[APD] Re: planted sand substrate

[Laura Burbage <leuhrich at yahoo_com>]

Hi Reggie, 

I'm about to try using pool filter sand in some of my
tanks.  Supposedly it is pretty much pre-washed, so
that people can use it to filter their pool water. 
I'm not sure, but I bet it's unlikely to alter water
chemistry too much, since pool people are worried
about that, too.  I paid $7.99 at a pool supply store
for a 50 lb bag.  I've used play sand in the past, and
I have to wash it a gazillion times, it's so muddy. 
Also, pool filter sand is a slightly larger grain than
play sand, and is supposedly all the same grain size.

Does anyone have any experience with this material?

-Laura

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 08:32:08 -0500
From: Jamie Johnson <Jamie_Johnson at gel.com>
Subject: [APD] Re:  planted sand substrate
To: aquatic-plants at actwin_com

> Reggie Bustinza <numbr_9 at hotmail_com> wrote:

> Hi, all.  I am getting some pygmy cories and some
Neo lamprologus
> multifaciatus (for different tanks).  From what I've
read, both fish
> preferred sandy substrates.  I am currently using
fluorite in both 
planted
> tanks.  Is there a readily available sand type that
won't buffer the 
water?
> Any help is, as always, appreciated.

Play sand from Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, etc. Put
several handfuls 
in a bowl and
rinse it several times, pouring off the dirty water.
It will not alter 
the water
chemistry. It will however over time, work it's way
down through the 
Fluorite and if
you put enough to take that in account, it may compact
your already 
open substrate.
Multis like harsh Tanganyikan water; high pH, high
mineral hardness, 
high alk., which
aren't conducive to planted tanks. If you can, and you
won't be sorry, 
get the Multis a
10 or 15 gallon sand, shell, and large rock cave tank.
They'll be much 
happier and will
intrigue you every day which their moving, building,
and breeding 
skills. They're
shelldwellers and you can't have enough shells for
them. They also mine 
sand with the
passion of a compulsive disorder fish!

I had 5 fish 2 years ago, now I have at least 75! They
are all sizes 
and fit in very
well with my 55G Tanganyikan community. They can hold
their own with 
most medium
aggressive Tanganyikans!

Jamie <"///><


__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online.
http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html
_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/aquatic-plants