a little change

[bbortko]

4" Will be plenty of clearance unless you have a large fish who likes to kick up sand, for example I have 2 12" plecps that like to turn their tank into a snow globe. If you want live plants try anubis, Java fern, or a smaller sword, I've kept these with 2 different groups of silver dollars and never had a problem. Another bonus is that these plants are very undemanding when it comes to ferts and lighting.

 

[Crunchy]

In my experience, the poop stays on top of the sand, so I try to vacuum it all the time. As far as sand getting into the filter, it's going to happen. If the fish moves near the surface of the sand at all, some of it gets stirred into the water and the filter happily sucks it up. I clean out the HOB all the time, sometimes twice a week as the impeller does not like this at all and it starts to get loud.

 

[Inglorious]

Everyone could be lying to me when they say "Nice tank"

I've found the poop does then to just sit on the surface, but with a powerhead providing good water movement then it should all settle in one area making it much easier to vacuum up during water changes. In between changes I'll take my grabber and wave it just over the surface of the sand to get the poop back up into the water movement so the filters can pick more of it up for me.