FOWLR Substrate question

[jcmjoe]

Has anybody on RC heard of using playsand from Lowes or Home Depot as their substrate? I have heard of people using it but wanted to know your opinon. Thanks

 

[HASBRO]

I wish i would have went bare bottom no sand at all, makes for a clean tank.

 

[anbosu]

I've used it on past setups with no issues.

 

[rpjaws74]

I have and I tried it with a previous set up. I wouldnt recommend it I always had bad green hair algea problems. I heard that type of sand causes high phosphates and hard to keep your ph balanced. So I started over and got rid of it and poof! No green hair algea wars and ph balanced. So I would sacrafice the extra cash and buy live sand. Or you dont necessarily need to buy all live sand. You can buy crush coral or not live sand but still ocean sand thou and get some live sand from an established aquarium from a fellow reefer (I think you may know someone who is willing to hand you some) and plant that to your sand. And in no time that live sand you added will seed the rest of your sand.

 

[humaguy]

I would not use it either...went bb in my newest tank and the fuge, so clean...makes my other tanks look so messy...

 

[NEK-ap24]

I like sand myself. I love the life in the sand, and think it looks nicer...just my aesthetic I guess. (to be fair, I have never tried BB to compare) That being said, the general consensus on HD/Lowes play sand is that it used to be reef safe a number of years ago when a brand called Southdown was available. Now the offerings are much less dependable and may have undesireable "extras" that would not be good for the tank. if you do give it a try, document what you use and post your findings.

 

[NEK-ap24]

Oh one more thought, aragonite sand is solid choice for the aquarium. I would not spend any extra on "live" sand. If you add any live rock to the tank you will soon have live sand. "live" sand is expensive and the liquid included just weight in the bag that isn't sand....i.e. 5 lbs of soaking wet sand in water is significantly less sand then 5 lbs of dry sand.

 

[jcmjoe]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it.

 

[randomfishguy85]

i have play sand in my cichlid tank

 

[humaguy]

remember one thing about sugar sand...it gets everywhere..........................ugh!