can i use beach sand in my fresh water fish tank or can i use sand for like stonery like in kids play box?

Question

i have a 55 gal fish tank and i going to have fresh water fish but dont know if the sand is good for them or not want to go to a stonery cuz my family owns one and ust get like 20 -30 lbs of sand will that be to fine

can i use rocks from the stonery . or is that bad too

Answer 1

Silver sand is the commonly used sand for fish tanks, its pretty much the same as the stuff for kiddies sand pits, I'd soak some in water and test it for PH and salinity to be on the safe side over a period. Anything you put in a freshwater fish tank has to be inert, so rocks are ok as long as they are not soft or contain trace minerals or metals these often show up with streaks in the rock, the safest rock is slate if its a complete colour and no streaking of any kind.

I'd not be tempted to use beach sand as the concentration of salt will take a long time to leach out.


AJ

Answer 2

No! For all those reasons and more. If you really need fine sand for your tank get some filter sand from a swimming pool company, But even clean sand isn't all that good an idea anyway. Good luck. PeeTee

Answer 3

do not use sand if you have a bottom filter system.( under the gravel) But I use regular hang on the tank filters , in my fresh water 100 gal tank. It is set up like the sea bottom. Sand, with natural rock and brown gravel. It has never given me any problems.. Wash the beach sand with warm water till clear before you use it in your tank. I drain it once a month and clean the sand by running fresh water over it, stirring it by hand ,and siphoning it off till its clear then I refill the tank, and set it back up..

Answer 4

I have 5 aquariums set up.
Two have sand in, the others gravel.
As soon as I can I will change all of the others to sand also.
I love it, the fish love and NO it does not get sucked up the in take pump to the impellor by the fish.
I have EIGHT LARGE fancy goldfish in one tank, and no problems.
I do try to remember to unplug the filters when I stir it around however.

I bought my sand from the local fish store, but it is beach sand.
Good luck, try it.
Read this article:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/sand.php#1

I have goldfish, not cichlids.
Sue

Answer 5

The only problem with using sand from the beach is the sand has higher concentrations of calcium as well as crushed shells and corals. this will increase the PH in your fresh water tank. Knowing that, it can be washed and used in a tank.

Also, remember no more than 2 inches of sand in the bottom of your aquarium. Sand can have airpockets which can and will create pockets of gas which can be lethel to your fish. Remember when cleaning your tank to gently move the sand around the bottom.

Answer 6

Do not use sand in your tank. It will chew up the filters, change the salinity, and mess with the PH of the water. Stick with rock.

Answer 7

Get some aquarium gravel at the pet store...it comes in lots of colors and types and usually isn't very expensive. And that way it is clean so it won't have any fungus or anything on them that might harm your fish