Undergravel heater, sand and flourite

Mark Newcomb · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

Hi;
I have a 125 gallon for which I purchased a Dupla undergravel heater. I was
about to add flourite (my favorite substrate), when I looked at Peter
Hiscock's Aquarium Designs. On page 29 hes says that you "must" use silver
sand to cover the cables.

Does anyone knnow if I do need silver sand as a bottom layer?

Thanks

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>plants

Richard Sexton · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 210

In article ,
Mark Newcomb wrote:
>Hi;
>I have a 125 gallon for which I purchased a Dupla undergravel heater. I was
>about to add flourite (my favorite substrate), when I looked at Peter
>Hiscock's Aquarium Designs. On page 29 hes says that you "must" use silver
>sand to cover the cables.
>
>Does anyone knnow if I do need silver sand as a bottom layer?

The original Dupla book which shows the cable installation in several
places doesn't mention silver sand at all and doesn't mention anything
in particular with gravel other than don't use fine sand which packs
too tightly.

Don't sweat it.

--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Mark Newcomb · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

Thanks - I just didn't want to get it done and then find out I messed up.
It is appreciated.

Mark
"Richard Sexton" wrote in message $mh4$7@news.datemas.de...
> In article ,
> Mark Newcomb wrote:
>>Hi;
>>I have a 125 gallon for which I purchased a Dupla undergravel heater. I
>>was
>>about to add flourite (my favorite substrate), when I looked at Peter
>>Hiscock's Aquarium Designs. On page 29 hes says that you "must" use
>>silver
>>sand to cover the cables.
>>
>>Does anyone knnow if I do need silver sand as a bottom layer?
>
> The original Dupla book which shows the cable installation in several
> places doesn't mention silver sand at all and doesn't mention anything
> in particular with gravel other than don't use fine sand which packs
> too tightly.
>
> Don't sweat it.
>
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
> Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

BarrReport · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 55

Mark Newcomb wrote:
> Hi;
> I have a 125 gallon for which I purchased a Dupla undergravel heater. I was
> about to add flourite (my favorite substrate), when I looked at Peter
> Hiscock's Aquarium Designs. On page 29 hes says that you "must" use silver
> sand to cover the cables.
>
> Does anyone knnow if I do need silver sand as a bottom layer?
>
> Thanks

Heating cables do not do anything, you wasted your $$. You might feel
better spending more on your tank, but these do not help plant growth
in anyway.

I've used them for 10 years on 7 different tanks.

They do not do anything.
Tropica, one of the largest growers of aquatic plants also agrees.

So..........

Regards,
Tom Barr