Sand in my new 42!

**country_boy454** · 01-11-2008, 07:22 PM

So I have decided I want to go with a sand substrate with my new 42 gallon hex. I found some black sand blasting sand at a local fleet store. It is 99.9% hardened slag and .1% silica. I wanted to use it for its color. I have checked around at Wal-mart and Home Depot and Lowe's for pool filter sand but to no avail.

My question is would this be ok to use? Also can I still use an undergravel filter with a sand substrate?

If this can be used I will be setting the tank up today and starting the fishless cycle on it. It will be a heavily seeded cycle though!

Oh yeah and how much should I use? Would I need more than 1lb/gallon?

**Tooch** · 01-11-2008, 07:25 PM

You can look for filter sand at a pool/spa store. You won't be able to use a ugf with sand, because sand will compact and get hard. There won't be anywhere for the water to flow

**country_boy454** · 01-11-2008, 10:25 PM

Well seeing as I live in the middle of nowhere, there are no pool/spa places. I didn't think an under gravel filter would work..... Any ideas about using sand blasting sand for a substrate?

**Incredulous_Ed** · 01-11-2008, 10:49 PM

Sand blasting sand=excellent substrate

I use it in some of my tanks, and you will need to rinse it for maybe 20 minutes, then it wont cloud the water.

**country_boy454** · 01-11-2008, 10:59 PM

Ok so I am not going to use the black sandblasting sand as it can tend to be sharp and is iron slag. I will be using silica sand. Getting a 100lb bag for about $8. I am going to put about 1-1.5" deep worth of it in the aquarium. Yeah I know lots of left over! Thats a good thing. If I like it enough maybe I'll convert my ten gallon to sand.

**country_boy454** · 01-12-2008, 04:47 AM

Well I picked up 100lbs. of sandblasting sand tonight. As I did that I went on the look for ammonia and guess what....... every ammonia bottle I looked at tonight has either surfactants, perfume, or die, or a combination of..... Doing the cycle is going to be harder than I thought. I searched at two grocery stores, target, k mart, a dollar store, a local fleet supply store, and a medical supply store, and Walgreen's. I spent two hours trying to find just plain ammonia and nothing so far. I have one place left to look. They weren't open tonight when I was looking around. It is Ace Hardware.

I have been taking pics of the tank so I will get them posted sooner or later. I plan on setting the tank up tomorrow and adding the sand and what ever decor I want in it. Then I'll take more pics of it.

**Incredulous_Ed** · 01-12-2008, 04:52 AM

You could fill the tank half full with water from an establised tank and add some f the gravel to the filter and you would be able to add some fish.

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-12-2008, 08:16 AM

Got an Ace Hardware near you? They carry Janitoral Strength which is pure ammonia. One of my Dollar stores here carried it, two others didn't so you might have to check others if you have them.

**country_boy454** · 01-13-2008, 12:11 AM

Well I went into town today and checked the last two stores locally for ammonia. First I went to Hardware Hank's. Had surfactants in it. Oh well. Lets go to Ace Hardware. I get there go inside and look at the cleaner isle and nope all had surfactants in it. I was quite peeved by now. Just as I was leaving a worker said "I think what you are looking for is right here." So I walk over to the area he was in and I saw a bottle that said Ammonia, Janitorial Strength Formula. I picked it up and looked at it and no ingrediant list. So I shook it really hard and no foam! Yes I found what I needed. He says "you must be cycling an aquarium." I said sure am. He says "we get calls about this all the time so we set it out in an isle of its own." I was like freakin awesome! I got a gallon of it for 2.99 + tax. A half quart was 2.29 + tax. Now I will have extra ammonia for all the new aquariums my heart desires to start up!

On another note, I set the aquarium up and put the sand in the bottom. Will be adding a little more. Started the filter on it and put the heater in it to find out it doesn't work. Set the airstone in it and plugged the pump in and that doesn't work either. So now the next time I go to the fish store I need to get a pump and a heater!

Should I still start the cycle even though I don't have a heat source? The water stays about 70 degrees F.