Success with sand

**JIMMY319126** · 18th Jan 2006, 06:09

if u have a successive planted tanke with just sand(play sand) please let me know
cuz i am establishing a planted tank with 3'' of sand as a substrat
(2.5 w/g flourocent lighing.....diy co2 yeast method...temp 25c)

ideas ,advice,fertlizers used with sand and plant list please???????

**Justikanz** · 18th Jan 2006, 09:26

Doesn't playsand compacts like normal sand? 3" seems like an awful lot of sand that can compact more due to the weight... Compacting sand is no good for plants' roots...

**JIMMY319126** · 18th Jan 2006, 13:04

play sand=normal sand

**Fei Miao** · 18th Jan 2006, 14:51

I don't know how fine is play sand but the grain of the sand should not be too small, ie.... around 1.5 to 2mm in diameter, I'd seen a aquatic plant farm using construction site sand in one of their tanks. You probably have sieve it through to rid the smaller particles and wash them, Big job!

if they are available commerically, buy them, it will save you the hassels and backache.

**kadios** · 18th Jan 2006, 21:24

The sand will probably make the pH alkaline. Unless you are keeping Cichlids for your planted tank(assume the plants do well), if not, you are quite limited in your choices of fish since you probably have to rule out tetras and maybe Apistos.

Cheers!