I see many people use silica sand as a substrate. Does this lead to a problem with diatoms?
Sand as a substrate
Started by
Guest_mshi_*
, Dec 03 2006 08:41 PM
7 replies to this topic
#1 Guest_mshi_*
Posted 03 December 2006 - 08:41 PM
#2 Guest_drewish_*
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.
#3 Guest_chad55_*
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
Chad
#4 Guest_nativeplanter_*
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.
#5 Guest_julnj2_*
Posted 11 December 2006 - 01:47 PM
Swish it around a little when waterchanging, to prevent dead spots,
#6 Guest_bearskookums_*
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?
#7 Guest_drewish_*
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.
#8 Guest_nativeplanter_*
Posted 06 January 2007 - 02:51 PM
The sand used for swimming pool filters is pre-cleaned. No cloudiness. Not too expensive, either.
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