Sand as substrate

[François Arsenault]

Hello everyone,

Is regular sand, say of the typical sandbox type, an appropriate substrate
for a planted aquarium? At first I thought it would do just fine (which it
may be, for all I know). It's cheap, and I figured it might make it easier
to plant the plants than regular gravel.

However, I'm now wondering if such a substrate might be too tightly packed
for the roots. I mean, could it prevent enough nutrients from reaching them?
Is there a chance the roots or buried stems might rot because of it?

Is planting easier in sand than in gravel? The smaller grains might "mold"
the lower stems and roots better, holding the plants into place better than
gravel. But I have no experience with this, and it's entirely possible that
it's actually harder with sand.

Also, what happens when you use a siphon in sand? Is it light enough to get
sucked up along with the water?

If sand is a good substrate, are there types that are unsafe and should be
avoided? I assume the nature of the sand is a factor, like sand that
releases heavy metals or other toxic substances.

Thank you for your help.

Francois

[Dinky]

"François Arsenault" > wrote in message
.. .
> Hello everyone,
>
> Is regular sand, say of the typical sandbox type, an appropriate substrate
> for a planted aquarium? At first I thought it would do just fine (which it
> may be, for all I know). It's cheap, and I figured it might make it easier
> to plant the plants than regular gravel.
>


In short, yes. Usually called Play Sand, it will work well, however, it
requires some attention.

1: Rinse it well, or you'll have a dust. cloudy tank for days, and again
everytime a bottom feeder scoots in a hurry.
2: It packs too tight, as you surmised. Use it as a top layer only, do some
research in order to decide what you want beneath it.

As far as vacuuming, I've found that as tight as it packs, just waving the
vacuum above the sand works fine, as the gord doesn't pass through the sand
layer.

[Djay]

I used Play Sand from a local hardware store. It varied in size from dust
to grains about 2.5mm in diameter. I washed it very well and then washed it
again and then one more time for good measure. 2 years now and not the
first sign of compacting. My deep rooted plants are doing fine and I can
easily push my finger (and fertilizer spikes) into the sand easily. I feel
that it is the perfect "cheap" substrate.

DJay


"Dinky" > wrote in message
news:xBUAb.332769$275.1106661@attbi_s53...
>
> "François Arsenault" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > Is regular sand, say of the typical sandbox type, an appropriate
substrate
> > for a planted aquarium? At first I thought it would do just fine (which
it
> > may be, for all I know). It's cheap, and I figured it might make it
easier
> > to plant the plants than regular gravel.
> >
>
>
> In short, yes. Usually called Play Sand, it will work well, however, it
> requires some attention.
>
> 1: Rinse it well, or you'll have a dust. cloudy tank for days, and again
> everytime a bottom feeder scoots in a hurry.
> 2: It packs too tight, as you surmised. Use it as a top layer only, do
some
> research in order to decide what you want beneath it.
>
> As far as vacuuming, I've found that as tight as it packs, just waving the
> vacuum above the sand works fine, as the gord doesn't pass through the
sand
> layer.
>
>

[Dinky]

"Djay" > wrote in message
...
> I used Play Sand from a local hardware store. It varied in size from dust
> to grains about 2.5mm in diameter. I washed it very well and then washed
it
> again and then one more time for good measure. 2 years now and not the
> first sign of compacting. My deep rooted plants are doing fine and I can
> easily push my finger (and fertilizer spikes) into the sand easily. I
feel
> that it is the perfect "cheap" substrate.
>
> DJay
>

I'm glad you had better luck than me. After only a couple months, my
sand-only attempt was packed so hard even the kuhli's wouldn't burrow in it.

[Nsty N8]

>Subject: Sand as substrate
>From: "François Arsenault"
>Date: 12/7/2003 10:29 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>Hello everyone,
>
>Is regular sand, say of the typical sandbox type, an appropriate substrate
>for a planted aquarium? At first I thought it would do just fine (which it
>may be, for all I know). It's cheap, and I figured it might make it easier
>to plant the plants than regular gravel.
>
>However, I'm now wondering if such a substrate might be too tightly packed
>for the roots. I mean, could it prevent enough nutrients from reaching them?
>Is there a chance the roots or buried stems might rot because of it?
>
>Is planting easier in sand than in gravel? The smaller grains might "mold"
>the lower stems and roots better, holding the plants into place better than
>gravel. But I have no experience with this, and it's entirely possible that
>it's actually harder with sand.
>
>Also, what happens when you use a siphon in sand? Is it light enough to get
>sucked up along with the water?
>
>If sand is a good substrate, are there types that are unsafe and should be
>avoided? I assume the nature of the sand is a factor, like sand that
>releases heavy metals or other toxic substances.
>
>Thank you for your help.
>
>Francois
>

You might want to try pool filter sand. It has a large grain and it's white.
I have a tank that's been up for 31/2 years that is a playsand/kitty liter
mixture.

>Is planting easier in sand than in gravel? The smaller grains might "mold"
>the lower stems and roots better, holding the plants into place better than
>gravel.

It's easier to plant in sand. But gravel will hold the (new) plant down better.

[Paul Sutphen]

It would be better to use a substrate that allows the root system to
propagate. Sand, may look nice but packs too tightly for proper respiration
around roots and has no mineral value since it is mostly inert silica. I
use potting soil as a substrate capped with Schultz's fullers earth
granules. The latter stays on top of the soil and if you are inclined to
occasionally vacuum the bottom, the fullers earth is heavy enough that the
python tube does not pick it up.
"Nsty N8" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Sand as substrate
> >From: "François Arsenault"
> >Date: 12/7/2003 10:29 PM Central Standard Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >Hello everyone,
> >
> >Is regular sand, say of the typical sandbox type, an appropriate
substrate
> >for a planted aquarium? At first I thought it would do just fine (which
it
> >may be, for all I know). It's cheap, and I figured it might make it
easier
> >to plant the plants than regular gravel.
> >
> >However, I'm now wondering if such a substrate might be too tightly
packed
> >for the roots. I mean, could it prevent enough nutrients from reaching
them?
> >Is there a chance the roots or buried stems might rot because of it?
> >
> >Is planting easier in sand than in gravel? The smaller grains might
"mold"
> >the lower stems and roots better, holding the plants into place better
than
> >gravel. But I have no experience with this, and it's entirely possible
that
> >it's actually harder with sand.
> >
> >Also, what happens when you use a siphon in sand? Is it light enough to
get
> >sucked up along with the water?
> >
> >If sand is a good substrate, are there types that are unsafe and should
be
> >avoided? I assume the nature of the sand is a factor, like sand that
> >releases heavy metals or other toxic substances.
> >
> >Thank you for your help.
> >
> >Francois
> >
>
> You might want to try pool filter sand. It has a large grain and it's
white.
> I have a tank that's been up for 31/2 years that is a playsand/kitty liter
> mixture.
>
> >Is planting easier in sand than in gravel? The smaller grains might
"mold"
> >the lower stems and roots better, holding the plants into place better
than
> >gravel.
>
> It's easier to plant in sand. But gravel will hold the (new) plant down
better.
>