A few questions on sand (first time using it)

[Swiftwater]

I am planning on using sand for the first time in my 20 gallon long, I have a few questions that I would like to ask

First, am I supposed to add the sand after I cycle the tank or at the start/during of the cycle?

Will the sand mess up my power filters and my sponge filter?

I heard that if you use sand that it soon develops pockets of deadly gas that will kill your fish and beneficial bacteria once released, is this true?

Does sand hold more or less beneficial bacteria than if I used gravel?, or is it the same?

Final question, what kind of sand would you recommend?

 

[NotoriousSway]

1. I would add the sand at the beginning it takes a couple of days for the water to clear completely from the sand. Make sure you rinse it thoroughly! The more you rinse it the less time it will take to clear up.

2. Yes, if the sand gets in the power filter it get in between the impeller and the motor and will eat away the magnet on the impeller and motor housing. Make sure the filter is OFF when you add the sand. Your sponge filter will be fine.

3. I have MTS "malaysian trumpet snails" they live in the sand and dig around in it, eating debris and stirring up the sand. Most people dont like them and even consider them pests. Do your research it you decide to get them because one you get them its hard to get rid of them.
If you are worried about it you can always just stick a pole down in the water and gently stir the sand to get the rid of the pockets of gas. Some else could probably answer this better than me.

4. I Dont Know? I think it might be better, more surface area?

5. Get pool filter sand AKA silica sand. Its white, cheap, pure and inert. Like I said before just make sure you rinse it good. Other sands like play sand has clay in it and it is hard to clean.

 

[andres]

I would add your sand before you start to cycle. And as Notorious said, I would make sure to get pool filter sand. My pool filter sand has never made my tank cloudy, and when stirred up it settles very quickly.

The gas pockets thing may be true, but I think it is unlikely unless your tank is overstocked. If your sand gets moved around, I don't think this is really possible either.

 

[Acipenser]

I just added 50 lbs of 35-60 silica to my 75 gallon ( sand blasting media) got it for $10, I rinsed it forever and it still clouded up my tank, I quickly did a 90% water change and it still took 24 hours of running the filters to get the cloudiness out .

 

[Swiftwater]

acipenser what kind of filters do you use? I thought the sand would ruin your filters?, or do you have something to filter out the sand?

 

[NotoriousSway]

acipenser what kind of filters do you use? I thought the sand would ruin your filters?, or do you have something to filter out the sand?

He is talking about the silica dust. It seems no matter how much I rinse I still clouds the water. The silica "sand" will ruin your filter but also in the sand there is super fine silica dust that clouds up the water. It is OK and normal. Your filter will eventually filter it out without any harm.

BTW I get mine at Menards For about $5 per 50 pound bag. Its called "Handy Sand"