Substrate mixing question

This is where you discuss the conditions of your crabitat -- temperature, humidity, substrate, decorating, etc.
User avatar

curlysister
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 3864
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by curlysister » Wed Apr 24, 2019 11:41 pm

Is this what you are using?

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... arium-sand

Is the Top Fin white, like a gravel, small stones?

I am thinking these may be too coarse?
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

User avatar

aussieJJDude
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4998
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by aussieJJDude » Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:32 am

wodesorel wrote:Most people use 5 parts sand to one part eco-earth. That's probably why yours is drying out so quickly! It also depends on the aquarium sand, not many are made of silica, like play sand. They tend to be calcium sand, or are coated with paint or epoxy.

One 50 pound bag of sand, added to a half or whole brick of EE works well, and is about 5:1.
In my area, many aquarium sands - besides coral sand - is made out of quartz, which have the added benefit of being totally inert and not leading to diatoms like silica does.

Dunno if its the same in the US, but you'd think it be?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk


|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||

"She’s there, she’s upright, and she’s wigged" ~ Trixie
Infrequently on due to studies


BettaCrew
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:45 am
Location: Central Texas

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by BettaCrew » Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:28 am

I have a very fine sand. No gravel.


BettaCrew
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:45 am
Location: Central Texas

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by BettaCrew » Thu Apr 25, 2019 1:11 pm

The top fin and super naturals are both very fine sands. I'm guessing I should have used play sand all along. Poo.

User avatar

wodesorel
Tech Support
Tech Support
Posts: 10552
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Leetonia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by wodesorel » Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:07 pm

aussieJJDude wrote:
Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:32 am
In my area, many aquarium sands - besides coral sand - is made out of quartz, which have the added benefit of being totally inert and not leading to diatoms like silica does.

Dunno if its the same in the US, but you'd think it be?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Many US aquarium sands are epoxy coated so they are made to be inert, or painted to make them more colorful. (So are almost all gravels, even natural looking ones.) It's not always declared on the labels either. They might not be a huge deal in an aquarium, but being scrapped around while mixing and then by the crabs could easily start flaking the coatings. Uncoated and unpainted sand and gravel tends to be limited to the araginites, but I even bought a bag of that online that turned out to have been dyed pink! The word 'natural' mean nothing unless confirmed with the company it has not been coated.

The supernatural are still all uncoated, but the sand tends to be extremely fine which leads to other issues like compaction.
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram


BettaCrew
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:45 am
Location: Central Texas

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by BettaCrew » Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:21 pm

Would mixing in a batch or two of the play sand/EE mixture rectify the situation? (Play sand 5:EE 1)


BettaCrew
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:45 am
Location: Central Texas

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by BettaCrew » Fri Apr 26, 2019 5:26 pm

Is Quikrete Premium Play Sand the right stuff to use?

User avatar

curlysister
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 3864
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: Substrate mixing question

Post by curlysister » Fri Apr 26, 2019 9:46 pm

Yes, Quickrete is correct!
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

Post Reply