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Sand on the bottom..........

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Subject Author Date
Sand on the bottom.......... Reel McKoi 10-08-2007
Posted by Reel McKoi on October 8, 2007, 3:00 pm
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I'm about to set up the other 55g tank in the sunroom. Because it'll be
heavily planted I was wondering about adding rough builders sand to the
gravel. The question is.... how do you vac the gravel without sucking up
the sand? Or is that not a problem?
--

RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>


Posted by Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D. on October 8, 2007, 4:27 pm
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Are you referring to play type sand? I'd avoid it as it has clay and really
hard to rinse out. You could do just sand and then you just shake your
python an inch from it and it will suck up the mulm. I wouldn't mix the two
substrates as they will mix into a sand/gravel mess. Sand is great though,
because of it's density, nothing sinks in like with gravel, etc.

> I'm about to set up the other 55g tank in the sunroom. Because it'll be
> heavily planted I was wondering about adding rough builders sand to the
> gravel. The question is.... how do you vac the gravel without sucking up
> the sand? Or is that not a problem?
> --
>
> RM....
> ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>
>



Posted by Natsirt on October 8, 2007, 4:38 pm
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On Oct 8, 3:27 pm, "Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D." <info@REMOVE*THIScichlid-
world.com> wrote:
> Are you referring to play type sand? I'd avoid it as it has clay and rea=
lly
> hard to rinse out. You could do just sand and then you just shake your
> python an inch from it and it will suck up the mulm. I wouldn't mix the =
two
> substrates as they will mix into a sand/gravel mess. Sand is great thoug=
h,
> because of it's density, nothing sinks in like with gravel, etc.
>
>
>
>
>
> > I'm about to set up the other 55g tank in the sunroom. Because it'll be
> > heavily planted I was wondering about adding rough builders sand to the
> > gravel. The question is.... how do you vac the gravel without sucking =
up
> > the sand? Or is that not a problem?
> > --
>
> > RM....
> > ~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(=F6>- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Builders sand is commonly used for masonary work and should not have
any kind of clay in it. Of course what is called builders sand here
may not be what they call builders sand in other areas. You can buy
the play sand from Lowes or Home Depot inthe bags and it is cleaned
and free of such junk, and very cheap. I use the sugar white play
sand which is very fine and does great for plants.....I have seen the
same exact (suitable) sand sold as lawn leveling sand, builders sand,.
play sand, traction sand, masonary sand,paver leveling
sand...........all of which were identical......Just watch yu do not
get a calcium based sand such as old castle or southdown as it will
alter your ph. But if your gonna keep African cichlids then the
calcium based sand would be ideal.


Posted by Reel McKoi on October 8, 2007, 8:43 pm
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Builders sand is commonly used for masonary work and should not have
any kind of clay in it. Of course what is called builders sand here
may not be what they call builders sand in other areas.

Where I live the builders sand from Lowe's is courser and a darker color. I
buy it to mix with potting soil for my cacti and succulents. The white play
sand it too powdery although I've used that one in potting mixes as well.

You can buy
the play sand from Lowes or Home Depot inthe bags and it is cleaned
and free of such junk, and very cheap.

Yep! :-) Not expensive at all and I like the darker color of the
builder's sand.

I use the sugar white play
sand which is very fine and does great for plants.....I have seen the
same exact (suitable) sand sold as lawn leveling sand, builders sand,.
play sand, traction sand, masonary sand,paver leveling
sand...........all of which were identical......Just watch yu do not
get a calcium based sand such as old castle or southdown as it will
alter your ph. But if your gonna keep African cichlids then the
calcium based sand would be ideal.

Thanks for the warning. I'm not sure what kind of fish are going in the 2nd
tank yet.
--

RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>



Posted by Reel McKoi on October 8, 2007, 8:38 pm
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> Are you referring to play type sand?

No, not the play sand. It's too fine. I'm thinking about builders sand which
is a little more coarse, cheaper, darker in color and used to mix to make
concrete.

I'd avoid it as it has clay and really
> hard to rinse out. You could do just sand and then you just shake your
> python an inch from it and it will suck up the mulm. I wouldn't mix the
> two substrates as they will mix into a sand/gravel mess. Sand is great
> though, because of it's density, nothing sinks in like with gravel, etc.

I was afraid it would go anaerobic from fine mulm if I used just sand or a
sand mix and didn't or couldn't vac it.
--

RM....
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>


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