"Djay" wrote in message
...
I used Play Sand from a local hardware store. It varied in size from dust
to grains about 2.5mm in diameter. I washed it very well and then washed
it
again and then one more time for good measure. 2 years now and not the
first sign of compacting. My deep rooted plants are doing fine and I can
easily push my finger (and fertilizer spikes) into the sand easily. I
feel
that it is the perfect "cheap" substrate.

DJay


I'm glad you had better luck than me. After only a couple months, my
sand-only attempt was packed so hard even the kuhli's wouldn't burrow in it.