well i decided to get sand a few weeks ago and i went to my builders merchants and i got dried kiln sand its really good sand and it looks amazing the only thing i didnt like as that the colour of the sand is really light and with having oscars in the set-up all the waste was really noticable, and you had to clean it all the time, it worked out a hell of alot cheaper than getting aquarium sand it was £4.24 a bag and there was 25 kg in the bag, and in my local fish suppliers he said that it was £12.99 for 8 kg which worked out a lot dearer than the builders sand, but make sure that you dont get sahrp sand as the fish can hurt there selves on this type,
i have taken my sand out because of its colour and that it was hard to keep clean
i am looking now for a darker coloured sand to replace the kiln sand

any ideas any1

i've read on another forum that some pool filter sand comes in black as well as white. it might be something to look into for a less expensive approach. if not the only other place i have found black sand was at the lfs and it was very expensive.

ashley1984 wrote:

QUOTE:
well i decided to get sand a few weeks ago and i went to my builders merchants and i got dried kiln sand its really good sand and it looks amazing the only thing i didnt like as that the colour of the sand is really light and with having oscars in the set-up all the waste was really noticable, and you had to clean it all the time, it worked out a hell of alot cheaper than getting aquarium sand it was £4.24 a bag and there was 25 kg in the bag, and in my local fish suppliers he said that it was £12.99 for 8 kg which worked out a lot dearer than the builders sand

Anything labeled aquarium tends to up the price loads. Rocks are a classic example, if you want a decent sized rock get them from a garden center as its loads cheaper (just make sure that they dont fizz when vinegar is put on it)

As we all have large tanks for our oscars it it worth noting that the stuff marks for ponds works out loads cheaper that the stuff labelled for fish tank, example dechlorinator and medications

hey all, this is my first time on your site here. so far so good, lots of good info. my input for sand is pool filter sand. thats all i ever used in my tanks.its cheap compaired to sand from your LFS. P.F.S. is around 6.00 U.S. dollars for a 50lbs. bag, and sand from the LFS around my hometown is about 20.00 U.S. dollars for a 20lbs bag. the Pool filter sand is the same grain size and it is nice and natural looking, sort of like beach sand. hope it this helps you out some.