nanikjava Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Hi, I'm in the process of setting up my first Cichlid tank. Went to few LFS today to check out sand substrate and notice the price is pretty steep ($20 for 10kgs), can I use other kind of sand ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathobes Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Yes you can: play sand and pool filter sand are very popular among others. Bunnings sells play sand cheap. They are inert, meaning it has no buffering capacity. If you want a ph buffering substrate (for African cichlids for example) then crushed coral is a common and good choice. If you are keeping hard water fish it doesnt mean you HAVE to use a substrate with buffering capacity. LFS sell this but it is more expensive. When using sand remember to wash it until it runs clear, then wash it again HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanikjava Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Where can you find crushed coral ? and does it make sense to just place it anywhere in the aquarium ? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krellious Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Where can you find crushed coral ? and does it make sense to just place it anywhere in the aquarium ? Cheers the local fish store may have it or could order it in. The cheaper alternative to it for buffering is the man made aragonite. Or do what i did and go to a landscaper and bought sydney white sand. $6 for 20kg or so... enough for a 4ft standard. But as mentioned was it clean about 3 times as it is very very very dirty and will cloud the water worse then something that clouds water bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanikjava Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Can you buy 'sydney white sand' from any nursery in Sydney or it has to be from a specific place ? and the buffering capacity of the sand will last for how long ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NED007 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Just walk into bunnings and ask them for sydney sand and they will steer you in the right direction,wash it till it runs clear. other and better option will be crushed coral. Good luck Cheers NED007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johns Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Aragonite is far cheaper than coral sand and does similar can get it from landscape supplies usually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanikjava Posted September 20, 2010 Author Share Posted September 20, 2010 Ok just to be clear as I'm a bit confused now sydney white sand is made up of aragonite right ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEG-IT Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 just go to bunnings and ask for Playsand, it should be the richgrow play sand, cost around $4-$6 for 20kg, give it a good clean and put it in your tank, dont stress if you cant get crystal clear water, your water might be a bit murky for a few days but should clear up after that, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krellious Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Ok just to be clear as I'm a bit confused now sydney white sand is made up of aragonite right ? sydnety sand = crushed sandstone and no buffering coral is coral. finely crushed can look like sand and be a substrate. It is fine to put in tank even if not crushed aragonite is man made calcium or something which buffers like coral sand. 3mm chunks and good substrate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.