Need help w/ white sand

[Cameronv]

I need help picking a white sand. I have caribsea crystal river but its not white enough. The grain size is nice, it comes with beneficial bacteria which is always helpful, and plant friendly. I need the sand to be plant friendly. I have a fluval fx5 and don't want sand to be light enough to get sucked in and hurt the engine or something. I was thinking about getting pool filter sand, which is the best grade to go for? Does anyone know of another fish brand of white sand they like? I do like the cheap price of PFS though.

[PaulD]

Don't buy white sand from petsmart they are supper white and like sugar powder it will end up in your back yard as you siphon. It happened to me.

Paul

[discusmatt20]

Ya i want to know the same thing as well, about the PFS

[Cameronv]

Can anyone give some insight to PFS grades?

[dprais1]

Don't buy white sand from petsmart they are supper white and like sugar powder it will end up in your back yard as you siphon. It happened to me.

Paul

+1

[DonMD]

I never heard of plant-friendly sand.

[sonflowerjoela]

Someone told me on another forum to use pool filter sand. It is in pool supplies section at Home Depot. He said it was perfect size for plants. I just got mine so don't really know how well it works. It is like really small gravel and not like sand at all. Also it is not white, it is beigey/brown Trying to get it set up. Maybe someone here has used it?

[Skip]

i work at home depot.. i have not seen PFS from there.. not that we don't..

but i hear that hobbyist like to go to LESLIES Pool's.. for the white PFS

[DonMD]

+1

i work at home depot.. i have not seen PFS from there.. not that we don't..

but i hear that hobbyist like to go to LESLIES Pool's.. for the white PFS

[Cameronv]

Went to a local pool shop/OSH and had no luck w/ sand. I gave up and bought more caribsea instant sand crystal river. Play sand at home depot looks pretty good, maybe I'll look into it. How does everyone feel about play sand? Color, density, size?

[Niblet]

My local pool/spa store said they don't keep it anymore because fewer and fewer folks are using sand filters. Luckily, he was able to order me 50lbs of Mystic White II pool filter sand. It is almost white and is too heavy to travel up the tube when I vacuum the bottom. I am very happy with it. Here's a link from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Filter-Sand-50-Lbs-White/dp/B000Q73GNA/ref=pd_sbs_lg_4
....shipping obviously would be prohibitive, but maybe you can find someone local to order it for you. It was only $7 for me. My husband works for Quikrete and he said it looks alot like their PFS....but I haven't seen it. Sometimes our opinions differ! HTH...

[Cameronv]

Thanks fran, got any pics of your tank w/ the sand in it?

[Niblet]

Oh brother.....I am not very savvy at forum stuff, so forgive me if this isn't the best way to do this. Here is a link to a thread has has 2 shots of the tank. They are not great photos, tho. At least you can see that it is really pretty white. I only used about 25 pounds. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?95904-Ok....finally-got-a-photobucket-acct

[Cameronv]

Nice tank fran! Your right that sand is awesome, now I need to find away around paying shipping lol.

[PaulD]

+1

+2

[xschug3]

AquaQuartz Pool Filter Sand is what you want. It's the best for aquariums. Heavy enough that it won't get sucked in pythons and large enough granules to disallow compaction an anaerobic bacteria to flourish. You'll have to go to a pool/spa store for it. Home Depot or Lowe's doesn't carry it.

[Orange Crush]

AquaQuartz Pool Filter Sand is what you want. It's the best for aquariums. Heavy enough that it won't get sucked in pythons and large enough granules to disallow compaction an anaerobic bacteria to flourish. You'll have to go to a pool/spa store for it. Home Depot or Lowe's doesn't carry it.
Ace Hardware sells it

[Mep1127]

Good thing I saw this thread...I want to go the sand route also but that'll be till I grew out all my discus :)

[frinklinduds]

go to my 100 gallon rimless build in the planted show tanks and biotope section i used pool filter sand from a nearby pool supply store and i am very pleased

[Jonnywhoop]

^ how many lbs and how much?

[roydooms]

I got mine for $13(50lbs).