and couldn't clean and I'm a noob. What's a good sand I can get that's easy to clean and looks clear?
I use CEMEX sand from home depot! Been using it for about 3 years on most of my tanks. And although i do see the grains are small I don’t usually find it hard to syphon detritus and remains clean overall. Doesn’t raise PH or any of that sort either, Besides the look of it the price is really damn good $5 for a 50lbs bag
@@08mario510 Nice! I may need to go back and purchase 2 more 50lb bags thatll do for my 90 and 125 gallon. Last amounts of the sand ill use for my aqua 12 gallon long rimless for a planted with No Co2 or fertilizer
Ryan Coloma yeah that should be more than enough!!! In my opinion sand is a great great choice!! I have grown Vallisneria Crypts Rotala and even saggitaria no problem
I just purchased a 150 gallons and i want to set it up with african cichlid fishes but honestly now i dont know what kind of sand to use because all kinds have bad issues, Prime Time Aquatics can you give me the best advise?
I use pfs in my 120 African cichlid tank. Give it a quick vacuum with the Python at water changes. Im happy with It. It looks good and you cant beat the price
Going to try pool sand in 125 with 40 long sump my question 3 50lb bags of pool sand should I add a bag of chiclid sand and a bag of crushed coral would that be beneficial
Caribsea was the worst I ever used. It got a slimy gel to it after a while for me. I use hth Pool Filter Sand and its really working out great. its very clean when you buy it and seems to clean easy.
I've been using HTH pool filter sand as well with no issues in fish tanks or axolotl tanks. The caribsea African Cichlid sand I have in some tanks literally sticks to some of the fish. I don't think one is dirtier than the other but I prefer the natural colors of pool filter sand.
I have found that Caribsea has many different grain sizes in the different colors. Which is the best grain size that you recommend for the benefits you mention for maintenance and appearance? I don't want the white, but anything in the tan to red colors is nice. I see grain sizes between .25 to 2mm ranges. Assume best might be somewhere around the 1-2mm grain size?
I am dealing with this now as well, I used hth brand PFS in a walstad tank which is getting algae non stop compared to my other tanks. I also used it in a section of a another tank and got constant diatoms for the first several weeks even though I only used a very tiny amount, both rinsed many many times. I have over half a bag left and was going to be cheap and use it in a 20 high I'm getting set up but I think I'm going to vac it all out and pick something else like flourite black, eco complete, or caribsea peace river instead.
I have trouble with mine too, for some reason about time tank cycled they always get cloudy, I have 10 tanks and its only the PFS ones I have trouble with, shrimp do great in it but cloudy soup.
Do you like it for your multies or would you swap it out for them too, given the chance? Would you use black sand for them? Usually I like dark substrate for fish, but multies seem like they might be an exception.
Hiii what do u think about internal filters i asked the same question to another hobbyist he didn't give me a satisfying answer so can u do a good and a bad about a internal filter like the power head type would be very helpful
I generally don't like them. They take up too much space in the tank. The advantage is they are quiet and can create a nice flow. Still, I'd rather just use a HOB.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank you! Would you use a aqua clear or a sachem filter in a bigger tank with Gold fish? I now have a aqua clear filter in with them does the job when it don't start tipping on the back and leak everywhere lol.. I have a sachem on a 20g with neon glofish I think its doing its job but I hate that it don't have a tube to go lower.. I wonder what would be better? I use my own media like lava rock and polypill, ceramic rings.
I found the opposite- the sand I bought from the pet store was so fine and almost claylike, yet it was super expensive. Then I bought a bag of pool sand (20lbs for $12) and it was perfect- more coarse and didn’t get sucked up in the vacuum as easily. I guess it does depend on the quality of pool filter sand. I bought mine from Canadian Tire.
Going to try pool filter sand and caribsea sand together in a 75 gallon. Not sure how much it will take. Starting my first cichlid tank and wanting to get a colony of pseudotropheus saulosi to breed. Can you recommend somewhere to get that fish? Thank you
Im planning to mount a 40 breeder with pool sand and some rocks for african cichlids. Does a penguin 350 filter can be better with my future setup or a marineland 200 would be ok?
I like hth pool sand, yes it is white but when I want to be fancy i mix it with the brown pool sand from HD looks great. HTH sand is the cleanest sand that have brought. For try to add a air stone it will with agitation of the sand, takes 5mins.
I've been using pool filter sand in my Bichir tank , for years and I use a gravel vac no sweat, none of the issues you are talking about and I don't use hang on the back filters ever , I use sponge filters and benefital bacteria, works perfectly fine
For about a year now I've used the hth brand pf sand in my 40b multifasciatus tank and its been great for me.....so far. They move it around a bit so its been no problem yet. Most of my tanks I i use 2/12 cemex sand from my lfs at 70 cents a lb. I think it looks fantastic and looks better and more natural than pf sand. Had to try the pf sand once though.
After buying a lot of different bags of sand, I found that the hth brand was the best and doesn't cause me problems. I have stuck my gravel vac in the sand and it didn't hurt anything. Sure a little of it went into the tube but not as much as you would think.
I have pfs in my amazon puffer, figure 8 puffer and ranchu goldfish tanks which all are planted except the goldfish because they ate my plants and I love it. It looks beautiful and the plants grow well in it and I don't fertilize. Got mine at hm depot for a lil over $8.
Do you have that shirt in Camo?? I have tried fine grain substrate and have pulling more of it out during cleaning being densely packed I see that it takes longer for rooted plant to take hold in it.
I've been using pool filter sand since I got back into the hobby and haven't had too many problems. I have noticed some of the things you stated about detritus and algae beneath the substrate level. The biggest thing I find that would make me want to switch to an aquarium specialized sand is color choice. Where I'm at all the pool filter sand I've found has been the very light colored tan color. This looks fine, but as we know substrate can affect the color of your fish. I've thought about switching to the Carib-sea brands as I use their Eco-complete for my planted tanks.
I'm setting up a 150 gallon for my Fahaka Puffer. I have read pool sand is fine to use as a substrate gravel. I went and bought three 40 Lb bags of it and rinsed it in buckets and added it to the aquarium. However now I'm having second thoughts. It is basically recycled glass and contains Silicone Dioxide. Everything I read mostly said the Silicone Dioxide is no problem but what I'm worried about is the particles scratching the Puffer especially if he digs into the sand. It didn't hurt or cut my hands when I was digging into the buckets with my hands. Has anyone used this in their Puffer tank? Is most pool filter sand today made this way? Can I use this in my tank, or should I take it all back out?
All 10 of my tanks have carrib sea sand from local fish store. It's great never had any problems with it. It don't get sucked up when gravel vacuuming plants are growing great an the price is not bad at all. Don't fix what isn't broke.
Can I use pool filter sand that has already been used in the pool filter in my aquarium. If yes, how do I clean the pool filter sand to remove all the pool chemicals which would kill the fish
Thank you for the video! I'm interested in the microbiology of fishes, I saw your video on Ich where you recommended Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment, but it is a little more than I can justify spending to my SO. Is there an online resource or cheaper book you can recommend to help me identify what I am looking at under the microscope?
I like the Imaginarium brand black sand from Petco. It looks like the day I put it in the tank. Also CaribSea black & white cichlid sand in my 90 still looks like new. I never used pool filter sand in my 23 years of fish keeping because I'm not a cheapskate lol, sorry couldn't resist!
I want to get a 25Kg bag that's slightly brown looking to do a 120 gallon south American aquarium with a bunch of tree branches/trunk and leaves with slightly brownish water
That would take a lot of patience. The fastest way, but also the most disruptive, would be to use a strainer with holes small enough to trap the aquasoil, but large enough to allow the sand to pass through. It would require the tank to be broken down, but I think most options result in a new re-scape.
How do you get the aquarium sand to stop clumping and floating to the top? Added sand 2 days ago, still looks like hoodoos on the bottom and clumpy floaters on the top. Constant clumps float up to the surface and surface clumps fall to the bottom
You need 3 inches or more of it and then you don’t syphon it. Anerobic bacteria grow underneath it and take care of the nitrates. Shouldn’t be much sand in water column ever. Learned this from Father Fish videos. You can always top the pool filter sand with another color sand if you like.
That works well, unless you have cichlids kicking it up everywhere and spitting it all over the place making huge mounds. Haha. I do like the deeper sand beds for sure. We have been doing more of that lately.
Pool filter sand is manufactured. Play sand is not if it's naturally collected witch it usually is. Manufactured sand has sharp edges. Naturally collected sand has been rounded.
That quikrete will send your pH through the roof. I did a fake rock background in that stuff and it took weeks of soaking and water changes to get it back down to normal. Plus - it would be quite heavy.
That Caribsea Naturals Brown Sand is exactly what I want, has anyone tried it in a dirted tank? I tried pool filter sand capped over dirt and couldnt grow much, not even val
I have pool filter sand and it is great for me the only thing I do not like is the sand after a while will turn darker and look dirty. I have had this in my 20 gallon tank for over 2 years now
Hi Jason , Love the channel, I'm From south africa and i think that the pool filter sand granules from the brand that i'm using is quite large almost to a point where you could call it and fine gravel, to be honest i just recently been been toying with the idea of a deep sand bed tank so thats the reason i chose to get the pool filter sand in the first place but luckily it was'nt too fine like you described in the video, i will however be monitoring it and i will let you know how its going but for now i quite like the colour and texture and it hasnt given me any issues as yet but we will wait and see, thanks again for the awesome content, take care.
I've been using it at some time...but it needs to be washed a lot first, then boiled before adding it to the aquarium...and then comes the maintenance at least 1ce a week, that sand (for me) was a steroid for algae @__@ (at 3 days i needed to scrape the walls)
I use filter sand in some of my apisto tanks with no problem and they love it. But as you say they move the sand. It's cheap and it looks good on the tanks
Here are our favorite aquarium sands: ua-cam.com/video/W4nULCIHJs8/v-deo.html
If you want to learn more about aquarium substrates check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/oflQNgzh_0I/v-deo.html
If you want more information on how to maintain and aquarium with sand check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/OeFp0iLw4yQ/v-deo.html
Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch
For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
I changed to pool filter sand about 6 years ago best thing I ever did my tank is super clean and the poop goes into my canister filter
Does the sand ever get into the canister? Thats my biggest worry i really want to change my gravel
What brand do you use
I’m doing a massive tank upgrade and overhaul soon, and I’m looking to change my gravel, but brand aquarium sand for a 125 gal tank is looking to be $200+ for 3 in., hence why I’m here looking at pool sand. My biggest worry is said sand destroying the new $400 canister filter I just bought. Does the sand make its way into your filter at all, and what brand sand did you get?
@@j6302 yes it does get in my filter but i never had a problem i just clean it and dump it back in the water
@@ryderwernicke9867 hth pool filter sand
Straight to the point practical experience and advice as usual. Thumbs up.
Agreed! Nothing like the ones who make a 30 minute video on a topic that isn't that doesn't need to be.
This video is so helpful. I was thinking about getting pool filter sand but now I am not and I am thankful for that.
I use Aqua Quartz pool filter sand in my 75 gal. I find a wavemaker/circulation pump helps with the detritus buildup on the sand. I also found this brand of sand rinsed really easily (only did 10-15 min rinse per 30-40lbs of sand) and it cleared up within 24 hrs.
Same here. We have 4 tanks and all have AquaQuartz pool filter sand. It took minimal rinsing to clean. Vacuuming it is simply a learned process, at first I would suck up a lot of sand using a large siphon vac but now I can vacuum the tank really well and only end up with a trace of sand in the bucket. The added bonus with AquaQuartz is that it's white, not tan colored.
How many lbs did you use for your 75 gal?
I have used sand from landscaping supplies store and it looks great! Very natural. Turns out it raises PH slightly but good for endlers.I think you're right about build up which I didn't deal with quite quickly enough and now I am dealing with the consequences. Algae.
I bought 150lbs for $9 at home depot and it looks awesome it was Quikrete brand. Very light tan with some black speckles. Was definitely dirty but for $9 no way you can beat it. Use a pre filter and never any problems with sand in the filter.
Another great video. I'm an old salt, and back in my day as a student in marine biology at school, we were taught to keep it simple. Simple, meaning we didn't have any money, so we had to be creative and use what was on hand. After thoroughly understanding the nitrogen cycle and what was needed to achieve it, it was really very simple after that. We just now had to connect the dots. For my freshwater tank, my filtration consisted of an air-driven under gravel filter followed by baked clay gravel used on baseball infields (natural kitty litter) and topped off with plain sand. About a 5 inch substrate. I lived and still do on the Gulf Coast, so I had access to all the sand I needed. After a few months of maturing, I was able to achieve a complete cycle with such a basic and simple setup. Soon after, I added HOB's. To this day, all of my tanks are set up basically the same way, only now utilizing canister filters and a DIY plenum based, under gravel filter with Safe T Sorb (montmorillonite clay) topped with a 50/50 mix of medium and fine Black Diamond blasting sand. In other tanks, I use play sand and mix in some fine Black Diamond to get the colors I want as my top substrate. Two bags each of Safe T Sorb and Black Diamond cost me $35 filling one of my 75 gal tanks to a 5-inch depth. I have never had a system crash but as Jason pointed out, there could be drawbacks with sand. But I believe the same can be said of all substrates. What a drawback is to one, is but a simple drop in the bucket for another. As my father taught me, you only get out what you put in so daily tank maintenance is a must. We can all make it as simple or as complex as we want it to be. My system and substrates of choice, along with strictly following my aquarium equipment and husbandry maintenance schedule, work for me in achieving a full cycle as should yours. We all can use different methods to achieve similar objectives and as long as your system is healthy and thriving, no one system is necessarily ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the other. Ultimately, use whatever substrate you like but as Jason stated, sand may require more maintenance than others but if it's just a simple drop in the bucket for you, then go with it. Only you can control your domain. Jason, we all learn something with every post. Knowledgeable aquarist masters such as yourself sure keep the learning curve low. Keep on keeping on.
Thank you!
Excellent! When I needed to prep/cycle tanks for large fancy goldfish. So after researching sands and chatting with goldfish keepers, I decided to go with a larger grained pool filter sand. Also, I wanted a warm natural color for the two tanks. The brand I ended up choosing is HTH Pool Filter Sand available at most ACE Hardware stores. I selected it because I learned from other folks that it's heavier, cleaner and does not easily get sucked up while siphoning. For me, all of those things are true. I've been thinking about starting a shell dweller tank (thanks to you!). For that tank I will purchase one of the Carib-Sea sands. Regarding Black Blasting sand. I bought a 50 pound bag, and returned it because I noticed tiny needle-like shards in it. It was the actual sand that was sharp and dangerous looking, not metal shards as has been reported here and there. I wasn't willing to risk it even though many, many people swear by it. I can imagine the difference, though it was the same brand mentioned in numerous comments regarding sharp shards or metal, comes from where it is manufactured in the US and possibly quality control. Great and helpful video. Many thanks! Can you make a video about diatoms, and ow to deal with them in new tanks and long-term in tanks with different kinds of sands? That would be sooooo helpful to many of us.
Also, I always use Aquarium Coop pre-filter sponges on all of my tanks. I cannot recommend them enough! Great price and a long-lasting product.
Other people have raised the same concern about the blasting sand as well!
Great video. Pool filter sand is what I've been using after removing the gravel from my tank. I've had no issues with it but it was dirty and took some time to get it clean before adding it as a substrate
Have used the medium grit Black Diamond blasting sand in about 14 of my tanks for nearly two years now and have had some issues with vacuuming it up. Ot as. Ad as pool filter sand but long term (after about 12 to 18 months) it starts looking a little unsightly because I can't get a good vacuuming.
Long term it's worth the extra money yo go with either an aquarium sand or gravel or fo with a pea gravel if you like a natural look. In some of the guppy breeding tanks I will be going with a couple layers of larger river rocks and see if I can't get a higher survival rate from the spawns.
Thanks for sharing you wisdom and experience!
I am considering adding pfs to my setup as a norm and was thinking of ways to avoid your issue. Do you think it would work if I were to vacuum just the top layer of sand up and replace with new sand? Can't imagine the sand with as fine as it is getting stuck in plants on the way down
I was headed to Lowe's for sand until I watched this. I will foot the extra money for aquarium sand. Thanks!
I am using pool filter sand in my tank right now and haven't had any of these problems. Maybe it depends on the brand of pool sand you buy. I didn't rinse my sand and it was not cloudy at all. No issues with fish health. I use a gravel vac with no problem, but you have to have the right tubing diameter so the flow is not too fast. Grain size was fine for me and never had issues with it getting into my filter. Still a great video. Thumbs up.
Glad yours is working. If you wouldn't sharing the brand (if you remember) that would be cool!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I believe it was quikrete
I've reading the comments about pool filter sand and I'm coming to the conclusion that people don't understand that there are thousands of different sand manufacturers. Pool filter sand should come pre-washed. On the bag there should be a data sheet with the composition and the manufacturing process. Pool filt sand is made to much higher specs than aquarium substrate because there's a much smaller grain variation. Also, don't generalize it by being too coarse or fine because there are different sizes to chose from.
yeah, my pool filter sand was barely cloudy. A quick water change and it was completely clear
Pool filter sand is a specific sized grain so it doesn't completely compact. This is so water can pass through it. Very good for your aquarium. If he is having the problems he is saying its because he's getting some cheap ass junk filter sand.
You are right about pool filter sand looks great boy boy can it produce diadem's brown algae I have used black blasting sand it don't seem to produce brown algae as bad is inert the only problem with that black blasting sand is for a little while it will leave an oily residue on top does not hurt the fish or plants but after several water changes it will eventually go away great video and tips on how to still save money
I'm absolutely certain that the detritus issue must suck for an aquarium shop where you have certain fish in certain tanks and you're constantly moving new livestock in as you sell off existing livestock. I don't think the detritus issue exists for hobbyists, however, because any proper aquarium is going to have a mother load of a cleanup crew. Snails, Khuli loaches, corey cats, pleicos and (the best of all) shrimp will take care of all that nonsense for you. You just need a lot of them. IMO the cleanup crew should be the biggest bioload in your tank by a lot. Inverts and bottom dwellers are very interesting too. Underrated!!!
I've been using pool filter sand in my 75g African chiclid tank for like 3 plus years now and I've had no issues. I did rinse it as much as I could though before using it. Now I'll watch what are the cons. Would I use it again? Absolutely 😂👍
Was it used filter sand that needed to be cleaned from the chemicals used in the pool.
One Pro: Since getting rid of the gravel & switching to PFS I no longer have detritus worms. One con: vacuuming really sucks.
But the waste settles on the surface because it is so fine so you wouldn’t need to vacuum deep in the sand like you would gravel
Cheap sand is great, just be patient with the few floating grains they will eventually sink. Increasing water flow will also help with making the extra grain sink.
Lighthouse pool filter sand, silica based, I don’t even have to rinse it- never have and never had an issue. It’s amazing, I recommend getting it shipped to you from Namco or if you can find it on Amazon.
I bought a third 75 gallon aquarium in Nov and put in pool sand instead of gravel which I have in my other two aquariums. So far I prefer the sand to the gravel. I just bought a 125 gallon fron PetSmart that was marked down 75%. Going to use sand in it.
I just bought 4 more bags 2 days ago. Wish I would have seen this first. But I must admit I love it and so do my fish. 😊
If you like it and it's working well for you I wouldn't stress about it. :-)
I’ve had both extremes of good and bad with pool filter sand. Personally the tanks that had mystery snails and Cory’s digging around turned out great.
I am wanting to switch to sand. Did the corys do good with that type of sand?
Thanks for your comment. I was getting ready to buy some pool filter sand for my Cory's and snails.
@@amandawitherspoon3988 it was one of my favorite tanks with the Cory's digging around. I set up a 55gal with a pair of Angels and wasn't working well till I added a Pleco. He keeps the sand nicely turned over and the plants are doing good.
I bought quikrete pool filter sand and cleaned it in a bucket with water and stirring it with my hand. That's when I realized I didn't want to use it. The sand is extremely sharp and was very rough on my hands. I bought some Caribsea Supernaturals and comparing the feel of the two is VERY different. The Caribsea is a much softer feeling sand. I'm setting up a tank for Whiptail catfish that like to burry themselves and don't want sharp sand in the tank with them. Pool filter sand works in pool filters by being sharp, something you don't want with fish.
It has nothing to do with sharpness. Sand filters work because they use graded sand that is a certain size required by the filter. Different filters use different sizes. The sand trap debris because it's tightly compacted by the water flow. The more waste it traps, the better it works. The dirtier your filter,, the more you catch
Size not sharpness.
Good morning guys.. yes your substrate video is one of the best and was one of the first I checked out. I went with Fluval stratum for the tall tank only because I didn't need that much. The other day, I decided to try Joanna's favorite, the top fin black sand in one of my little tanks... I really Love it. I have never used pool filter sand. I have a 10-gallon I'm getting ready to set up for divided betta tank and I was planning to use the pool filter sand in it. Since using This top fin black sand, I think I changed my mind.. I really like it and it looks so nice. If I was doing a really big tank I think the pool filter sand would be really perfect.. when it's left alone it has so many benefits. And your tank s look amazing. in small tanks I feel like I just make a mess. I also picture the whole bottom of my tank looking green 😂 on top of the white sand.. that's just my silly fears. I've seen so many good tanks with sand. I had Joanna on my mind when this video popped up.. I was watching Jurijs jutjajevs live stream with the cutest little nano canister filter ever... The price and if it's worth it,is the question .. none the less.. it was adorable 😂😂👍.. I hope ya'll have an amazing day!!
Thank you! It can be a huge money saver in very large tanks, but I found the extra time I was spending on the maintenance didn't make it worth it for me.
I use pool filter sand in my 55-gallon and I love it. No issues and stays very clean, although I have two geophagus tapajos that sift through it, which is why I got it.
Hey Mark, I'm about to setup a tank with Geophagus, do you find that because of their sifting you don't have to gravel Vac??
@@robbennett1810 Hi Rob,
I still vac the tank, in fact, I am about to do that now. Dirt seems to accumulate in areas where the geos can't get to, like around rocks and driftwood. For the most part, the open areas of the sand stay pretty clean though. They sift through it and release it over the rocks and plants, so things get covered. Be prepared for them to rescape your tank!
Mark
Best aquarium vids on UA-cam! I was lucky with quikrete pfs from Home Depot much coarse than most which has made cleaning a lot easier.
I also use quirkete, but it gets extremely cloudy
I put mine in a 5gal bucket and used a drill with a mixer to wash it. Haven’t had much problems
Thank you for watching!
@@drfter240sx great idea thx. Setting up a 30 gallon soon still debating gravel or sand. I currently have sand in my smaller tank for the Kuhli and Zebra loaches. It is aquarium sand but is still much too fine to use a gravel vac on :( I accidentally wound up with trumpet snails buying fish locally so I guess they are my gravel filter heh.
Did you use just sand and do you have plants?
Very informative. Thank you for saving me from making a terrible mistake. I will spend the extra money on better sand.
I put 50 pound of the larger top fin gravel in my planted tank I haven't bought fish yet so I was thinking of putting aquarium sand over it but people on here say it will just work it's way to the bottom. Is that true ? I was just thinking about getting some Corey's and I heard it would be better for them to shift sifft through. I guess if that doesn't work I can just move the gravel to the back an sides an put the sand in the front half. I would appreciate any advice. I subscribe to you and love your videos.
Ya, the gravel will wind up towards the top anyway. 😀
Thank you. I watched your video you explained it very good. If I just get a nother bag of the smaller top fin gravel would the Cory's be happy with that on top of the larger gravel.
I wonder if the amount in the tank makes a difference. 3 inches will be alot harder to keep clean than just one inch. And if you have burrowing fish like kuli loaches, they could really move the one inch deep sand around. I heard some people stir the substrate up with a chop stick and have the vac above it to help separate poo from sand.
I add a 10# bag of Carib Sea Aragonite Aquarium Sand to each 50# bag of Quikrete Pool Filter Sand for my 75 gallon mbuna tank - they love it. No problems here, but much like you suggested, I have pre-filters on my canister filter intakes. To be safe I might want to consider investing in a couple back-up impellers. Thanks for the review.
I use pool filer sand as the base layer and to get height on my substrate then put aquarium gravel or eco complete on top.
I live your videos! They are always so informative and always cover all the key points!
Thanks so much!
I love the Imaginarium sand from Petco because it's easy to clean. I don't even have to rinse it.
I need some sand for my crayfish, I got some that was very muggy and hazy and couldn't clean and I'm a noob. What's a good sand I can get that's easy to clean and looks clear?
Most of the sand from fish stores don’t need to be rinsed.
I use CEMEX sand from home depot! Been using it for about 3 years on most of my tanks. And although i do see the grains are small I don’t usually find it hard to syphon detritus and remains clean overall. Doesn’t raise PH or any of that sort either, Besides the look of it the price is really damn good $5 for a 50lbs bag
thats a good deal, I will need to look for that as well. I just bought play sand from Home Depot close to where I live.
Ryan Coloma yeah i used a full 50lb bagand half of then other on my 125 gallon tank!! That’s $10 bag of substrate on a 125 gallon!!!
@@08mario510 Nice! I may need to go back and purchase 2 more 50lb bags thatll do for my 90 and 125 gallon. Last amounts of the sand ill use for my aqua 12 gallon long rimless for a planted with No Co2 or fertilizer
Ryan Coloma yeah that should be more than enough!!! In my opinion sand is a great great choice!! I have grown Vallisneria Crypts Rotala and even saggitaria no problem
Always providing great informative videos!
Thank you!
I just purchased a 150 gallons and i want to set it up with african cichlid fishes but honestly now i dont know what kind of sand to use because all kinds have bad issues, Prime Time Aquatics can you give me the best advise?
I use pfs in my 120 African cichlid tank. Give it a quick vacuum with the Python at water changes. Im happy with It. It looks good and you cant beat the price
Great video. This is what I tell all my customers. Tyvm
Going to try pool sand in 125 with 40 long sump my question 3 50lb bags of pool sand should I add a bag of chiclid sand and a bag of crushed coral would that be beneficial
It certainly can be if your pH and/or water hardness is less than ideal.
Glad I watched this before purchasing pool filter sand.
Caribsea was the worst I ever used. It got a slimy gel to it after a while for me. I use
hth Pool Filter Sand and its really working out great. its very clean when you buy it and seems to clean easy.
I've been using HTH pool filter sand as well with no issues in fish tanks or axolotl tanks. The caribsea African Cichlid sand I have in some tanks literally sticks to some of the fish. I don't think one is dirtier than the other but I prefer the natural colors of pool filter sand.
A good video. A classic overtone of its based on what you get where you are.
👍
Thank you. You have saved me so much money.
I have found that Caribsea has many different grain sizes in the different colors. Which is the best grain size that you recommend for the benefits you mention for maintenance and appearance? I don't want the white, but anything in the tan to red colors is nice. I see grain sizes between .25 to 2mm ranges. Assume best might be somewhere around the 1-2mm grain size?
I agree - a little larger is better.
Thank you for the tips! I like the substrate you are using on the tank showing on your back right hand side. What is it?
That is pool filter sand in the 50 gallon low boy.
I am dealing with this now as well, I used hth brand PFS in a walstad tank which is getting algae non stop compared to my other tanks. I also used it in a section of a another tank and got constant diatoms for the first several weeks even though I only used a very tiny amount, both rinsed many many times. I have over half a bag left and was going to be cheap and use it in a 20 high I'm getting set up but I think I'm going to vac it all out and pick something else like flourite black, eco complete, or caribsea peace river instead.
If it's causing you problems might as well get rid of it.
I have trouble with mine too, for some reason about time tank cycled they always get cloudy, I have 10 tanks and its only the PFS ones I have trouble with, shrimp do great in it but cloudy soup.
Do you like it for your multies or would you swap it out for them too, given the chance? Would you use black sand for them? Usually I like dark substrate for fish, but multies seem like they might be an exception.
I like lighter sand for all my shellies except similis. When I did the second multi tank I went with Caribsea cichlid mix instead.
The fine sand gets into the magnetic part of the hang on back filters and it will seize the pump. I had that problem with my 10 gallon tank big time.
Hiii what do u think about internal filters i asked the same question to another hobbyist he didn't give me a satisfying answer so can u do a good and a bad about a internal filter like the power head type would be very helpful
I generally don't like them. They take up too much space in the tank. The advantage is they are quiet and can create a nice flow. Still, I'd rather just use a HOB.
Would the pool filter sand be good for gold fish? With a aqua clear filter with sponge on end? Thanks
Shouldn't be an issue
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank you!
Would you use a aqua clear or a sachem filter in a bigger tank with Gold fish? I now have a aqua clear filter in with them does the job when it don't start tipping on the back and leak everywhere lol.. I have a sachem on a 20g with neon glofish I think its doing its job but I hate that it don't have a tube to go lower.. I wonder what would be better? I use my own media like lava rock and polypill, ceramic rings.
I found the opposite- the sand I bought from the pet store was so fine and almost claylike, yet it was super expensive. Then I bought a bag of pool sand (20lbs for $12) and it was perfect- more coarse and didn’t get sucked up in the vacuum as easily. I guess it does depend on the quality of pool filter sand. I bought mine from Canadian Tire.
Very interesting. Glad you found something that works well!
Going to try pool filter sand and caribsea sand together in a 75 gallon. Not sure how much it will take. Starting my first cichlid tank and wanting to get a colony of pseudotropheus saulosi to breed. Can you recommend somewhere to get that fish? Thank you
Maybe The Wet Spot? Good luck!
Very interesting your video. Beautiful aquariums. I wish you all the best my friend.
Thank you! Hope you are doing well!
Im planning to mount a 40 breeder with pool sand and some rocks for african cichlids. Does a penguin 350 filter can be better with my future setup or a marineland 200 would be ok?
I would actually check out the new Marineland Pro series. Maybe like the 275? Much better filter.
I like hth pool sand, yes it is white but when I want to be fancy i mix it with the brown pool sand from HD looks great. HTH sand is the cleanest sand that have brought. For try to add a air stone it will with agitation of the sand, takes 5mins.
I don’t know why l, but you look REALLY happy today!
I try to be happy most days. :-)
Thanks for the info Jason
I've been using pool filter sand in my Bichir tank , for years and I use a gravel vac no sweat, none of the issues you are talking about and I don't use hang on the back filters ever , I use sponge filters and benefital bacteria, works perfectly fine
For about a year now I've used the hth brand pf sand in my 40b multifasciatus tank and its been great for me.....so far. They move it around a bit so its been no problem yet. Most of my tanks I i use 2/12 cemex sand from my lfs at 70 cents a lb. I think it looks fantastic and looks better and more natural than pf sand. Had to try the pf sand once though.
After buying a lot of different bags of sand, I found that the hth brand was the best and doesn't cause me problems. I have stuck my gravel vac in the sand and it didn't hurt anything. Sure a little of it went into the tube but not as much as you would think.
I have pfs in my amazon puffer, figure 8 puffer and ranchu goldfish tanks which all are planted except the goldfish because they ate my plants and I love it. It looks beautiful and the plants grow well in it and I don't fertilize. Got mine at hm depot for a lil over $8.
Do you have that shirt in Camo?? I have tried fine grain substrate and have pulling more of it out during cleaning being densely packed I see that it takes longer for rooted plant to take hold in it.
O man! That is something I need! :-)
What if you use a undergravel filter system will this give same results or improve?
I think sand would render an UGF useless. Once the sand gets under it the flow stops, which would kill off all the microbes.
I've been using pool filter sand since I got back into the hobby and haven't had too many problems. I have noticed some of the things you stated about detritus and algae beneath the substrate level. The biggest thing I find that would make me want to switch to an aquarium specialized sand is color choice. Where I'm at all the pool filter sand I've found has been the very light colored tan color. This looks fine, but as we know substrate can affect the color of your fish. I've thought about switching to the Carib-sea brands as I use their Eco-complete for my planted tanks.
I'm setting up a 150 gallon for my Fahaka Puffer. I have read pool sand is fine to use as a substrate gravel. I went and bought three 40 Lb bags of it and rinsed it in buckets and added it to the aquarium. However now I'm having second thoughts. It is basically recycled glass and contains Silicone Dioxide. Everything I read mostly said the Silicone Dioxide is no problem but what I'm worried about is the particles scratching the Puffer especially if he digs into the sand. It didn't hurt or cut my hands when I was digging into the buckets with my hands. Has anyone used this in their Puffer tank? Is most pool filter sand today made this way? Can I use this in my tank, or should I take it all back out?
I got some great pool filter sand from Lowe's at a great price. I test cleaned some of it and found I didn't need to.
If I use children’s play sand and washed it out nicely can I use it
Yes, it just takes a lot of rinsing.
All 10 of my tanks have carrib sea sand from local fish store. It's great never had any problems with it. It don't get sucked up when gravel vacuuming plants are growing great an the price is not bad at all. Don't fix what isn't broke.
what is the best sand grain size for multies please
The finer the better, but finer is also a little harder to keep clean.
Very informative as usual!!
Thank you! Hey, will you be at any of the Aquashellas? Hope to see you there. :-)
Can I use pool filter sand that has already been used in the pool filter in my aquarium. If yes, how do I clean the pool filter sand to remove all the pool chemicals which would kill the fish
I wouldn’t - there’s no telling what is in that media. 😀
I use a lot of Pool filter sand in combination with Melanoides maculata. They keep the sand clean
Very informative video as usual! I use caribsea and petsmart brand black sand, looks great and easier to clean.
Thank you for the video! I'm interested in the microbiology of fishes, I saw your video on Ich where you recommended Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment, but it is a little more than I can justify spending to my SO. Is there an online resource or cheaper book you can recommend to help me identify what I am looking at under the microscope?
I'm not sure of any reliable sources online thatI can recommend for sure.
I like the Imaginarium brand black sand from Petco. It looks like the day I put it in the tank. Also CaribSea black & white cichlid sand in my 90 still looks like new. I never used pool filter sand in my 23 years of fish keeping because I'm not a cheapskate lol, sorry couldn't resist!
Lol 🤡 it ain’t about being cheap
I want to get a 25Kg bag that's slightly brown looking to do a 120 gallon south American aquarium with a bunch of tree branches/trunk and leaves with slightly brownish water
How do you recommend I get rid of my sand cap but still keep the aquasoil? How do I separate the sand?
That would take a lot of patience. The fastest way, but also the most disruptive, would be to use a strainer with holes small enough to trap the aquasoil, but large enough to allow the sand to pass through. It would require the tank to be broken down, but I think most options result in a new re-scape.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics awesome thanks. Yes a rescape is in the works
How do you get the aquarium sand to stop clumping and floating to the top? Added sand 2 days ago, still looks like hoodoos on the bottom and clumpy floaters on the top. Constant clumps float up to the surface and surface clumps fall to the bottom
I just use my finger to push it off the surface. I find it therapeutic :-)
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I have the tidal 55 and am worried about the skimmer sucking the sand in
You need 3 inches or more of it and then you don’t syphon it. Anerobic bacteria grow underneath it and take care of the nitrates. Shouldn’t be much sand in water column ever. Learned this from Father Fish videos. You can always top the pool filter sand with another color sand if you like.
That works well, unless you have cichlids kicking it up everywhere and spitting it all over the place making huge mounds. Haha. I do like the deeper sand beds for sure. We have been doing more of that lately.
Is this pool filter sand good for stjngray??? Freshwater
I don't see why not?
I bought some Walmart pool sand. Wondering if I can plant stuff in it such as dwarf grass or moss, stuff like that.
We haven't had any issues with plants in pool filter sand.
Pool filter sand is manufactured. Play sand is not if it's naturally collected witch it usually is. Manufactured sand has sharp edges. Naturally collected sand has been rounded.
Pool filter sand is graded better for uniform grain size. It is not man made.
I just got some gnarly natural illinois river sand from a forest peserve looks good but feels funky when handling or breathing in dust
I'm sure there is a lot detritus and microbes in that stuff. :-)
Would it be good to do both substrate and quikrete
That quikrete will send your pH through the roof. I did a fake rock background in that stuff and it took weeks of soaking and water changes to get it back down to normal. Plus - it would be quite heavy.
That Caribsea Naturals Brown Sand is exactly what I want, has anyone tried it in a dirted tank? I tried pool filter sand capped over dirt and couldnt grow much, not even val
What type of fish is that @ 05:30 ?
That's one of my OB cichlids that came from the hybridization of my Dragon Bloods and Red Empress!
I have pool filter sand and it is great for me the only thing I do not like is the sand after a while will turn darker and look dirty. I have had this in my 20 gallon tank for over 2 years now
That's what happened in some of my tanks too.
What’s your thoughts of Black Diamond Sand Blasting Sand?
I haven't used it in any of my tanks yet, but I know lots of people who use it and like it.
Can you do a video on how to repair aquarium leaks?
If on the seam then use 100% silicone sealant. If your glass is slightly cracked then use baking soda and thin superglue. A few vids on UA-cam.
I love your videos❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for watching! :-)
Jason that beard you have needs it own channel 💯
😂😂😂😂
Hi Jason , Love the channel, I'm From south africa and i think that the pool filter sand granules from the brand that i'm using is quite large almost to a point where you could call it and fine gravel, to be honest i just recently been been toying with the idea of a deep sand bed tank so thats the reason i chose to get the pool filter sand in the first place but luckily it was'nt too fine like you described in the video, i will however be monitoring it and i will let you know how its going but for now i quite like the colour and texture and it hasnt given me any issues as yet but we will wait and see, thanks again for the awesome content, take care.
Thanks for being here! Hope all is well down there! I have been creating deeper sand beds as well.
What type of pool filter sands are the best ?
The only pool filter sand I have used is what is pictured in the thumbnail. It was ok, but not great.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics what type would you recommend
What about play sand can’t you use that
I've been using it at some time...but it needs to be washed a lot first, then boiled before adding it to the aquarium...and then comes the maintenance at least 1ce a week, that sand (for me) was a steroid for algae @__@ (at 3 days i needed to scrape the walls)
Ya, I agree - that stuff is even harder to maintain in my experience.
My dude addressing my exact comment awesome.
I do my best to answer viewer questions when I can. :-)
I use filter sand in some of my apisto tanks with no problem and they love it. But as you say they move the sand. It's cheap and it looks good on the tanks
Cemex Lapis Lustre sand has a nice color. About $6 for a 50 lb bag.
The $8 one from Menards are too fine, try Aqua Qartz or even better the HTH from Ace but price went up from $14 to $20.
Have no problem with sand getting into impeller. Just don't put intake too close to the bottom.