Habitat - Indoor :: Sand FAQ

[Fernando77]

I read that sand is not very suitable for turtles because besides the risk of them eating the sand. there is the problem of sucking sand filter, that can be now very common that turtles enough to agitate the water.

Actually my initial idea was to use a post under the aquarium and have no substrate. But the shop where I ordered my aquarium I have not explained it. They like the aquarium using a bottom substrate. Not cleaned up the leftover silicone bottom and bottom contours. When the aquarium was cycling put my turtle for a while there, he was try to play these remnants of silicone even tried to bite some. So I used the slate tiles, to cover these leftover silicone.
Sand I had not even considered because of the risk of eating turtle or damage the filter. These are my fears of using only sand.

My idea with the slate tiles on sand seeks to minimize such situations as the slate tiles will cover 99% of the fund. would have very little sand apparent (only 0.5 cm in maximum along the walls of the aquarium).

[steve]

Of the many people who have been using sand, only one has had to take it out due to a turtle constantly eating it. If you use it, you need to observe your turtle (and it's feces) to make sure he/she isn't eating a lot of it.

I sympathize with your situation. My turtle has also nibbled the silicone to the extent that I had to reseal it. Covering the bottom might help, but sides will still be exposed. I'd just try some sand it you're willing or keep it bare and add a few large river rock.

[Fernando77]

Friends, I am thinking of using this sand:

- Black sand for use in freshwater aquariums

General characteristics:
-Already clean and ready for use (no need to rinse)
-Special for all types of aquariums
-Inhibitor of algae, incredible visual
-Unlike the basalt, this sand is spherical, made ​​especially for use in aquariums
-Can be used as inert layer in planted as well as decorations for all types of aquariums
-Particle size of 1.5 mm to 2 mm,
-Inert, do not alter pH
-Excellent against algae, dirt and prevents formation of algae on it
-Tested and approved for stationary use in all types of tanks

Some links with pictures of sand. Do not confuse the black sand with the substrate for planted aquariums, the black sand is always on top:
http://aqualinea.com.br/home/2011/02/substrato-amazonia-e-black-blue-confira-montagens-realizadas-pela-aqualinea/
http://www.aquaonline.com.br/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26950
http://www.aquaflux.com.br/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3978
http://www.aquaflux.com.br/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9088

What do you think?

[steve]

They look very nice, but I would imagine you're paying a huge premium for something that might not work out.

[Fernando77]

I still have the old aquarium (4.5 gallons). Can I buy a small pot of sand and let the turtle for a few days in the old aquarium with sand. If all goes well I'll buy a big bag of sand and put in the aquarium today. My doubt is about the size of the sand. I need a finer sand or black sand that is fine enough.

Still on the use of sand. Searching I saw several aquariums with sand, but all with small turtles. I do not remember seeing any with adult turtles. In aquariums with adult turtles that I saw, almost everyone has river stones and some had nothing at the bottom.
But I can not leave the empty background because of the silicon burrs left on the bottom. I have to cover it because my turtle ever tried to eat it. The problem with using large stones are the size of the aquarium and they accumulate a lot of dirt.

I'm praying she would not be interested in the sand, eating sand if she'll need to take a drastic measure: Maybe buy mortar and put in the definitive slate tiles on the bottom of the aquarium. But I do not know if this can damage the aquarium.

[steve]

Learning to reseal it would also be an option. It's not complicated but can be time consuming.

[Fernando77]

I tried to use the sand in the old aquarium. Did not work, Walle soon began to dig in the sand, threw sand everywhere . He seemed very happy doing it, but not like I have let him do that in large aquarium.

I'll try to leave the bottom of the aquarium with nothing. I'll just put some big rocks where there is more silicone burr. Not to be white styrofoam appearing'll put a panel (with the image of rock I think) under the aquarium. This weekend I must make this change.

I bought some large stones of granite, they are black and white. I searched the internet and one did not see anything negative about their use in aquariums. but it never hurts to ask. It's okay to use granite?

But although the sand did not work out I'm very happy. Walle already making the position of super-man in the basking area. He jumps into the water you hear a noise or someone appears in the room. But I was watching it for about 5 minutes without him seeing me, when I saw jumped into the water. I do not know if he jumped scared or come ask for food. Anyway I am glad he is already getting accustomed to the new aquarium.

[slider_keeper]

My personal opinion is that sand is the best substrate for our turtles.

[slider_keeper]

You do understand that sliders and most other water turtles dig in the sand! This is their natural substrate in the wild. It is the best way to give them the surrounding they will enjoy most. He seemed happy because he was happy to have the sand. If you want your turtle to act natural, you have to give him/her the natural habitat they would experience in the wild.

[PridgNYC]

Agreed, sand is the best, the first couple days, they will nibble at it, and dig, but they are just getting used to the environment, and customizing it to their liking. Mine has completely rearranged the pattern of hills and valleys in the sand along with the decorations, but now he pretty much leaves it alone. Pool filter sand is the best, consistent grain size and doesn't create clouds when he digs. I have not had an issue with sucking sand into the filter.

[sn47ch8uckl3r]

I have a 55 gallon tank with two slider and 3 pelcos (with a few minnows) also a 55/75 gallon filter and a 50 gallon filter running. Do you think it could handle like 1/2 of the bottom being sand or would it grow algea fast? I have a dock that sits on top of the tank so the light doesnt shine directly into it

[PridgNYC]

If you have the right conditions for algae to grow, it will grow whether there is sand or not, sand has no influence on the growth of algae. That said, why would you only want to cover half the bottom? If you put any sand in there, your turtles will rearrange it to suit them, so you are better off putting in a nice, thick (2-3") layer across the entire bottom.

[Listen97]

I was using sand and stopped for two reasons. First was the filters, it killed my first canister's motor and so I got a pond pump (figuring it would handle dirt/sand better) and converted the canister to work with it. Within a 6 months it killed that pump and I had to replace it as well. The second was the waste from the turtles. While everyone shows the nice clean new sand, I had issues with waste becoming mixed in with the sand (even with regular cleanings). It seemed like the turtles digging and moving the sand kept covering the waste. If I recall I had maybe 2" of sand as substrate.

Something Fernando77 mentioned as well is everyone seems to have smaller turtles (3-5") with sand not full size (8-12"). Larger turtles I would think would lead to more sand being kicked up. I'd hate to consider how far away the intake would have to be to prevent excess sand from going in but also close enough to gather waste. I'm just trying to think of things to do with the base as with everyone else finally getting tired of the bare bottom again.

Anyone with larger turtles have any ideas or experience with sand. Anyone with sand have the waste issues with it mixing, I'd figure eventually it would be like sand in a natural pond just a mix of waste, sand, and decayed plants. With a 100+ gal tank I'd hate to have to dig out all the sand and replace it every few months.

[PridgNYC]

I've had sand (pool filter sand) in my tank for almost a year and haven't had any issue with waste build up in the sand or sand being sucked into the intake. Pool filter sand is pretty heavy and has a consistent grain size, so even when my turtle digs, it just immediately settles back to the bottom. If any waste does get buried, it'll be taken care of by the beneficial bacteria that colonize the sand.

[Listen97]

PridgNYC what size turtles do you have. When I was using it my turtles were almost full grown. I have 2 females they were probably 8-10" at the time. I'm thinking larger turtles more waste, etc. I haven't looked at pool sand I was using the Quickcrete Playsand from Lowe's. Have you compared the two?