Sand FAQ
Written By: Andrew B

There have been plenty questions asked about sand so I compiled a bunch of questions to help those with the same questions.

Q: Where can I get sand?
A: You can find sand in many places, your LFS, local hardware store, building supply store, or at a pool supply store. You might want to avoid sand at your LFS because they jack up the price a great deal.

Q: Are there any sands that I should avoid?
A: Some sand that you might want to avoid are sands that can raise your kh and pH values. Sands such as marine sand which can contain bits of coral that raise your kh. There also is reptile sand which has calcium carbonate, a supplement for reptiles, that acts like a buffer and will raise your kh value and possibly your pH.

Q: Do I need to wash the sand?
A: Yes, if you don’t you’ll have some bad cloudiness.

Q: When will the sand clouds settle?
A: Depending on how well you washed the sand it could take a day or up to a week.

Q: How do I wash sand?
A: Fill a 5 gallon bucket up half way with sand and use a garden hose and blast at the sand and let it overflow so all the tiny particles that would cloud your water are dispersed. When the water is clear or near clear you can stop rinsing it and put the cleaned sand in your tank. Also make sure you do this in your grass or any area that won’t make a mess. Don’t do this in your bathtub. You can also put sand in a old pillow case and wash it off that way, either method you choose you should get the same outcome; clean sand.

Q: Can I use a HOB filter with sand?
A: Yes, but be aware that your filter can be damaged by sucking up sand particles.

Q: Should I have my filter off while the sand is settling?
A: Yes, to prevent filter failure keep the filter off while the sand is settling so you don’t damage the impeller. If you’d like you could put a sponge over the intake to possibly speed up the time it takes for the sand to settle while protecting your impeller from sand particles.

Q: Should I have my filter off while im cleaning the tank?
A: Yes, its a good idea so that the sand you stir up doesnt get sucked up and create a filter problem.

Q: What kind of sponge can I use to cover my filter intake?
A: Any kind of sponge that was not used with chemical cleaners. Then just cut it down some to fit over the intake.

Q: Can I use a UGF with sand?
A: Nope, I wouldn’t try it unless you’d be willing to tear out the filter when a problem arises.

Q: Will sand be sucked up by my gravel vacuum?
A: Yes, you can’t stick it in the sand like you do with gravel because sand is less dense.

Q: How should I vacuum my sand?
A: Hold the vacuum a half inch to an inch away from the sand and it will suck up the debris on the sand since it cant settle in the cracks like it does with gravel.

Q: Does sand affect water parameters such as pH/KH/GH ?
A: Its possible that it could but it depends on the brand of sand you get. To be 100% sure take a hand full in a glass and fill it up with water. Wait a day and compare the results to your tap water.

Q: Can sand cut or damage my corys barbells?
A: Yes, depending on how fine and sharp the sand is, it could damage them.

Q: How should I prevent anaerobic bacteria?
A: Stir up your sand at least once a month to prevent it from forming.

Q: Can plants grow in sand?
A: Yes, they can grow in it just like they can in gravel.
Q: Do my plants benefit from sand?
A: Yes and No. No, because sand is inert so it provides no fertilizers or nutrients for plants to thrive. Yes, because it is a medium for the plants roots to grow and establish themselves. If you buy Seachem onyx sand which is sand formulized for plant growth they will benefit from that particular sand.

Q: Is sand better than gravel?
A: That’s up to you, its all a personal preference.

Q: Can sand be mixed with gravel?
A: Yes, but the outcome may not be what you expected and over time and lots of digging the sand will settle under the gravel because of its size.

Q: Can fish choke one sand?
A: No, in most cases. If the sand is fine grained it will just be pushed through the fishes gills. But if the sand has large grains then it may cause some problems but this is quiet rare and doesnt happen very often.

Q: How can I get sand off my decorations?
A: After your done aquascaping use a turkey blaster to blow the sand off.