Sand for an aquarium - how to choose the right soil?

High-quality sand for an aquarium is the most important biochemical component of an artificial ecosystem. It acts as a substrate for green spaces, a natural filter, and a habitat for numerous colonies of microorganisms. The correct choice of soil is a serious issue, the solution of which affects the fate of the entire underwater kingdom.

Sandy soil for an aquarium

Benefits of sand

Types of aquarium sand

If you decide to choose sand as a substrate, you should carefully study all the characteristics of the different types.

• River. It has been used for aquariums for a very long time. Contrary to the established opinion about its dangers, many aquarists call river sand perhaps the best soil for an aquarium. You can buy it at a pet store, or collect it yourself using two sieves to filter out particles that are not the right size.
• Quartz. It is obtained by crushing white quartz. The main advantage of this type is resistance to chemical attack. Quartz sand is neutral: it does not affect water hardness. Another plus is that it neutralizes harmful substances that can form in the aquarium, such as iron oxide and manganese.
• White aragonite. This species is formed from fragments of mollusks and corals. But it is important to remember that such soil affects the hardness of the water, so it is not suitable for fish that require soft water.
• Black. It contains grains of magnetite, ilmenite and hematite. Formed as a result of natural leaching of lighter rocks. This soil is good because, like quartz sand, it does not affect water hardness.
• "Live" or sea. It is mined in the coastal strip, often closer to coral reefs. Sea sand got its name because of the extraction technology: it is packed without drying, and as a result, the full microflora is preserved in it. This soil is ideal for marine aquariums.

We comply with the requirements

Sand preparation

Sandy soil must be prepared for placement in the aquarium. Especially if you use river or sea sand, mined with your own hands. With it, the risk of introducing dangerous bacteria and other microorganisms is very high. It is better to treat white and quartz sand purchased at a pet store as well.

First of all, the substrate must be washed. To do this you will need a plastic bucket or deep basin. The effect will be better if you pour sand in portions - the time, of course, is longer, but the quality of washing is higher. In the container, the substrate is carefully washed under running water. Actively stir the sand with your hands or a spatula. All this must be done until the water becomes clear.

Try not to clean sand using household chemicals. The soil can absorb the substance, and it will be extremely difficult to wash it out. But over time, the product will begin to be released into the water in the aquarium and can harm the fish. Instead of chemical treatment, it is better to resort to boiling or calcination of sand, which is quite possible to do on your own.

Boil the soil for 15 minutes, stirring continuously. Calcinate the sand in the oven: distribute it evenly onto a baking sheet and leave for half an hour at a temperature of one hundred degrees. The prepared sand is poured into the aquarium in layers of three to five centimeters, no more.

Aquarium cleaning

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We comply with the requirements

In order for the sandy soil in the aquarium to perform its functions with 100% efficiency, you need to remember several parameters.

• The grains of sand must be the same size. Otherwise, caking begins, and substances dangerous to fish - ammonia and hydrogen sulfide - are formed at the bottom.
• Choose a substrate with fractions of at least 1.5 millimeters in diameter. Smaller ones interfere with oxygen exchange. Because of this, waste and food particles are no longer processed, and the aquarium quickly becomes dirty and has to be cleaned more often.
• The sand in the aquarium should not affect the water. As mentioned above, white sand is not suitable for fish living in water with low hardness due to its calcareous composition.
• If you extract sand with your own hands, choose a clean body of water that does not contain toxic runoff and waste. River sand should not contain fragments or other debris. Self-extracted soil must be especially thoroughly cleaned and washed in order to prepare it for installation.
• Don't get carried away with colored sand. Undoubtedly, it looks very beautiful and impressive, and the dyes used are harmless. But some types, for example, red and yellow, contain iron oxide, which is harmful to fish. Gradually being washed out of the soil, the substance can cause the death of the inhabitants of the aquarium.
• Decorative point: it is believed that white sand makes the fish less bright.

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Sand for aquarium

Aquarium sand is one of the most popular types of soil used in creating an aquarium landscape. Regardless of what type of aquarium it is - freshwater, reef or marine - sand will fit organically into any design.

Ideal soil - coarse river sand of dark color

In addition to its decorative function, it acts as a nutrient substrate for aquatic plants, and also serves as a refuge for beneficial aquarium microflora. Some time after starting the aquarium, the sand becomes a real biological medium, continuously recycling waste and thereby creating favorable conditions for the development of plants.

Advantage of using sand

Main types of aquarium sand

What should aquarium sand be like?

Methods for disinfecting natural sand

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Preparation

Before placing quartz sand on the bottom of the aquarium, it must be cleaned. Please note that there is no need to use any detergents. Whatever option you use, you don’t need to wash it with chemicals, it’s even harmful.

It is very easy to disinfect quartz filler. You just need to calcinate the sand on an iron tray over a fire or simply boil it in water.

For these purposes, you can even use an ordinary saucepan, but be sure to stir the substance during the process.

Quartz sand for aquarium

Using sand as soil in an aquarium contributes to a more comfortable environment for its inhabitants and good rooting of plants. Three types of sand are used in aquariums: river, aragonite and quartz.

Many people wonder: is it possible to use quartz sand in an aquarium? In fact, quartz is silicon oxide, which does not react at all with water and has no effect on it. It is involved in the digestion of certain categories of fish and provides greater softness of water.

The only thing that matters is the size of the quartz sand particles. Sand that is too fine sours faster and plants grow less well in it. Otherwise, quartz sand for an aquarium is the ideal and most common filler.

Color range of aquarium bottom filler

What color is better to choose quartz sand for an aquarium as a primer? We have all encountered white, black and colored sand. Experienced aquarists say that white quartz sand for an aquarium does not create the necessary contrast with the inhabitants, which is why the fish do not stand out against its background and look somewhat amorphous.

But black quartz sand for an aquarium is a more attractive option. It does not distract attention from the fish, but at the same time, it makes them look brighter and more interesting.

Colored sand distracts attention to itself, so you look less at the inhabitants and more at the bottom of the aquarium. Alternatively, you can mix the colors of the sand. For example, a black and white combination looks quite harmonious.

Preparing quartz sand for use

Cleaning the soil in the aquarium

Regardless of whether you used black, white or colored sand as a primer, it needs to be monitored and cleaned periodically. For this, a siphon is used - a hose in which a vacuum is created, due to which dirt is sucked out of the aquarium along with some of the water.

You need to clean the sand at the bottom of the aquarium as it gets dirty. Do not allow debris to stagnate at the bottom, as this can create ammonia, which has a detrimental effect on the fish.

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Variety of palettes

If you think that you will be limited to only one sand coloring option, then this is not the case at all. Indeed, thanks to the imagination of manufacturers, you can use completely different shades at the bottom of your aquarium. Let's take a closer look at them.

• White will perfectly highlight the natural color of plants, and make them visually more contrasting, and therefore more noticeable against a white background.
• Black sand can perfectly complement the entire range of colors of your fish. Bright colors are wonderfully emphasized by the dark filler of the bottom layer of the aquarium. That is why you can successfully use this to create an even greater impression when you see the inhabitants of your home “ocean”.
• If you are a connoisseur of the color palette and understand which colors are best combined with what, then you will find an incredibly diverse range of the brightest and most colorful sand colors . You can choose your favorite shade or one that goes well with the color of your fish.

Whatever color you choose, it will not stain the water, so don’t worry about that.

About aquarium soil

Let's understand the concepts

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Which to choose?

What kind of soil is needed for an aquarium? It is recommended to use for a freshwater aquarium, for example, black, gray or white coarse river sand, construction sand, small pebbles or rolled gravel. More specifically, the size of the sand grains should vary between 2-3 mm. Pebbles for an aquarium can be larger - 2-8 mm. Fine sand is placed on the bottom (sand grain size is 1.5-2.5), then a layer of coarse sand (size is 3-4.5 mm).

It is not recommended to make a denser base for an aquarium, since it will provoke the accumulation of organic residues, the formation of a large number of rotting and decomposition products, which will release hydrogen sulfide into the water. To prevent soil compaction, you need to place large pebbles at the bottom of the aquarium under the sand. Even though small grains of sand will seep down, pebbles will improve the flow of the soil. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use fine sea quartz sand as soil. River sand is washed much easier.

If your choice is pebbles, then be aware of the difficulties that may arise when sucking debris out of the aquarium using a hose. Small pebbles will most likely clog the hose, and you will not be able to carry out the cleaning procedure. How to avoid such a problem? You need to use a larger diameter hose or use a transparent hose. In the first case, the pebbles will not get stuck, in the second, you will see where the jam occurred. There is another way out - use a siphon with a funnel.

Should fish behavior be taken into account?

Color spectrum

Nutritional value

note

Before choosing and placing nutritious sand or pebbles in the aquarium, you need to think carefully. To all the previously listed rules, add the following:

• On the counter of a pet store you can see different varieties: black, white, colored. But it is worth remembering that the best of all the variety is not colored, but natural nutritious soil, which is not colored by anything. Colored soil, being in the aquarium for a long time, loses its color, and the dye, accordingly, dissolves in water. A modern manufacturer, when creating colored sand, does not use toxic materials, but also does not use absolutely harmless ones. Thus, red and yellow soil contains iron oxides, which can adversely affect the health of the fish. Keep this in mind when purchasing the color version;
• soluble materials, for example, limestone, are not used as soil;
• a complete change of soil in the aquarium or its washing is carried out once every 5 years;
• Do not use colored river sand as a base: do not place red or yellow sand in the aquarium.

About installation in the aquarium

It is not enough to choose the right sand; it is equally important to place it correctly in the aquarium. Laying the soil in the aquarium should help recreate the appearance of a natural reservoir. It must be laid with a slope towards the front glass in the aquarium. What's the point of this? Thanks to this simple technique, it will be easier to remove dirt that accumulates in the depressions of the soil. The thickness can be different, but in the range from 3 to 8 cm. In addition, it is permissible to build a small area near the front glass in the form of plexiglass sides that will be free from soil. Tubifex or bloodworms can burrow in this area of ​​the aquarium. For this purpose, you can place a transparent glass vessel in the aquarium.

Soil for an aquarium with fish and plants: preparation rules

It is extremely important to properly place nutrient soil in the aquarium. How to do it? If you collected the soil for the aquarium with your own hands and did not purchase it in the store, then you need to prepare it. How to do it? Rinse and boil. This is the so-called cleaning of the soil in the aquarium before placing it. You also need to prepare sand and pebbles purchased at a pet store. It is enough to wash it and treat it with boiling water.

It would be a mistake to wash with the addition of Domestos or other chemicals. How can this affect the consistency of the aquarium? The fact is that sand and pebbles absorb chemical compounds well; it will be very difficult to wash them after treatment, which means they will gradually be released into the water.

Once the soil for the aquarium has been selected, it can be placed in the aquarium with fish and plants. You can do this right away: rinse it and place it in the aquarium while still wet.

Soil cleaning

Black, colored, quartz, and other sands need care. How to clean the soil in an aquarium, how to keep it clean? The soil for the aquarium along with the plants must be periodically cleaned, in other words, siphoned. Externally, a siphon is a hose in which a vacuum is created and with the help of which dirt and water are sucked out. You need to clean sand and pebbles as they become dirty.

Now you know how to choose sand, pebbles, how to prepare them, how to clean the soil in an aquarium and much other useful information. There is only one thing left: choose the appropriate option and apply all the knowledge gained in practice. Good luck!

Preferences for use

Peculiarities of using sand for aquariums
There are no standards as such establishing the quality characteristics of aquarium sand. Here are recommendations from experts on maintaining mini-reservoirs:

1. To avoid caking, the mixture should be calibrated before installation. If this is not done, gases dangerous to fish - ammonia and hydrogen sulfide - may dissolve from the soil.
2. The particle size should be at the level of 1.5 mm; if it is finer, the oxygen exchange inside the layer will be disrupted and waste and feed will not be oxidized and processed. This can lead to contamination of the vessel, and it will have to be cleaned much more often.
3. The sand should not be limestone; this is harmful to the inhabitants of soft water.
4. You should collect the soil mixture yourself only from a clean reservoir and without foreign debris.
5. Although colored grains of sand look beautiful, they have significant disadvantages if they are colored. After all, paints may contain iron oxide, and this is detrimental to the inhabitants of the aquarium. And white primer, it is believed, should not be used - it reduces the brightness of the color of the fish.

So, quartz sand for an aquarium is well suited under certain conditions: it must be river sand of natural origin. And also variegated from the color of the minerals included in its composition and calibrated in size 1.5 mm. The goal is quite achievable, and putting some effort into selecting such a mixture for the well-being of aquarium inhabitants is worthwhile.

Types of soil for aquariums

How to select and treat soil

What materials can be used for soil?

What material to choose for the soil substrate? All materials from which the aquarium soil is made can be pure or mixed with additives. Peat can be added to sand or gravel, which improves the nutritional properties of the soil. Peat perfectly retains elements such as anions and cations; pure gravel does not have this ability.

Sand and gravel as substrates for aquariums are natural substrates that are also suitable for plants. The volume of fine gravel is from 2 to 5 mm, it has a low ability to retain nutritional components. Gravel works well to secure plant rhizomes and is placed on peat. Fine sand does not contain nutrients, absorbs them poorly, and disrupts gas exchange. Sand is best used with other substrates (cake, shell rock, clay). If a bottom filter is installed in the tank, fine sand will clog the equipment with dirt particles. It is better to use coarse river sand purchased from a trusted manufacturer. Do not choose sand of saturated colors - yellow and red. This substrate contains a large amount of iron, which is harmful to the fish.

Aquarium soil clay - clay contains inorganic components such as iron silicates and iron oxides. Some types of clay may have other components - copper, manganese, zinc, aluminum. They are required for plants, but in high concentrations they have toxic properties. A special property of clay is that it attracts positively charged ions of metals and salts. It also serves as an excellent fertilizer for vegetation.

Laterite is a tropical red earth composed of iron dioxides. Laterite can be used as a base layer for soil. Has a good ability to absorb nutrients.

Garden soil as soil for aquariums – garden soil contains many impurities. There is no guarantee that the land will be clean. There is a large amount of fertilizers and parasite cysts in the soil. It is oversaturated with nutritional components, due to which the glass tank will quickly fill with algae. The soil that is used for potted plants contains a lot of organic matter and peat; it can be mixed with gravel and sand as an additive.

Peat is needed to soften water. Consists of a mixture of organic fossils that are in a rotted state. Peat is added to aquariums where plants and fish that need humic acids live. In small concentrations, boiled peat is practically harmless.

Artificial plastic granules are a new type of substrate that can satisfy many aquarists. The granules come in a variety of shades, but a strong color may contrast too much with an underwater aquascape. Remember that the substrate should be chosen closer to its natural color: gray, black, red-brown, white. Fish with bright body colors will look great against such a background.

See how to care for quartz sand in an aquarium.

How to lay substrate on the bottom of an aquarium

Soils for aquariums should be laid in three layers:

1. The very bottom of the aquarium is lined with laterite or clay mixed with gravel (the thickness of the lower layer is from 3 to 5 cm). Clay balls can be added to laterite to provide nourishment for new, unadapted plants. Cables for heating the bottom must be laid in a glass tank in such a way that the glass is not damaged. Do not lay the heating cable in a shallow clay or sand substrate to avoid overheating.
2. The middle layer should be a little thinner - 3 centimeters, the substrate should be sand or gravel, which can be mixed with a small amount of boiled peat. It is recommended to place clay balls into the thickness of the middle layer.
3. The surface of the soil ball is lined with fine gravel mixed with sand, which prevents cloudiness of the water. On the top layer you can place decorative stones or corals, shells (if necessary). If the aquarium is inhabited by pets that dig the soil (catfish, cichlids, snails), then the top layer should be an order of magnitude thicker (5 cm), or the soil should be planted in pots along with broad-leaved plants.

How to perform a bottom siphon

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Varieties

Today, aquarium owners can choose one of the types of sand depending on its characteristics.

• River. This aquarium substrate has been used for a long time. According to some experts, this species is considered one of the best. You can not only buy river sand in a specialized store, but you can also collect it yourself on the river bank and then sift it.

• Nautical. For an artificial freshwater ecosystem, coarse sand collected from the seabed is a worthy option. Before sending it to the aquarium, the substrate should be thoroughly washed and sifted, thereby eliminating salt and other impurities. Plants and organisms grow and reproduce well on a regular substrate from the sea at the bottom of the aquarium. It is recommended to place “live” sand in a marine aquarium. This type of substrate may contain colonies of microorganisms from the sea.

Without going through the drying procedure, they quickly begin to establish water balance. In air, “living” sand quickly dies; therefore, it cannot be stored this way.

• Coral. Aragonite substrate is obtained by deposition of small remains of coral and mollusk. This sand contains a large amount of calcium, which increases water hardness. Coral chips can be purchased in various fractions, starting from the smallest. The best option for its application would be the seabed and pseudo-seabed, as well as an alkaline artificial ecosystem.

• White. Aquarium owners can decorate the tank with either white or colored sand. Since a given substrate can be of different origins, it has a different effect on the state of water in the ecosystem. White sand can be river, sea, aragonite, or quartz. Before using the substrate, you should carefully read the rules for its use.

• Black quartz. Due to the presence of ilmenite, magnetite, and hematite in the sand in different percentages, the sand acquires a black color.

There are no restrictions on the use of such a substrate; it does not contribute to changes in the characteristics of the aquatic environment. Unlike the white version, black favorably emphasizes the appearance of living creatures and plants against its background.

• Color. To decorate the interior of the aquarium in an original way, you can use colored sand. With its help, pets can get bright and unusual landscapes in the tank. Before purchasing colored sand, you should carefully study its features, thereby making sure that it is harmless to the inhabitants of the ecosystem. The shades of such a substrate can be very different; blue, red, marble, garnet, yellow, brown and purple are very popular.

Sand for aquarium

While admiring the swift fish and thoughtfully swaying aquatic plants, we sometimes forget that an aquarium is a real miniature ecosystem. And of great importance is the substrate covering the aquarium bottom, in which vegetation is fixed and microorganisms function. Both gravel and sand are popular as substrate for an aquarium; We will focus on the more natural of them, the second.

Sand in an aquarium as soil

The obvious advantages of sand as soil for an aquarium are its natural appearance and the fact that plants take root better when it is used. On the other hand, it is worth considering that in order to use river sand as a substrate in an aquarium, it must first be washed for a long time and thoroughly. In addition, debris will be clearly visible on the sand surface, and the aquarium will need to be cleaned quite often (although when covered in the form of sand, cleaning the aquarium is much easier - you can run a siphon over the bottom without even touching it).

It is not recommended to use exclusively white sand to decorate an aquarium - the fish turn pale against its background, which creates a general impression of depression and lethargy. The black color of sand, on the contrary, is considered more advantageous for creating a complete image - it successfully sets off the brightness and liveliness of the inhabitants of the aquarium. However, you can always experiment by combining several colors.

As for sparkling coral sand, despite its spectacular appearance, it is not suitable for every aquarium. It is used when it is necessary to increase the hardness and acidity of water due to its high lime content. The reason for such measures may be excessively soft water in the region or the preference of hard water by specific fish.

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Faction Features

Fractions are groups of sand that differ in the size of the sand grains. The following options are best suited for different inhabitants of the underwater world.

• If your main inhabitants are small fish, which every now and then try to burrow into the ground to hide there, your choice is small granules. They can be dust-like, and occupy no more than 1/10 of a millimeter, or slightly larger, but still easy for fish to dig. The best option for such creatures is quartz sand measuring 0.25 millimeters. In extreme cases, an option up to 0.5 mm will do.
• For larger fish the situation is completely reversed. They have no desire to hide in the ground; they do this in algae and special houses or do not hide at all. But small grains of sand, especially those with the ability to make the water cloudy, can easily get into the gills and cause various diseases, including the death of the fish. In this case, use sand grains of at least a millimeter. It is better to choose an option of 3-5 mm, you can also use river sand.
• The same goes for plants. The larger the grains of sand, the better the roots are washed by water, and the better the greens feel.

How to prepare soil for an aquarium

Nutrient soil: how to lay it correctly

Soil care. Types of soil

Before placing the soil substrate in the aquarium, it must be washed well under running water. Do not use chemicals or detergents. After washing, it is better to boil the soil for 60 minutes to destroy parasites and microbes in it. These days, common types of aquarium substrates are:

• Gravel: natural, light and dark;
• Red gravel;
• Gravel of large and small fractions;
• River sand;
• Fine sand;
• Pebbles of large, medium or small fraction.

Sand is the most common type of substrate for an aquarium with shrimp and small fish. Larger, burrowing fish can transport large fractions - gravel and pebbles. The main thing is that the fish cannot swallow the stone, otherwise it will have health problems.

How to make soil with your own hands, and where to get it? You don’t have to buy it, but find it in nature. If you know an area where there is environmentally friendly plant substrate, you can take it there. But before adding it to the aquarium, you will have to wash and process it for a long time.

1. River sand can be found near rivers and ponds.
   Take a sieve and wash the sand near the shore. The process takes a long time, but it's worth it. See how to make soil with your own hands.
2. Fine river sand. Excellent for aquarium plants, however, it clouds the water and accumulates waste, which is harmful to fish and shellfish.
3. Fine gravel. Usually there is a lot of it near roads, in parks, on the sidelines. If you look carefully for small pebbles, you can collect them in the right quantity. Don't look for gravel near major highways - it's too polluted there.
4. Lay each ball of substrate 3-6 cm high.
5. The ideal aquarium soil is coarse river sand, to which fertilizers have been added for plant growth.
6. Pea and red gravel are often used for decorative purposes.
7. During water changes, rinse the gravel and siphon its surface.
8. When pouring water into a new aquarium, place a plate under the sand substrate to prevent it from washing away.
9. Place a small amount of fertilizer (not chemical) under the roots of the plants.
10. If you have burrowing fish species, the plant roots should be firmly embedded in the gravel.

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Advantages and disadvantages

Like any soil, quartz sand has its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing this option is beneficial due to the appearance of the filler. With its color palette, it associatively sends us to natural colors and reminds us of pleasant sea walks. In addition, it goes well with any aquarium configuration.

The biochemical properties of quartz sand help produce carbon dioxide. An additional characteristic feature of this filler is its neutrality to any water . It doesn't add anything to the water chemistry, but it still helps filter out excess iron and manganese. However, there are situations when it is better not to use this type of sand. For example, if there are inhabitants in an aquarium who prefer to burrow deep under the ground.

The negative aspects include the following.

• Sand creates additional turbidity in the water. So use it with caution if you have frogs or other creatures that love to dig. They can dig into the ground and create clouds of mud in the water.
• Not all manufacturers offer a quality product.

Some unscrupulously replace it with a technical one, be careful.

Popular brands

You can find sand for aquariums from different manufacturers on sale. The most popular brands are:

1. EcoGrunt . White quartz sand. Sold packaged in 3.5 kg bags. The soil is sifted, washed and calibrated in size. Suitable for freshwater and marine ecosystems.
2. Barbus "Caribbean" . White quartz sand. Packaged in bags of 1 and 3.5 kg. Particle size – 0.4-1 mm. The soil is ready for use and does not require additional processing.
3. Dennerle . The manufacturer produces quartz soils for aquariums of different fractions and different colors, including artificially colored ones. It is recommended to wash them before use. The substrate does not contain limestone, so it can be used in aquariums whose inhabitants require soft water.