large sand/really fine gravel substrate?

[Stella]

I have seen a few tanks with what looks like really big sand or really small gravel. I have seen it in various shades and some said it came from garden shops.

What is it called?

Thanks

[Loopy]

I found that if you have a stupidly huge amount of time on your hands you can sift some pretty cool stuff out of "crusher dust"

I bought a bag of it from Oderings (i think) and sat and sifted and rinsed it until i had a nice tank full of fine stone chip and another tank with nice sand.

I used a colinder over a bucket to sift out the chip and then the stuff left in the bucket i just rinsed and stirred and rinsed and stirred until the water ran clear.

[Casper]

you obviouslty have far to much time loopy

[Stella]

Quite 'loopy'. If there is one aquarium-related job I DETEST, it is washing new gravel!

[Adrienne]

I agree - have 20+ kilos of it to start washing today for my new tank.

[supasi]

this is Daltons Propergating sand on top of daltons Aquatic mix

Sand avilable at red shed and Mitre10 mega.

quite cheap too

Is this the stuff you meant

[Gill]

Hi Is Propergating sand special sand for tanks and is it a must have for plants to grow , :lol:

[JK]

I'm using a mix of Flourite Black Sand and the fine grey/charcoal coloured gravel that Hollywood Fish Farm sell. Looks the goods so far but only just set it up a day ago and waters still a bit cloudy

[alanmin4304]

I use unwashed river sand for growing plants (from the nursary) Do a LOOPY but only wash the course stuff and add JBL micronutrient to the fine stuff. That way you get fine gravel without sharp bits and plant growth.

[Scuba Sam]

After much ringing around and driving, I find there is no Dalton's propogating sand in Northland!! Luckily Palmers can get it in. I am going for the same set up as Supasi, but will put pebbles on top of that. Propogating sand is courser than most other sands which I think makes it easier for the roots to get through it, although others on here will no for sure.

[Cricketman]

after running around trying to find a decent price for substrate, all lfs having no decent 20l bags for less than 40 bux, i found that palmers had 20l bags for 10 bux each of propegating sand and a small gravel... WINNER!!!!

[Stella]

Thanks, the Dalton'sstuff is what I was thinking of.

So, for a NON-PLANTED tank, what it is like using this sand? Obviously no undergravel filters. What about gravel vacumings? Any issues with getting stagnant areas?

Thanks