Recommendation for Fine White Sand that no plants will grow on..

**nicklimzhiwe** · 21st Oct 2009, 22:41

I have some Red Moor drift wood that have many branches.. I would like to use it to create a root-system kind of look..

Now I'm am looking for a Fine White Sand that no plants would be able to grow on so as to create the look I'm after..

Any recommendations? And where may I get it?

Thank you so much to everyone!

**Jungle-mania** · 22nd Oct 2009, 02:23

Unfortunately, there is no real way to stop them from doing that. What you could do is to keep you plants in pots, that will curb their growth to the limits of the pot. Just hide the edges of the pot with mosses and rocks. Take note, the white sand is prone to getting algae growing on them after a week.

**Shadow** · 22nd Oct 2009, 07:12

plant can grow anywhere. Eventhough the substrate is not rich of nutrient, they can still take nutrient from their leaves.

**nicklimzhiwe** · 22nd Oct 2009, 07:41

True.. But maybe I can fine tune the question.. Those smaller plants are okay.. Just do a little trimming would help.. But I've heard some plants have difficulty taking a hold on fine sand right? (Plants with bigger, thicker roots)

A little algae is good.. Free food for my shrimps..

**limz_777** · 29th Oct 2009, 19:56

you can get fine sand from c328

**Jungle-mania** · 30th Oct 2009, 00:37

You can really fine white sand almost like powder from OTF in Pasir Ris, it is actually crushed white quartz. The auntie at OTF warned me that I must really know what I want to acheive with it as it is so fine, any strong current in the tank will cause it to fly around.

I have experimented with it and it turns green under strong lighting and the shrimp's poo become very obvious against the background of the white sand too.

**nicklimzhiwe** · 31st Oct 2009, 00:47

Haha.. Thanks Bros, I've gotten my sand already, its those type of beach sand.. Quite fine too.. Thought awhile and think that too fine also a bit unnatural for the scape I'm thinking of doing..

**davidchur** · 1st Jan 2010, 16:35

Hi
I am new here and would like to ask if beach sand is suitable for plant in aquarium. I know river sand is recommended.
Can we used just sand alone without any substrate to grow plants.
David

**Jungle-mania** · 2nd Jan 2010, 09:34

Yes, you can use sand alone to grow your plants, but you cannot use beach sand as they may contain impurities and salt that can be counterproductive to your tank's biosystem.

A good and cheap start is to use lapis sand, it is essentially tiny pebbles about 1 to 3 mm in diameter. But you also have to purchase fert tablets in time to sustain your plant growth and wash the sand every 2 to 3 years to prevent a anaerobic bacterial bloom in your substrate.