Sand substrate, or no substrate

[nina]

About the heavy pool-filter sand: I Googled it and I couldn't find it. There is only "artificial alternative" for pool-filter sand. This does not sound like it would be good for axolotls. This is the only sand I could find:

http://www.fairmountminerals.com/interior.asp?page=PoolFilterSand&category=Markets&level1=Pool

It is sold only in places far away from where I live, and it would be really expensive to ship. I called the local hardware stores, but they had never heard of it. All they had was play-sand. Would regular sand work?

Sand seems like it has some problems:
1. It would be a lot of work to clean, even if the waste could be sucked off the top with a turkey-bastor, because some food and poo would mix with the sand, no matter how heavy the sand was.
2. The filter might get clogged if the axolotls stirred it up, right?
3. I can't find the right kind of sand!

My axolotls have been doing fine without substrate for a year. If there are a lot of plants in the tank with rocks to hold them down (one rock on each plant) could this create enough friction for axos to walk on? This is the set-up I have currently. The axos do slip-and-slide a little when they walk on the glass-floor, but I have three more plants to put in and I can get even more. Please let me know your thoughts on this!

Thanks so much!
gecko1

 

[jennifer]

This post was moved here from elsewhere.

 

[jennifer]

In my opinion, you don't need substrate. The animals get used to the bare tank bottom, and I don't see any harm in it. Many of my tanks are this way.

Regarding pool filter sand, you can buy it at swimming pool/spa stores. These are usually small shops that you would never notice if you don't have a pool, but if you check your Yellow Pages, I'll bet there is one nearby. It does not clog filters, as it's heavy enough to stay down, even with active axies. It can be cleaned with a siphon with a gravel-washing attachment (photo here: http://www.caudata.org/cc/images/faq/siphons.jpg).

Play sand can be used, but it requires a lot more rinsing to get rid of fine material that can cloud the water.