| But the truth of the matter is that a sand bed in an | | | | that it is smooth and sifts easily. It is very easy to |
| aquarium can be very beneficial. First and foremost, | | | | clean during setup and maintenance, and it is available |
| sand provides fish with a more natural habitat, since | | | | very cheaply. |
| that is what is actually present in the beds of their | | | | 3. Coral sand - As the name suggests, coral sand is |
| seas and oceans. You will find your fish happier in the | | | | suitable for tanks that have corals as their inhabitants. |
| sand and even spawning in them, which could be a | | | | Since corals can change internal levels of the tank, |
| delight to watch. Sand is not very difficult to clean | | | | such as the nitrate levels and the pH values, |
| too, if one does it in the right way. In fact, using | | | | drastically, it is wise to use this sand. Coral sand has a |
| sand in an aquarium makes it look more real and the | | | | natural buffering action that can maintain the chemical |
| fish enjoy is more than a gravel bed. | | | | composition of tank water at optimal values. |
| Live sand is especially beneficial to the organisms in | | | | 4. Black beauty - Though this is not actually sand, it is |
| your tank. Live sand is biological sand. It is pre-seeded | | | | sold as such. Black beauty is actually solidified and |
| with certain microscopic organisms such as bacteria | | | | powdered iron slag. It adds a contrast to the tank |
| and algae. These organisms help to clean the water in | | | | and is good for esthetic reasons. But the sand |
| the tank and also produce the chemicals that are | | | | particles are sharp, so do not use this sand if you |
| present in natural habitat. Live sand can be very | | | | have fish that sift too much on the bed. Cleaning of |
| expensive, such as live aragonite sand, but it is a | | | | sand is a very important process, and must be done |
| very good option to have at the bottom of your | | | | in the right way. These are the steps you must |
| tank, since it will not require maintenance. Not only | | | | follow while cleaning sand:- |
| does live sand clean itself due to the organisms | | | | |
| present in it, but it will also contribute a major share | | | | 1. Take about two gallons of the sand in a capacious |
| in the internal cleaning of your tank. | | | | bucket. |
| There are many different types of sands available | | | | 2. With the help of a pipe, run water on the sand till |
| that can make good choices to your aquarium. The | | | | half the bucket is full. |
| following is a list of some of the sand types that are | | | | 3. Then drain out the supernatant water. This will |
| used:- | | | | contain many floating dust particles. |
| | | | 4. Put water again, and this time, sift through the |
| 1. Aragonite sand - Aragonite sand is the most | | | | sand. |
| expensive variety of sand available, and so it will not | | | | 5. Again pour out the water. |
| be a good choice for larger aquariums. However it | | | | 6. Continue this process till the water you pour out is |
| helps in the buffering of the water and is fantastic | | | | quite clear. Thus, it is very easy to clean the sand in |
| for keeping the tank at an optimal chemical condition. | | | | the tank, and that should not be a problem in |
| 2. Silica sand - Silica sand is common beach sand, and | | | | deciding to use it as a bed product for your aquarium. |
| it is very cheaply available. It is mainly composed of | | | | Sand does add quite a bit of grace and naturalness |
| silicon dioxide, SiO2, which is a natural | | | | to the tank, and fishes find it closer to their own |
| ingredient in sand. The plus points of this sand are | | | | natural surroundings. |