Pool filter sand

PolishPuff · Post by **PolishPuff** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:31 am

Hey guys

Ive never used pool filter sand as a substrate before. My question is.

How do you clean it be for placing it in the tank.

nahum13 · Post by **nahum13** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:08 am

The most common way to do this is to place sand in a good sized bucket(around 5 gallons) and run a hose all the way down the bucket, then run the water until the run off comes out clear.

PolishPuff · Post by **PolishPuff** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:17 am

Oh I see, so clean it normal way then. For some reason I was gone boil it

xrayjeeper83 · Post by **xrayjeeper83** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:28 pm

I put it in a 5 gallon bucket fill it till its about 2-3 inchs above the sand line then twirl it with my arm and pour off the extra water till its clear

FADE2BLACK_1973 · Post by **FADE2BLACK_1973** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:55 am

I never used it but I know alot of frontosa hobbyist and breeders love it in their tanks because of its fine grain and not larger grains like play sand. I would think washin it like most subtrates.

xrayjeeper83 · Post by **xrayjeeper83** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:13 am

Fade you got that backwards, playsand is finer then pool filter.

sevenyearnight · Post by **sevenyearnight** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:27 am

I forget where I got it, but the play sand I got has a really nice uniform, roundish grain. Not too fine, but soft enough for fish laying on their tummies. It cleans really easily and thoroughly, and does not make a dust bowl at all when I stir it up. My plants are also growing very well in it, I think better than when I had a tank with that substrate made just for plants.
I'm not sure which play sand I got before that was totaly useless. Very inconsistent, extremely dirty. I started to rinse it and the run off water had disgusting orange froth, looked almost like orange skimmate. As some people here say, "NIMFT" Lol

Post by **RTR** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:45 am

The uniformity and relatively large grain size are bot strong plus marks in blasting sand and pool filter sand's favor. Most play sand has a lot if fines which result in cloudiness when disturbed, and can damage impellers and their housings - which can be expensive for the hobbyist.

The relatively even grain size of the play sand you describe is unusual, but that is big plus.

FADE2BLACK_1973 · Post by **FADE2BLACK_1973** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:09 pm

xrayjeeper83 wrote:Fade you got that backwards, playsand is finer then pool filter.

Hahaha!!! seriously? I only ever used live sand for marine and reef tanks in the past. Afew different size grades of sand with those I know but I never used playsand or pool filter sand before.

geronimo69 · Post by **geronimo69** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:34 am

I have pool filter sand in 3 tanks. I don't rinse it. Just dump it right in. It settles quickly and I've never had any issues not washing it. I've used play sand before, and it's a MUST to wash. There's all sorts of dust in it.

PolishPuff · Post by **PolishPuff** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:39 am

Ive made up my mind. Pool filter sand it is. Are there different colors of it or just one and which brand is recommended?

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:07 pm

Don't make it deeper than 1".

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