Pool Filter Sand

Hello,

Ive heard that some people use pool filter sand as substrate in there tanks?

Does anyone use this or know of this?

Thanks,

 

Yes I use it.

 

Yes it's awesome. Also known as Silica sand.

Available at Builders Warehouse.

 

Yes I use it too. Its easy to clean cheap and looks good.

 

Thanks guys, How many mm Silica Sand are you using?

 

Well mine is about 2cm at this stage because I am using PFP and I will be adding pleco's to the tank.

 

Yeah, I have a fine grain silica sand in my tank. Pretty soon I am gonna change the substrate in my other tanks to the same type of silica

 

A quick word of advice pleco+plant=no plants,plecos are also a bit of digger especially when they get big and they do quickly so expect ur pfp to be all over.OT sorry

 

how so dude?

what does the pleco do to plants?

 

hey vreet hom

 

lol makes perfect sense now

does he eat any plants or jsut certain ones?

 

Thats the reason for the 2cm and my PFP is another 4cm so goodluck to the pleco which can dig 6cm.

 

Common Pleco, [FONT=&quot]Pterygoplichthys[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]pardalis[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

Another immensely popular fish, most often sold as a 'cleaner fish' for tropical and coldwater tanks, as well as ponds. A lot of people are unaware of the potential size, where these guys have the potential to reach around the 35cm mark. Their relatives, high-fin plecos, can reach about 45cm. These fish can put out a lot of waste, especially since they eat largely vegetable matter.

6cm aint a thing lol

 

I also use PFS, but ended up struggling to find any fine enough to use. Everywhere around here only had stuff with larger grain sizes, which were too big for my Apistogramma's, so I ended up sourcing my own! Now, whenever I need any finer sand, I go straight to my source, and usually whilst I'm there grab a few extra bags, just to help out other guys on the forums who are struggling to find finer stuff.

The only down side I've heard of, but not experienced, to using PFS is that it can become aenerobic. This is not so good for the plant roots, amongst other issues around this?

As I say though, I have not experienced this issue, and have always found it fine.

I also use the PFP under the sand, and then cap off the PFP to a depth of 5cm ish total. So that works out around 2-4cm of sand deep.

Cheers
G!

 

Well I have him in the tank now no prob he is about 25cm and all plants in tact, must be a carnivore then lol

 

Sorry for my dumb question, are you guys saying that you mix the pool filter sand\silica sand with PFP or are they the same thing?

 

Im going to try posting you a link, but I'm not much good at it. If it doesn't work, look under "ask the professor" the first sticky:http://http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?2499-Palmfiber-Peat-soaked-in-Chemicult-as-a-substrate.

 

I'm planning on using that, how much does it cost for the finer sand. don't want it to be too gravel like?

 

last i saw it was about R40 for a huge bag full - 40kgs i think

it works very well in the tank - but like all gravel, be sure to wash it out very well first. there is ALOT of dust in there.
i found that out the hard way, Lol

oh, and it comes in different sizes
there is a "sand" one which i have
and i have seen a gravelly kind, about 4mm i would guess

I have a HUGE 30+cm pleco and he doesnt seem to dig . . .
anyone want him? Lol