Couple more questions....

[ginnie5]

Well I've gor lighting for my tank and I think I've decided what I want to put in it. Found where I'm going to order my plants too. The selection here isn't the best even though I'm near Charlotte NC. Went into one of the more well known ones the other day and almost every tank they have was being medicated or had tons of brown algae :x . I'm either going with Borelli's or Cacatuoides. Probably 2 pairs. Black neons(12) for dithers and some ottos. I'd like some cories but not sure how they would do with Apistos. So my only problem is what to use for substrate? I want really good plant growth. I'd like a really small substrate also. I'm leaning towards a peat (or laterite) and sand substrate. WEnt to HD yesterday and got a sample of the sand so I know its okay to use. Normally I prefer a darker color but somewhere I read that apistos like smaller stuff on the bottom. Any opinions? TIA!!

One more question about filtration..I'd like to use what I have and aquaclear 300. Will that be too much if I put a sponge over the tube?

 

[Bissot_J]

For Corys with Apisto no prob
using long noze cory and Sterbai.
i will try pigmae soon

WEnt to HD yesterday and got a sample of the sand so I know its okay to use. Normally I prefer a darker color but somewhere I read that apistos like smaller stuff on the bottom. Any opinions? TIA!!

Can you tell me wich sand (mark, or anything can make me found it at HD)
i looking for good sand for my tank.
which test have you make to make sure it will be good ?

 

[Cockatoo]

Since the source of the sand sold in Home Depot varies a lot, it's kind of hard to say it is also safe in your location.

 

[Cockatoo]

One more question about filtration..I'd like to use what I have and aquaclear 300. Will that be too much if I put a sponge over the tube?

How big is your tank? Apistos like slow moving water. BTW, I'm in Charlotte, NC area, too, but I can not find any good Apistos here in Charlotte. Where did you find them? About the substrate, I found lots of sand in LOWES and other retailers, which is of 1~2mm grain size. But the problem is, they are all WHITE!!!! I would like to get some sand dark in color. Do you have any ideas? Thanks!!

 

[ginnie5]

tank

Nice to see somebody else around here! No one here has them. I did see some once at the PetPros in Pineville but couldn't get them that day. When I went back they were gone. Haven't seen anymore. I tried ordering them once through Frank and Peg's...no luck. When I get ready for them I'm just going to bite the bullet and order online. I have a 38g tank which I'n in the process of SLOWLY setting up. I'm a bit impatient..can you tell? Just got the lights this weekend, and hope to get the substrate and plants ordered this week. Then I want to let it sit for a couple of weeks. Maybe go ahead and put in some ottos after about a week. I thought about checking some landscaping places to see if they have anything darker. I've read that a lot of people are getting theirs there.

 

[kretz11]

I set up three planted tanks at about the same time with HD's playsand and all three started to get bad hairlike algae on all the plants...not exactly sure what type though. I changed one of them over to riversand and the algae went away, so I changed the other two and they followed suit. The only thing I changed was the sand, I even used the same plants. I don't know exactly what was causing it but I know for sure it was related to the sand.

 

[kretz11]

I set up three planted tanks at about the same time with HD's playsand and all three started to get bad hairlike algae on all the plants...not exactly sure what type though. I changed one of them over to riversand and the algae went away, so I changed the other two and they followed suit. The only thing I changed was the sand, I even used the same plants. I don't know exactly what was causing it but I know for sure it was related to the sand.

 

[Cockatoo]

....riversand and the algae went away....

How big is the grain size of the river sand?

 

[kretz11]

don't know the exact size, but it was a little bigger than the playsand.

 

[Bissot_J]

....riversand and the algae went away....

How big is the grain size of the river sand?

yes and where you get it.
i am actually getting hard time found a nice and good sand for my tank.
i usually have cory an simple plant in my tank (java fern, java moss, anubia, and some floating plant)
what i need is a sand with nice sice (not too big) , a little bit dark, and who will not raise my KH an PH.

thanks to anybody who can give me a hint

 

[Cockatoo]

I've seen a type of filter sand may match your need. It's #10(1~2mm) grain size and the color is kind of dark. It is called Filpro Filter ssand(gravel) from US Silica. (http://www.u-s-silica.com/). You can find further information on their website.

 

[Roger]

If your in Home Depot go look for the Play Sand, its not where you expect it is so unless you want to wander around just ask. Play Sand is playbox sand and it should be pretty non-reactive semi-clean sand.

The wrong type of sand fizzes/bubbles when you hit it with an acid, vinager is good choice to test with. I used to use it to test for limestone.

Almost forgot, its about $4 for a 50lb bag. Yeah you can find cheaper sand but this is atleast semi-clean to begin with.

For Corys with Apisto no prob
using long noze cory and Sterbai.
i will try pigmae soon

WEnt to HD yesterday and got a sample of the sand so I know its okay to use. Normally I prefer a darker color but somewhere I read that apistos like smaller stuff on the bottom. Any opinions? TIA!!

Can you tell me wich sand (mark, or anything can make me found it at HD)
i looking for good sand for my tank.
which test have you make to make sure it will be good ?

 

[ginnie5]

Its medium sanblasting sand....

Less than $4 for a 60 lb bag. I took a small jar of vinegar with my and found an open bag . The tank has been set up and running for a week now with no change in ph. This is a little darker than play sand and not as fine.

 

[Roger]

Of Sand and Things

Someone else mentioned that the sand they use for large filters is also usually a good choice. Maybe a pool supply place for that stuff ..

Peace,
Roger