SAND OR GRAVAL?

[Charles d]

IS HARD TWO CLEAN SAND? HAVE GRAVAL RIGHT KNOW BUT THINKING OF CHANGING TO SAND. ANY TIPS OR IDEAS. HOW DO SWITCH AN ALREADY ESTABISHED TANK.:mwave:

[iamzrad]

HOW DO SWITCH AN ALREADY ESTABISHED TANK.:mwave:

You don't.
:D

[smpage]

do a search for sand and a whole heaping helping of informative threads will pop up!

[Austin]

IS HARD TWO CLEAN SAND? HAVE GRAVAL RIGHT KNOW BUT THINKING OF CHANGING TO SAND. ANY TIPS OR IDEAS. HOW DO SWITCH AN ALREADY ESTABISHED TANK.:mwave:

i prefer sand

You don't.
:D

why is that? i have done it at least a half dozen times...

do a search for sand and a whole heaping helping of informative threads will pop up!

:iagree:

[Bre]

I just recently switched from sand to gravel as well. I love the look the sand gives. It is a little harder to clean as your not just jabbing the gravel vac into the gravel, it is a little more precise but I wouldn't say hard. My tank was already well established as well, what I did was take all the fish out of the tank then scooped all the gravel out.(it makes it easier if for a little while before you take gravel out here and there so you don't have to do it all at once) I had the sand all rinsed and ready to go, so once I removed all the gravel I put the sand in. I kept my filters off for a little bit trying to let the sand settle a bit. I actually used a very fine argonite and even though rinsed very well it clouded up my tank horribly at first. I ended up using my filters to clear it, it took a day or so but now is awesome and I don't have any issues.

[mike dunagan]

a new kitty litter scoop works well to remove gravel. A net will help too, but the net will be torn up. Then do a good vac of the barebottom, and do as above states.

[LeahisAwesome]

Never thought of a new kitty litter scoop.
Good idea!!

Ive always used a strainer.

[LeahisAwesome]

Ohhh and IMO a pillow case is the easiest way to rinse sand.
Also putting in the tank is easier that way too.
Ive yet to have a cloudy tank this way.
Although im sure it also depends on the type of sand you use.

[smpage]

mutliple sized spoons and some elbow-greased perseverance got the job done for me!

[junglej]

im a big fan of sand, i have it in all of my tanks except my 75g. When i vaccum the sand, i attatch a wood dowel to my siphon tube and just stir up the sand a bit. A small amount of sand sometimes gets sucked up but the sand is affordable to replace. I spent 125 on gravel for my 75g and 20 on sand for my 55g,2-29g,20g, and 2-10g.

[Charles d]

thankx guys whats the best and affortable sand two use for a 210 gallon tank how many bags should i use

[mike dunagan]

pool filter sand, then figure how deep you want the sand bed. is this 6 or 8fter?

[LeahisAwesome]

I was told the carribean sand is good to use for africans
cuz its basically crushed coral.

But cheapest would be pool filter sand.
You get it by the 50lb bag usually..
ive seen it run from 11$ - 15$ a bag.

[mike dunagan]

8 a bag around here

[NOLAGT]

I would like 1" in a 8'x2' 240...how much sand?

[mike dunagan]

two-three bags 50lb bags.

[NOLAGT]

Thanks....now I just need to find someone who will ship 3m s grade...the 3M site directs to me someone close but they are going out of business and they dont have black...just purple and maybe some smoke for 5$ for 50lb bag. I want black....

As for this thread...I like sand...I have done the gravel thing and sand looks much better. Not to mention I think since the sand grain is so small it keeps the poop from working its way into the gravel. So if you have good current in your tank it should get sucked up by the mech filters.

[frontosablkrhom]

i found a dustpan works good to get gravel out just clean it good first. i made a couple tanks bare bottom this way and it was really fast.. that pillow case idea is cool for cleaning sand...

[fcampbel]

I never thought of the pillow case I will have to try it and the litter scoop is also a good suggestion. I learn a lot on these forums. Thanks for all the help and I hope that as I get better I can help others as well.

[Charles d]

today somebody made an idea would sand blasting sand work? any body know?