Thanks to Sas and Teresa's help, my boyfriend and I got a whole new look to our 90 gallon freshwater today. We took out our rock substrate, and replaced it with Sand. We used 100 pounds of play sand. 2 bags at ONLY $2.49 a piece at Menard's. Washed it tons and tons of times. After about 4 hours of washing it, we then removed the rock, and put the sand in. It looks amazing! The fish are doing great.
I have a ton of live plants in our tank, to add to the decor. We have this hill behind us with decent sized rocks, so we went and grabbed those, boiled them, then rinsed them good, scrubbed them too.
The tank looks amazing! Only spent $5 and it's a whole new tank. Later on when the tank clears up I will add some before and after pics. Probably tomorrow I don't see it being cmpletely clear tonight.
One question---now what to keep the sand algae free. I DO use tap water for this tank. I know, you all are going to say to use R/O. BUT--what should I get to keep the top of the sand clean, looking like Sas and Teresas? Chinese algae eaters? More loaches? What do you all think? Thanks!