Different Types of Sand Available For A Freshwater Aquarium

During the preparation of your freshwater aquarium

, choosing sand as your substrate is not much of a dilemma. The biggest reason, of course, is the fact that sand is the most common substrate in the wild freshwater systems like lakes, ponds and streams. As such, most fish are naturally more familiar with it than with any other kind like rocks and stones and some plain underwater soil. Aside from this, certain species of fish with delicate barbells will not have any problems digging around. Some others actually dig and hide under the sand. For one, sand has many advantages than the other substrate choices for your aquarium. Because of its being ever-present in many places, fish are naturally familiar with it. They are the best for fishes with delicate barbells and for those who are natural burrowers and diggers.Inside your freshwater aquarium, sand harbors the useful bacteria that help process the whole ecosystem inside. (Gravel has less surface areas compared to it.) They are also perfect for growing your tank's underwater plants.Depending on the kind of fish you have, sand is good lining for the bottom of a fish tank, especially for those with delicate types of fish. There are many species who like to hide and burrow into the sand. They cannot do that in gravel.there are many advantages of having sand in your fish tank like it makes setting up your decorations and plants nuch easier than with gravel. Sand is not just the ideal medium for your aquatic plants, but it also harbors the useful bacteria needed for the whole tank ecosystem. Gravel has less surface area than sand and that is why it is a less favorable surface for good bacteria to form on.AdvantagesIn the natural world, sand is the bottom surface of most fish habitats that include ponds, rivers, and lakes. This makes it more natural for your fish and for breeders, make a note that some species will only breed in sand filled aquariums.Some species of fish even eat a little sand to help in their digestion. Needless to say, sand is also ideal for the many species of aquatic plants.PrecautionsHowever, when using sand for your aquariums substrate let's review a common mistake. This mistake is not to control the thickness of your sand layer. Fine sand has a tendency to have "dead pockets", which are those areas without any water circulation and thus no oxygen circulation .biological and ecological filtration cannot happen in sand that does not 'breathe' so it becomes oxygen poor. If you want your sand substrate thick, be sure to disturb it regularly. You can have some animals or fish that can do that for you - dig tunnels, burrow, and generally move the sand around.TypesThe importance of the choice of types of sand for your aquarium has been a source of wisdom among long-time aquarium owners for many decades . There are several considerations and you may need more than one to balance your choice.One important factor is the mineral content of the sand which can affect the water chemistry. The color and the size of the sand grains are also important.Some fish species are shy and they could be less stressed (threatened) if a brightly-colored sand is changed into something darker. Smoothe rounded sand and fine sand is best if your fish have soft bellies or like to bite at the sand.Large aquarium shops usually have at least six different types of sand to choose from. Black Tahitian moon sand, Aragonite sand, Coral Sand, Black Beauty Sand which is also known as powdered iron slag, and the popular silica sand which is also known as blasting sand and play sand.Silica sandThis is the sand used by the sand blasting industry. Relatively cheap (around 100 lbs. for $10), it is pale tan and the texture is extremely fine.Black beautyBlack beauty sand is not found in nature - it is a powdered iron slag. It is also used by the sand-blasting industry.This type of sand will definitely alter the chemistry inside your aquarium. What's more, powdered iron slag may have sharp edges which are not ideal for those fish species that continuously sift sand.Play sandPlay sand is more diverse in grain size and color than silica sand. It is also darker than silica and has much clay in it.It is cheap, and is sold in large quantities for use in filling up sand boxes. It can also be bought from home supply stores because it is also used in making brickwork.Coral sandThis is usually used in aquariums to keep the pH value alkaline, and the water hard. It is more expensive than silica sand, iron slag, and play sand, but cheaper than aragonite.It is made from crushed corals, this is usually white with a diverse grain size as well.AragoniteThis is one of the most expensive of all types of aquarium sand. It is available in various colors and grain sizes for differet applications.Like the coral sand, the aragonite can also help in adjusting the pH value and the water hardness in the aquarium.Tahitian moon sandAnother expensive variety of sand is the famous black Tahitian moon sand. Beautiful by itself, the black Tahitian moon sand can make your colorful fish even be more showy because their colors are enhanced when placed in contrast against the black sand.The black Tahitian moon sand is not iron slag.SetupAs with most things (including sand), anything introduced into your freshwater aquarium needs to be cleaned and free from substances (and live things) that will pollute your tank.The best way to do this is to thoroughly clean the sand by passing it through water to remove the debris and other detritus (living or dead) that will dirty up your aquarium.MaintenanceIt is good policy to vacuum the sand every 2 to 4 weeks, and siphon off floating debris. If you don't have animals to do it for you, manually churn the sand around 4 to 6 times a year. Churning releases trapped gas (and wastes) under the inert sand.Move the stones and other dcor (and the fish, if possible) and vacuum the water. Turn off the pumps and filters first before churning and wait for everything to settle down before turning them on again.Choosing the right sand for your freshwater aquarium is like choosing the right landscape for your house. It will not only please your eyes but it certainly helps the lives of your fish.

Different Types of Sand Available For A Freshwater Aquarium

By: Bob Finklea

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