Can i use the white sand you buy from bunnings in aquariums?
Its only $2 a bag compared to the fish shops $30 a bag 8O
Could someone please share their experiences with this sand in aquariums, and what it looks like and its ease of maintenance.
Its for a malawi cichlid tank
Thanks,
Craig 8)
White sand from Bunnings?
Started by
Guest_pleco4me_*
, Mar 05 2007 05:36 PM
9 replies to this topic
#1 Guest_pleco4me_*
Posted 05 March 2007 - 05:36 PM
#2
Posted 05 March 2007 - 06:15 PM
mate i would use lime sand its alot better than play sand it looks better also helps to keep the ph stable and when it gets stirred up it doesnt go everywhere like in the filters and the like. you would probably need only one bag at $30 but thats just my opinion .
mick
mick
#3 Guest_pleco4me_*
Posted 05 March 2007 - 07:08 PM
Ok, where abouts do i get lime sand?
#4
Posted 05 March 2007 - 07:10 PM
Hi Craig,
Col brought some to the last auction, so with any luck he may have some he might be willing to sell you. I'd send him a pm about.
Otherwise do a ring around. I'd be suprised if the shops around your area didn't carry something like it.
Regards
Daniel
Col brought some to the last auction, so with any luck he may have some he might be willing to sell you. I'd send him a pm about.
Otherwise do a ring around. I'd be suprised if the shops around your area didn't carry something like it.
Regards
Daniel
#5
Posted 05 March 2007 - 07:50 PM
craig i got mine from Aquotix
mick
mick
#6
Posted 05 March 2007 - 07:55 PM
what costs are involved to do a 8x2?
#7
Posted 06 March 2007 - 08:51 AM
i use small shells as my substrate
get a 40? kg bag from city farmers for about $10
it is ment for chooks, but give it a good rinse and its perfect and very cheap
jeremy
get a 40? kg bag from city farmers for about $10
it is ment for chooks, but give it a good rinse and its perfect and very cheap
jeremy
#8
Posted 06 March 2007 - 09:14 AM
I get my sand from a local limestone pit.
It has large and small pieces of coral and heaps of shells in it.
I sieve all mine through a 3mm sieve to remove all the shells etc because I find that when I vacuum the substrate the shells clog up the siphon and tubes.
For my multies etc I then sieve it through a piece of shadecloth to remove any shell pieces up to 3mm in size, and this works a treat.
Also the waste particles get right into the shells and gravel and makes it difficult to remove, This is ok for a planted tank, but not in a cichlid tank.
That's my opinion anyway.
Cheers
Col
It has large and small pieces of coral and heaps of shells in it.
I sieve all mine through a 3mm sieve to remove all the shells etc because I find that when I vacuum the substrate the shells clog up the siphon and tubes.
For my multies etc I then sieve it through a piece of shadecloth to remove any shell pieces up to 3mm in size, and this works a treat.
Also the waste particles get right into the shells and gravel and makes it difficult to remove, This is ok for a planted tank, but not in a cichlid tank.
That's my opinion anyway.
Cheers
Col
#9
Posted 06 March 2007 - 07:28 PM
Lime sand is not availible to buy retail anymore as they have stopped producing it, they didnt have enough resources. If you can get hold of some then BUY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN because its great stuff.
I use play sand in my 4 ft malawi tank that i purchased from soils aint soils it was $4 for 20 kgs.
Pros:
-Cheap!!!!!
-Looks very natural
-Cichlids love to dig in it
-Food and waste falls on top layer, cant penetrate the sand
Cons:
-Very dirty, needs rinsing at least 6 times before hand
-shows up fish waste a lot more
-can wash out some fishes colour
-A little harder to clean, need to siphon over the top then every few months get rid of anerobic gas pockets
-need to raise filter intakes so the sand doesnt ruin impellors
But i love mine!!!!!!!! All comes down to personal choice really
I use play sand in my 4 ft malawi tank that i purchased from soils aint soils it was $4 for 20 kgs.
Pros:
-Cheap!!!!!
-Looks very natural
-Cichlids love to dig in it
-Food and waste falls on top layer, cant penetrate the sand
Cons:
-Very dirty, needs rinsing at least 6 times before hand
-shows up fish waste a lot more
-can wash out some fishes colour
-A little harder to clean, need to siphon over the top then every few months get rid of anerobic gas pockets
-need to raise filter intakes so the sand doesnt ruin impellors
But i love mine!!!!!!!! All comes down to personal choice really
#10
Posted 06 March 2007 - 08:52 PM
i use small shells as my substrate
get a 40? kg bag from city farmers for about $10
it is ment for chooks, but give it a good rinse and its perfect and very cheap
get a 40? kg bag from city farmers for about $10
it is ment for chooks, but give it a good rinse and its perfect and very cheap
Would that be shell grit i heard it is very good for a substitute for limestone? a good friend of mine use to grind it up and put it in his tanks with his cichlids although i only just realized about 2 years later why he did this.
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