Getting Sandy

Subject: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:22 pm

How much sand will I need to have a nice layer in a 55g. I want ti deep enough to bury fake plants but not too deep to have to worry about trapped gas forming too much. I am a gravel man but wanted to venture in to a sand bottom for my 55g. I am going to be using black moon sand.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:06 pm

I wouldn't make it more than 1/2" - 1" deep.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:11 pm

Any idea of how many pounds that would be for a 55g? I am new too sand and dont want to buy too much.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:04 pm

It took me 20lbs for my 29gal which has a footprint of 30x12.5. The 55 is 48x12.5 so I would get 2-20lb bags if I was you.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:24 pm

Cool Thanks Dawg!

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:29 pm

I used about 30# of sand for my 55

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:47 pm

Yeah...you probably won't need both full bags but I believe they only come in 20lb bags.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:49 pm

Yeah the ones I was looking at were at Petsmart they were 20lb bags I believe.

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

One 25 lb bag of play sand or sand blasting sand at the hardware store works just fine. The sandblasting sand is a dark grey/black color. My lowes also has 3 or 4 different colors of play sand. I've never used the colored ones, but I would think it's safe for fish, since I'm sure it's fairly non-toxic since it's meant for children to play with.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:47 am

I can't find either at any hardware stores anywhere...Home Depot don't sell any sand neither does Lowes. the only sand I can find is Quickcrete sand that they sell in the white tubes to weigh down vehicles....Not sure about that sand?

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

At my lowes play sand in is in the outside by the mulch and soils. It's Quickcrete brand play sand.

The sand blasting sand is near the concrete department, but not exactly in it. The isle in mine is mixing tubs, concrete, pea gravel and other gravel for in concrete, then sand blasting sand. It's the only brand and only one they carry in my store so it's a very small spot that it's in. Right after the sand is fake rocks, that you glue to walls to make them look like it's stone.

The one here is the only lowes I've ever been in though, so it may be different for each store.

Member Posts : 55 Age : 51

I have a 55 that has black moon sand,and I used 60lbs for it.It has live plants and 1 GT.The only complaint I have is the LARGE poop from the GT is quite obvious.It is about 2 inches deep across the tank.I know everyone says to rinse sand before adding it to your tank,but I was too lazy to do it in this tank.When I filled it I used a python and let the water flow into a small bowl so it did not disturb the sand too much.It was very cloudy at first,but after 2 hours or so with the filters running it cleared up.

Edit: DUH! Check out my avatar,that is the tank it is in,I can get a full tank shot if you want.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:59 pm

I used pool filter sand.

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

D'oh I never even thought to check on that with the pool store right by me. What color did that come in?

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:17 am

Well I went with white sand from lowes...100lb bag for $7.95

The Turtle Whisperer Posts : 1930

Woah. I don't think I've ever seen a 100lb bag there before. Where was that hiding?

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:24 am

Right next to the play sand it was called medium grade sand made by quickcrete. It was very clean looking and fine. Cant wait to get it washed and in.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:06 am

Mostlycichlids wrote:: Well I went with white sand from lowes...100lb bag for $7.95

Wow! Great deal! Get some pics when you get a chance so we can see what it looks like.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:47 am

Nice snag MC!

Saint it was a natural color sand. It looked like beach sand

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:51 pm

Yeah looks exactly like beach sand. I did the 55g, the 29g and the 3g today. I got pics but will have to post them tomorrow.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:08 pm

Cant wait to see em

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:09 pm

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:55 pm

Here is the 55g...

and a couple fish...these were the only survivors now recovering from the velvet.....

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:21 pm

The substrate looks great, MC! Your fish have made a fantastic comeback. What is the bottom layer under the sand? it looks darker or is it just a shadow?

Subject: Re: Getting Sandy Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:44 pm

Thanks, that is just how it looks when the light hits it. The sand is very light color. Below it is my black trim that might be it too but it is just sand about 1.5 inches from bottom of tank to top of sand maybe 1.75 inches.

» Hurricane Sandy!

Getting Sandy

* Aquarium Volume Calculator* Fahrenheit - Centigrade Conversion* Carbonate Hardness Unit Conversion* Liquid measurements

* Aquarium Volume Calculator
* Fahrenheit - Centigrade Conversion
* Carbonate Hardness Unit Conversion
* Liquid measurements