Matt B Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Has anyone used basic horticulture sand in an aquarium? I was at our local hardware/garden center and noticed it for sale, It looks like the perfect size for a little 3.7 gal that I want to set up. 🤔 I think I'm going to try it, and see what happens. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 I'd imagine it'd be fine as long as there are no additives. Let us know how it goes - may be interesting to use down the road! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 I've seen someone use bonsai akadama, but not the sand you've shown. Very interesting! It might be high in silicates or something and kick off a bunch of algae, but only time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 Made the choice of 'sand', I think of it more of a tiny gravel....When does it start to be considered sand? . Rinsed it, not bad, just a little dust and some organic material. Put some in the 3.7 and my Triops pool. Looks good to me in the 3.7 and the Triops love it! Dig Dig Dig. Weird little vernal pool critters. 😎 I'm already looking forward to trying the other, 'sand'. Slow down man! 🤣 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theplatymaster Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 @Matt Bshould be fine as long as it has no ferts or anything added to it. is there any savings compared to normal gravel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 @Theplatymaster I don't know. I did not compare prices. 🤔 I was honestly just looking for a size and color that I liked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theplatymaster Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 On 3/7/2023 at 9:42 AM, Matt B said: I was honestly just looking for a size and color that I liked ah, i thought this was some sort of budget thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 According to Geokansas The difference between sand and gravel is 1mm 🧐 Gravel begins at 3mm. Who knew! I like the grain size, It might be a good substitute for PFS. My Indoor Horticultural Sand is obtained by rinsing pea gravel in a kitchen colander. I'd gladly buy a bag. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 I use that exact sand mixed with pool filter sand! Love the grain size reminds me of the ACO sand from back in the day. I bought 4 bags on sale was like $12. Not bad price. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expectorating_Aubergine Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 I've used it. It's just smaller gravel. If you're using a lot, get it from a quarry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted March 7, 2023 Author Share Posted March 7, 2023 @Expectorating_Aubergine No quarrys here. . Only used half the bag for a 3.7 gal cube and a handfull for a Vernal Pool tray with Triops in it. I think I need a finer grain 'sand' in a small bowl for them to lay their eggs. 🤔 It's an on going experiment . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted March 8, 2023 Share Posted March 8, 2023 Wow triops is a trip down memory lane. Had that kit you get from walmart. Mine never lived longer than like 8 weeks. And my mom despised the “creepy water cockroaches” so that was just a one time experiment 😅 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted March 8, 2023 Author Share Posted March 8, 2023 @Biotope Biologist Reliving my childhood! When you see the box the kit comes in, you can understand why I've been told, "Those are obviously marketed for kids" ...What? It says for years 8+ . I'm way + 8..... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 The Triops seem to like the size of the sand and being in a tank rather than a tupperware tray. Strange little crustaceans, they eat carrots and fish pellets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 (edited) This video was suggested to me, so I searched in the forum here and found this thread! How awesome! This one here in the video looks pretty big. They remind me of horseshoe crabs. Edited March 30, 2023 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted April 5, 2023 Author Share Posted April 5, 2023 They do kind of look like tiny liitle horse shoe crabs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted April 7, 2023 Author Share Posted April 7, 2023 They start out very tiny and grow fast. I've been experimenting with different sand/gravel combinations to see what they do.(horticulture sands).. I came across a video the other day where a small container of very fine sand was placed in the tank, the Triops laid their eggs in it, the container was removed and the sand was dried. Apparently the eggs are incredibly strong and long lasting, . Anyway, the sand was added to water after a period of drying and the process started again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 On 4/7/2023 at 6:40 AM, Matt B said: They start out very tiny and grow fast. I've been experimenting with different sand/gravel combinations to see what they do.(horticulture sands).. I came across a video the other day where a small container of very fine sand was placed in the tank, the Triops laid their eggs in it, the container was removed and the sand was dried. Apparently the eggs are incredibly strong and long lasting, . Anyway, the sand was added to water after a period of drying and the process started again. Pretty neat. What is the lifespan of a triops? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted April 13, 2023 Author Share Posted April 13, 2023 The largest and longest lived Triops I've had, was 58 days. They are truly a unique creature and I'm hopeing to hatch the eggs they laid.🤞 It's always entertaining to see people's reactions to them. It's either, Whoa! What is that?! Or, Hey Triops! Cool, I had them as a kid! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 On 4/12/2023 at 11:35 PM, Matt B said: The largest and longest lived Triops I've had, was 58 days. They are truly a unique creature and I'm hopeing to hatch the eggs they laid.🤞 It's always entertaining to see people's reactions to them. It's either, Whoa! What is that?! Or, Hey Triops! Cool, I had them as a kid! I showed the video to my friend and that’s what she said. I remember those from when I was a kid! I never knew about them but I did have Sea Monkeys. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted April 13, 2023 Author Share Posted April 13, 2023 The first time I had heard of Triops, was just within the last few years. I was told about vernal pools in the Southwest deserts and the cool organisms they were finding after heavy rains. However, like you, I had Sea Monkeys ! And I'm pretty sure they and all the creatures we'd find as kids while playing in local creeks , has led me to this aquarium obsession! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A3M0N Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 And I've just spent the last half hour reading about triops. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 On 4/13/2023 at 10:06 AM, A3M0N said: And I've just spent the last half hour reading about triops. Half hour well spent! Hey @Matt B what do they eat? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt B Posted April 13, 2023 Author Share Posted April 13, 2023 What I have found that works well is .. fish foods! How convenient right? I've tried everything from crushing up Fancy guppy pellets and Krill flakes into powder for when they first hatch, to Hikari sinking pellets and carrot pieces when they are adults. They aren't picky. What's kind of cool, is when they get a hold of a piece of food, they'll swim upside down with it! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwcarlson Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 Triops actually got me *back* into fish keeping. I bought some eggs and a 10 gallon tank to start them in. I got a bunch to hatch, but they didn't seem to grow. In any event, I cleaned out the 10 gallon and empty tank syndrome didn't last too long. 😄 Forgot to add: regarding sand and/or gravel. If the goal is to save some money on inert substrate - Home Depot has plenty of options as long as you're willing to rinse a lot. Which isn't that big of a deal, really. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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