![]() This is ground molten coal slag with a composition very close to a naturally occurring glassy rhyolite lava gravel such as is widely used in planted aquariums. One very cheap and very good substrate is the coarse black sand from Black Diamond blasting media (1040 or 1240 grade). The coarser sands also do some biofiltration. Note that the coarser more expensive sands are much easier to vacuum. These sands will have far less fines and will only have a slight effect on the pump life. I would never use pool sand or play sand with an FX6 canister filter.Ī coarse sand from the pet store made by a reputable brand is much better but also more expensive. The amount of $210 every six months to a year is a steep price to pay. The FX6 motor costs $150 and the impeller assembly is $60. But if one has an FX6 canister filter it becomes a big deal. Now if one has small powerheads and wavemakers at $10 a pop this is no big deal. The same pump can go for four to eight years in an aquarium with aquarium gravel. A magnetic pump might only last six months to a year in a tank with sand as a substrate. The cost of this abrasion factor is something to consider. Labeotropheus trewavasae Thumbi west female OB Abrasion of Pumps It is very well washed and doesn’t have much in the way of fines. It is variegated in color and hides feces very well. ![]() Surprisingly the dark color does show feces.ĥ, Deck coat sand (0.02 to 0.06 inches in diameter). But its coarseness is typically very desirable in a substrate. This requires considerable rinsing and will abrade pumps. It comes in a lot of different colors and sizes.Ĥ, Black Diamond Blasting Media (0.01 to. This is typically closely sieved and washed and has very little in the way of abrasive fines. The white color shows feces.ģ, Aquarium sand (varies but typically 0.04 to 0.06 inches in diameter), $25 to $50 per forty-pound bag. This is very well sieved and washed and has neither many abrasive fines under 0.018 inches nor many large particles over 0.022 inches. coarse), $15 to $30 for a fifty-pound bag. The cream color shows feces and can look very bad.Ģ, Pool filter sand (0.018 – 0.022 inches in diameter, i.e. This sand can give cloudy water for months and blow out a lot of pump impellers in the process. This is poorly sieved and typically has lots of abrasive “fines” under 0.004 inches. There are several distinct types of sand:ġ, Play sand (0.004 to 0.018 inches in diameter, i.e. Fish feces and detritus do not stand out with such a mixed substrate. In my planted tanks I have used a mix of various cream through brown into black sands that have variations in the size. If one has white sand one almost HAS to put a bladed wavemaker positioned to sweep the front sand area.Įven then I personally find the look of white sand to be very bad and I NEVER use it. And the feces of the fish floating over a bed of white sand is decidedly unappealing. The fines it produces CAN destroy a pump impeller in weeks to months (depends a lot on the pump design). ![]() And most people like the aesthetics of white sand in an aquarium.īut it has its limitations. Sand doesn’t allow food particles to drop down uneaten into the substrate. ![]() Sand is probably the most common substrate. ![]()
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