subsrate?

[snakebiter]

ive got 30kg of sand for my 55gallon tank its kids play sand what about dead spots do i just need just to keep moving the sand about every now and again to stop it or will it be ok?

[LVKSLoachlady]

I would not use that sand...I've heard all kinds of bad things about it... like it's really dirty and could be full of all kinds of bad things for fish! Use something from a pet store or I've heard you can use pool Filter sand...maybe someone can tell you more about it!

[Diana]

Play sand has a mix of sizes that will pack down and reduce the water flow below the surface of the substrate. This reduces the oxygen down there, and can create pockets where anaerobic bacteria can live. These bacteria smell REALLY BAD and create toxic conditions for the fish. You can lose burrowing fish before you even know there is a problem.

There are a couple of things you might do:
1) Rinse the sand so well that all the fine particles are gone, leaving the coarser material. This probably means washing away, and wasting, as much as half the sand.
2) Use only a very thin layer, perhaps an inch to 1.5" max.
3) Every time you clean the tank (hopefully every week) poke into the substrate to open more holes, and reduce the compaction. This may stir up more cloudiness, but it should settle quickly.
4) Return the sand and get something more suitable. Pool filter sand, blasting sand, 3M Colorquartz, and other products that have uniform particle sizes are better choices.

[snakebiter]

so wheres the best place to get pool filter or blasting sand in the uk is it sold at most of the builders merchants like jewsons or bq etc or is it at specialist suppliers?and how much is it ?

[NDininno]

I used a 50lb bag of play sand from home depot for my 30g tank. I sifted it to get the larger sharp pieces out. It was really dirty so I cleaned a little at a time, basically putting the sand in a bucket and swooshing it around by hand over and over again till I couldn't notice a difference between my tap water color and the color of the water in the bucket. This also served a double purpose in that it ex foliated my hands, which the little lady appreciated. Then I did the same thing with some bleach in the water to sanitize, and then fresh water again with water conditioner. After that I spread it out as thin as possible outside on a tarp to dry for a few days. After all that I rinsed 1 more time and put it in the oven at 450 for 45 minutes each tray. My loaches love it, and I do regularly poke my water changer(gravel vac) into the sand to keep things loose. I always poke right before the water change in case toxins get into the water somehow, so at the very least its potency is diluted more. The 'water changer' is just a 20" pvc pipe with a faucet piece on the end (drainer type piece) and some flexible hose on the other end.

[Diana]

I do not know about the UK, but in the US pool filter sand is a swimming pool item, and there are special stores that sell to contractors who build swimming pools. These stores are open to anyone, but they do not generally advertise. This sort of sand may also be available elsewhere.
Blasting sand is used by contractors who sand blast things to clean them. One possible source is stores that also sell rocks, brick, stone, gravel, soils and supplies for masons (Mortar, cement and so on).
Also available at this type of store may be other sand (not specifically labeled for pools or blasting) that is screened for sizes. I use 30 mesh sand in my tanks (bought as swimming pool filter sand) and it works well for not packing down. I have seen this size of sand and others at masonry/rock yard types of stores.
This is not to say that other stores may or may not have what you are looking for.

It is easier for you to make a few phone calls then go into your local hardware, garden, masonry and other stores and read labels. Take some time to find the older sales people and explain what you are looking for and ask, "Do you know where I can find such stuff?"

I do not know if this is available in the UK, or perhaps a similar product.
3M Colorquartz is a material added to the interior finish of swimming pools to give it some color. This material is available in 2 sizes and many colors. Go to the 3M web site for more info. In the UK, get in touch with someone who installs swimming pools and ask them if this or something similar is available. I use this in a couple of tanks. It is slightly larger than 30 mesh sand, but I like the darker color. (I have black) Also, it is a heavier material, and easier to gravel vac. It falls out of the vacuum better, so it stays in the tank rather than ending up in the bucket.