OT? Sand Bed For Fresh Water?

[danno]

While back I was going to try and be cheap and buy Quikrete sand for my SB, but it turned out to be too brown. So I ditched it and bought real live sand. So, now I have 50 lbs of Quikrete sand sitting around, and I'm thinking that it would look perfect in my fresh 20 gal long. Any thoughts? What kind of issues will I have to address if I do this?
regards

 

[eng50]

Generally, sand is not good in an aquarium, unless like the SWF aquarium, you have a live bed that is acting as a filter..
In the fresh water situation, a sandbed of 1" or less max is ok if you watch it and clean it often. Sand traps waste easily, which makes nitrates go through the roof..
look to other fesh water sites for more info...I have a freshwater ray and have found some really good advise on this subject. Email me for some links...
Bill

 

[seaham358]

I have a 10 and 55 gal fresh and I have to vacuum at least every 2 weeks to get most of the waste. I cannot think of a way to clean the sand in a fresh water tank without picking up sand and making a dust storm every time you clean.

 

[puffygrrl]

I have a 125 gallon freshwater tank with medium size river rock bed with a UG filter. From my experience sand is not a good substrate in freshwater tanks for two reasons...1) Any bottom feeding fish like catfish, plecostamus or Knife's can "choke" on it while eating of the bottom and 2) you can't vacuum it as well as rocks because it is so light and may pose problems with your levels since bottom feeders can't clean it for you. Just an opinion, Good luck!

 

[puffygrrl]

P.S - A great freshwater fish message board like this one is Badman's...they have many great moderators that can assist with any questions. It's like the freshwater version of SWF

 

[michaeltx]

i tried it had some extra sand lying around. take my advise DONT DO IT. its more of a pain than anything there is nothing to hold the sand together so a fish swimming towards the botom of the tank leaves a wake of sand behind them, the cleaning of it was even more of a pain gravel vacs pull it out but they also pull the sand out and leave alot in the water colum. its better to go with a small gravel if you are wanting that look. also most sands will play with ph and all that so you have to know what PH your tank neds and what the readings the sand will effect.
HTH
Mike

 

[danno]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I'm going to ditch this idea.
Oh well. Thanks for the input.
regards

 

[clarkiiboi]

While I agree with the others, here's a bright side----maybe go to the other forumn and say you have it for sell (I think there is a buying/selling forumn). Alot of peeps are looking for it and some can't get it or find it locally. Sell it cheap, get some money back. Though you lose some money, you really gain. HTH