Jaki Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Hi i have a 50 Gal African Cichlid tank with various plants. I was wondering what the best type of gravel / substrate is the best for plants? Currently i have just normal blue gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 I like sand. Quickrete brand Play Sand is only $8 for a 50lb bag - should be fine for a 50gal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burbot Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Ditto Not only perfect for the plants but cichlids too! :beer: Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaki Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Thanks I didn't want to go buy a $44 bag of aragonite select haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neesmo Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 sand is awsome for plants. You should pick up a box of florite tabs also. they are about $20 but they do really help and you only need one ever month or 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burbot Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 $5 bag of play sand from a home center works great for my plants and Tangs. Cheap like borsch and sterilized too! :beer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgd Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I used target pool filter sand. It was clean enough not to rinse (as it's made for a filter) and it a nice, natural tan colour. You can also get pool filter sand in white but I believe it's hard to keep clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp_dawg Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 Could anyone suggest a good place in Calgary to get this Target Pool Filter Sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubr0ke Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) home depot..rona..lowes.nevermind none of those places carry it.. they have facilities in Calgary tho..probably not open today.. I would just go to Home depot and buy quickrete play sand..I use it in one tank. Edited October 23, 2011 by ubr0ke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanmer Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 I second pool filter sand. The tank cleared in a matter of hours, without rinsing. I have used play sand but it took 3-4 days for the tank to clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprucegruve Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 i find if you add the sand then the water, and its not so cloudy, also you can put a plate on the sand and pour the water onto the plate instead of directly onto the sand. but if you add the water then let the sand rinse on the way down to the botton your tank will be cloudy for a lil bit. i have 2 tanks running with pool filter sand, and 17 running with playground sand.i have not noticed a difference in growth in any tank. sand is sand but if you add a little black florite sand beneath the other sand the plants explode with growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp_dawg Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Do you have any photos of the quickcrete sand substrate then? I was not too sure about the colour, and hoping the pool filter sand would be better in that effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Quickrete is the same as Target. Home Depit just changed brands. In Edmonton, the sand at HD came rinsed for the longest time, but about 1.5 years ago, they stopped selling rinsed sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubr0ke Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Do you have any photos of the quickcrete sand substrate then? I was not too sure about the colour, and hoping the pool filter sand would be better in that effect. thats the quikcrete sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp_dawg Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Thanks for the the photo post...that looks great. How many bags do you figure for a 12x24 tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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