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Sand as a substrate

Started by Guest_mshi_* , Dec 03 2006 08:41 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_mshi_*

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Posted 03 December 2006 - 08:41 PM

I see many people use silica sand as a substrate. Does this lead to a problem with diatoms?

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#2 Guest_drewish_*

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Posted 03 December 2006 - 08:52 PM

I see many people use silica sand as a substrate. Does this lead to a problem with diatoms?

I use sandblasting sand which is silica and I'm not experiencing any diatom problems.

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#3 Guest_chad55_*

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Posted 03 December 2006 - 09:14 PM

I have sand with and without silica in it. I hate the stuff without it. I don't have any problems with the silica sand at all. No build ups or anything.

Chad

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#4 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 03 December 2006 - 09:20 PM

Diatoms in fresh water don't present the same problem they do in salt. If you get a bloom, it looks like thin brown algae on the glass, and wipes off very easily. I assume that the problem in salt water is that they can smother the coral? Not a problem in fresh.

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#5 Guest_julnj2_*

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Posted 11 December 2006 - 01:47 PM

Swish it around a little when waterchanging, to prevent dead spots,

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#6 Guest_bearskookums_*

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Posted 31 December 2006 - 04:46 PM

I like sand but the one I got was really fine...almost like powdery and it kicks up easily...clogging my filter impeller...I saw at my local LFS...they have some sand thats a little coarser...by Estes...at about $4.99 per bag I think 5lbs...anyway I was wondering where else can I get whitish sand in bulk(like silica sand) without having to pay $4.99 for a small bag? I just got a new acrylic 6.6 gallon tank and I am thinking of going back to sand...one more thing...do you guys clean your sand? I had trouble as they would easily get sucked into the vacumm...the sand would trap all these dirt and particles so all I did was swirl them around then wait and vacumm just the water...is that what you guys do?

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#7 Guest_drewish_*

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Posted 31 December 2006 - 05:07 PM

I purchased a 50lb bag of sandblasting sand, grade #2, for $8 recently. It is really coarse and you can see it in the "various pics" thread in the photo gallery. You can probably find #0 which will be more fine. It is silica sand so it is inert, and the #2 is coarse so it won't get kicked up. I found mine at a construction supply shop but they don't carry it anymore so I'll be in the market for another bag soon.