Can I Use Play Sand In My Pool Filter

Concluding Updated on July 27, 2021 past

Saving coin is always overnice, and play sand is certainly much cheaper than proper name-brand sands like super naturals and ocean straight. But can yous actually use play sand for an aquarium substrate without harming your fish?

The answer is yeah! Not only is it a cheaper alternative, just Most brands are also safety for fish and found life and comprise no additives, common salt, or metals. Puddle filter sand is also a great alternative to aquarium sand, and some would even say ideal.

Before y'all get dumping a handbag of play sand or pool sand into your aquarium there are a few things you should know.

Yous have to rinse puddle filter sand and play sand

Before you utilise these types of sand, it'south imperative you lot give them a proficient wash in water to remove the fine dust. Dechlorinated / treated h2o is e'er preferred just it's not absolutely necessary.

Worst example you can add a bit of Aquasafe dechlorinate and conditioner, or whichever brand you prefer.

Simply place the sand in a bucket and run water over it until it runs articulate. Pour out the remaining water and add the washed sand substrates to your tank.

Try not to lose also many grains of sand in the process.

What to look for in a pool filter sand or play sand

Grain size is important when choosing the right play sand or pool sand for your aquarium substrate.

You desire it to be fairly small grains, as well as rounded out with no sharp angles or edges for your fish to cut themselves ane and get red blotch or some other bacterial infection.

Burrowing fish will too give thanks you for not choosing large particles with precipitous edges and will observe information technology a more natural erosion-like substrate.

You definitely desire to read the bag to exist certain the sand is safety for use in an aquarium. Some play sands or pool sands are treated with chemicals that will damage your fish. It'southward adept to know what y'all're buying and if information technology'due south safety.

The bags should say whether they have these additives or non, and what's in the sand. Consider doing a cursory google search on the make to become a improve thought.

If you can't find any info on the bag, and you don't want to take a take a chance then it's best non to use that make. There are plenty more than to cull some, here are a few I recommend:

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Play Sand will need a flake of fertilizer if you intend on using it in a planted tank

Y'all will besides need to utilize some nutrients for the plants to grow.

This is true of all substrates, but it'south especially truthful if you are using sand equally your substrate.

You want your sand or gravel to be 'live' sand if at all possible considering information technology contains benign bacteria that assistance go along the water quality at ideal levels and amend able to handle more fish load.

If you are using sand every bit a substrate in a non-planted tank, then add fertilizers for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (North:P:Thou) at the recommended dose until your h2o quality tests evidence stable parameters.

You can apply this, this, or this fertilizer to make life easier. Once more, choose the make that appeals to you the most.

Follow the directions on the package for each one.

Some words of warning

Avoid any sands that have fillers, heavy metals. Some silica sands volition have traces of heavy metals that can poison your fish.

Make sure the brand you lot buy is reputable and doesn't have whatsoever debris, glass, or annihilation sharp that shouldn't be there. Some practice so be careful. You want to use the kind that is the kind marketed safely for kids as information technology volition have gone through an extra process of debridement.

Sand that might exist safe in a freshwater aquarium isn't ever going to be safe in a saltwater aquarium every bit some sands might throw off h2o chemistry balance.

All sand should be rinsed clean thoroughly to remove fine particles and dust.

In conclusion

Using play sand for aquarium substrate in your tank is a great thought. You tin can easily buy majority amounts for large tanks or just a 5 or ten-pound bag if you've got smaller aquariums. It's a slap-up inexpensive alternative aquarium media that many pros and pet stores take advantage of.

About

Owner of AquariumGravel.com and also owner of bodily Aquarium Gravel believe it or non! ;). Setting up cute aquarium sceneries and habitats since I was very immature. Enjoy!