Where would YOU get the gravel/rocks for a 55 long?

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First picture the tanks being filled,
second the tank is full, I was cleaning the glass (:


Ok heres my issue, im not by any means prepared to throw $50 into ROCKS for my tank!
I have several that would be ok for like decor for on top of the tiny gravel, but I wanted to ask..


Where do YOU get your gravel/rocks ? How much do you pay?
Pictures would be cool just to keep this thread light n_n


But seriously, Id love some good suggestions!

I use play sand in my 65g African and 20g Mayan with no problems the only issue with play sand is that it has to be washed completely if not you will get cloudy water. also it was 2.50 for a 50pond bag at home depo, very cheap

and yes the tank looks unbalance that is a tank breaker issue. Lots of water on the floor?

pfs or playground. I guess it all then boils down to: are you going to put plants in it. playground has no requirements for consistency which means you'll have grains of every different sizes. This will allow for compaction that the pfs won't encounter. The pfs has a requirement to allow water to pass thru it for a suggested 5 year cycle. There will be less demand within an aquarium than a swimming pool. A planted tank will require that the substrate have a free exchange of water throughout, which is a requirement for plants. I paid 10.00 for 50 lbs and still have 20 lbs left over from my 55 g fill. When I redo the 55 with soil/sand, I'll probably have to pull 5-8 lbs out.. So net it's $5.00 worth of sand. And I know what's in it!.. My tank is loaded with well over $100.00 in plants and when it's ready for the Discus, I'll be adding about $200.00 in stock. I'd go with the extra $2.50 to protect that investment.

Thanks everyone! Ill be reading all these comments soon, lots on my plate today,

Just curious what the will happen with a slightly tilted tank?
Its barley noticeable in person, I appreciate the eagle eye who spotted it xD
Now im all worried as its the only place I have room for the tank. -sigh-

Put some coasters under one end of the tankstand... or a very thin piece of board...If you have access to a level and straight edge. Place the straight edge across the length of the tank.. then the level on top of that. It looks like your dropping 1/2 or more inches across the length. then lift the end of the straight edge until you see the bubble in the level dead center. Take note of how high you had to lift the straight edge off the low end of the tank. That is the thickness of shims under the tank legs... via either a board or coasters.

The unbalance puts more pressure on the low side. It's doubtful that that level of slope will cause you any problems but.. better safe than sorry. Bill

wow, perhaps it was just the picture?


Just told the boyfriend about it, and he wanted to check,
and he said its balanced perfect :o

The bubbles are right where they should be,
weird!
The water looks level to me right now too, so im guessing just the picture!
-crosses fingers-

It's the picture, the one with the cat. If you look at the top you can see the top edge of the tank isn't level or parallel with the top of the photo. However, the water level is parallel with the bottom frame of the tank. So the picture was just taken off kilter.

But now I do see the second picture, wow that's goofy.

Haha I do appreciate it being brought up though, at least I know now (:

so all in all if i plan on having a few plants in my tank would the PFS be better then the playgound sand? Man if this is so its going to save me a ton of money this weekend when i was planning on buying "white aquarium sand" GOD i love this forum!!! learn new stuff every day i tell ya!!

I'd go with PFS. I've never tried play sand, but PFS rinses clean very easily. I put 20-25 lbs in a 5g bucket, fill the bucket from a high-pressure hose, dump the water, and repeat five or six times.

I've never felt the need to rinse pool filter sand... The manufacturer does a pretty good job prior to packaging. Research "How to replace the sand in your swimming pool filter" or something along those lines and no where does it indicate the need to rinse. I'm sure they no more want a cloudy swimming pool due to their product than you'd want a cloudy tank!.. I know the volumes of water are way different but then again their water pumps are a bit more critical/expensive. Bill

Really? I get foamy, cloudy junk in the first two rinse buckets every time. It may be a difference in manufacturer. I'm getting mine in a plain, white plastic bag from a pool supply on Midlothian Turnpike. They get about $12-$13 for a 50lb bag. What are you paying?

10 bucks for 50 lbs. just off hull street.. south on Genito I think it is.. Manufacturer : Lighthouse and in a clear bag... Bill

Correction.. Courthouse rd. Just south of Hull St. Rd. Pretty close to you!

That's cheaper and closer. What's the name of this place?

Clearwater Pools & Supply... 50 yds south of Hull on Court...on the right... cute looking girl working the last time i was there!.. Of course being an old fart like me.. it's sorta like a dog chasing a car.. the car stops what's the dog going to do with it! <grin>

williemcd wrote:

Of course being an old fart like me.. it's sorta like a dog chasing a car.. the car stops what's the dog going to do with it! <grin>

He asks his younger friends for hints!

LOL

UPDATE GUYS! Whooo

Sadly I had to settle for 'play sand'
I was very disappointed, but it was either that or 'all purpose sand'
Now I didn't disregard everything said here, Just a very limited selection.
I tried walmart, pool place then lowes.

The all purpose sand was VERY questionable. It had what looked like metal mixed in.
And the play sand was a lovely color and smaller grains/looked cleaner.


I will be washing it all day today xD
I also got 2 different kinds of slates to use for the angels to lay the eggs on!

Hope it works out for you! Be sure to take some pictures when you get done setting it up!

kudos! what were your opinions about the pool sand? I'm thinking of pool sand for my next tank.

Im draining the tank before I clean the sand.



Im also boiling a slate I got yesterday for my breeder angels

Hey Fishface,
I would suggest it! I would have bought that sand had I found it!
But im expecting my air pump soon, and the second I get it im setting the tank up! xD

Taylor wrote:

Hey Fishface,
I would suggest it! I would have bought that sand had I found it!
But im expecting my air pump soon, and the second I get it im setting the tank up! xD

Wow, you couldn't find PFS? What's your ZIP?

28401

And I looked at one of the local pool supplies but they only had sand that had chlorine in it? Or something along those lines and it was $25 for 50 pounds

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