So, I have always used tan sand, and Im not a big fan of white sand, except in salt tanks.

I have a 55G I am setting up, have packed soil under substrate, as I will have many live plants and will be using sand for top sub, but can't decide on white or desert sand.

I have 100 lbs of the white already, but before I go putting it in, would love your help on deciding to use it or just go get tan!


If anyone has used white sand in a freshwater, or has any links to great photos, I would love to see them.

Thanks in advance!

I really like white sand but one down side is that algae/dirt and pretty much anything in your tank makes it look filthy. Cleaning it once a week is no big deal but you notice any build up faster. This is both a good and bad thing... good if you want a visual indicator on when to clean and bad if you don't like it clean haha

Depending on what type of fish you are going to keep can determine the color to use as well. Many flashy fish with blues and such seem to contrast a darker bottom even more so if they live in the middle to bottom of the tank.

A white bottom IMO makes a tank look brighter and help illuminate dark spots in the bottom of the tank.

All in all it is personal preference.

I like play sand, since it seems to strike a balance between white and tan. If you don't sift through it and get the larger bits out then you get a more uniform light tan. If you leave it be eventually the larger grains will rise to the top and it gives it a very natural look.

It is entirely personal preference. I have white sand in my 150 frontosa tank and it shows every little speck of dirt. I also have it in my leleupi tank, but that is because the lighter the rocks and substrate are, the brighter orangey-yellow these fish appear. Over darker substrate they start looking like they've been smeared in coal dust. I have play sand in my planted SA cichlid tank and I think it looks very natural, and it holds plants well, but can become compacted if you don't keep it stirred. I am a big fan of pool filter sand as well for a tan natural look.

I have black Estes sand in another tank and it does not seem that great for plants in that it does not pack down, but constantly shifts and stays loose, which is good for preventing anaerobic spots but it tends to slide off the crown of the plant base.

I had play sand in my tank and hated it compared to my all white sugar sand. Ill post pics of my freshwater African tank here in a bit for you but stick to the white.

here was the ugly pool filter sand i had


here is what my tank looks like today with white sugar sand

That sugar sand does look like some kind of tropical paradise lol. Very nice I was on a beach in St Lucia that had sand looking pretty close to that.

My plan is to go with pool filter sand but that sugar sand does look nice. I have no experience with sand bottom so Im glad this was posted.

[quote="reid429"]here was the ugly pool filter sand i had

here is what my tank looks like today with white sugar sand


Great photos, thanks! now youve made it harder on me, I like both lol great looking fish

this is some sand I dug out of my yard in fl

......before that I went to Hawaii and saw the black sand.It definitely brings out the blue color on the Cyphotilapia Frontosa,it's fins dont look as good w/ white sand.I does look good and dont forget the salt & peppa.