David R Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 Here's some pics of my 3'x18"x18" tank with silica sand as the substrate. Its quite fine and the geo's seem to love digging in it, as do the eels. The two biggest problems is that all the muck sits on top of it so its hard to keep clean [visually], and it shows up all the algae I haven't cleaned off the glass. :oops: Tank: A. heckelii's, growing fast. There's some good photo's of a group of larger heckelii's on MFK at the moment, link. They've actually got a bit more yellow colour since I put the white substrate in. And my two new G. balzani, I might actually got get a few more on tuesday, they're awesome little fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 looks cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 I'll try to take some better photos after I clean the glass properly and give it a vacuum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayci Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 I did the same. Yes very hard to keep clean and very hard to gravel vac(so fine the vac sucks it up). I guess on the plus side, no waste falls within the sand. I am now wanting a black version with 1mm sand. Just need to find some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 Looks nice David. Jayci you can get fine black pool filter sand (has been sweet with cories etc) from the pool shop near the Hillcrest New World. Just the other side of the road, on the left before the round-a-bout if you're heading towards Tauranga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 Haha is the pool shop still there? The guy gave me a bag of filter sand for free when I lived there, maybe he felt bad because they dropped their sign on our letterbox and smashed it... The silica sand is way finer than the pool filter stuff (which is also available at stone and water world), I'd call it grit rather than sand. Here's a video on how to vacuum the sand; http://www.cichlid-forum.com/videos/cleaning_sand.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayci Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 I went to that pool shop once. They didn't have the black filter sand. Just standard sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 I went to that pool shop once. They didn't have the black filter sand. Just standard sand. Abuse them till they get you some Haha David yeah that's the one my friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 I just had a look at the tank, the substrate is now covered in craters from the 6 heckelii's and 3 geophagus picking up mouthfuls of sand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 Biff 'em and get 100 neons in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Biff 'em and get 100 neons in there :evil: Blasphemy! :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 I reckon! The neons aren't going to dig in the sand, why would I want them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 I just set my 5' cichlid tank up in sand, the fish love it, spend all day rooting around and digging holes. Goodbye gravel, I am gonna use nothing else now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna_&_Chris Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 i had silica in my 4 footer.i loved it but then when changed the tank sand went with the tank.. now cantt find that sand anywher.ive got aragonite and its growing algae on it... even tho its very very fine. never had that problem with silica,also if you want to get rid of things IN the sand just put your fishnet in there grab some sand and sand will come thru the net but other things wont so good. miss it.stupit aragonite.. :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doch Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 tank is looking good will get some white for my new one i think the coral sand once mum releases the purse a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 Stone and Water World on Marua Rd sell it, I think it was $17 for a 25kg bag, still got over half left after doing the 3'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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