Hey everyone. I'm thinking of changing the dark green gravel in my 240 gallon tank to pool sand. I've never used sand before and I love the clean look of sand. I know sand takes more work to keep clean because food shows up very well on the sand and also dirt can show up on different layers of the sand. My question is, I have 2 oscars as well as other fish in the tank but oscars are the main culprit. They are messy eaters and poop all the time. I feed all the fish in the tank dry food (shrimp pellets, Hikari Pellets and Hikari Food Sticks. When the fish eat the red Hikari pellets, pieces of it usually fall to the ground and also the fishes red poop shows up as well. That's the only thing keeping me from changing to sand. Can anyone give my some advice? The Doctor.
Another Sand Question
- Thread starter Dr_Shakalu
- Start date
I would get a bottom feeder to clean up after them and also buy a powerhead aiming it at the bottom of the tank! This way the extra yucky stuff will be swept up and sucked in by your filter.
I have Black Sand in one tank and Pool Filter Sand in the other. I don't really notice the waste in the Pool Filter Sand as much as the black Sand obviously. I think that the Pool Filter Sand will "hide" more than colored sand, if that's what you're asking.
I just switched to pool filter sand when I got bichirs and I really like it. The only thing I'd be worried about with it is your oscars digging and throwing it into the water column. It does have rather large grains so they sink quickly, but if an oscar spit a mouthful right at a filter intake some would probably get sucked up
Gr8KarmaSF;2099345; said:
I have a large pleco and an ornate bichir on the bottom. The waste from the pleco is as bad as the oscars. Since I lost my 23inch aro, I have room to add another fish. Do you have any suggestions about a bottom feeder that won't poop alot and add to the problem. I think I'm going to try your suggestion about having a current aimed at the bottom of the tank. I have a sump but I also use 2 canisters. I can extend the tube of the outgoing water and aim it across the sand. I'll try it with my gravel and if it works, I'm going to use the pool sand. Wish me luck, The Doctor.
visible leftover food and waste is a bonus. everytime I look at my tank, I think "man, I gotta vacuum" I vacuum my tank at least twice as often as I did before, and the vacuuming is more effective. Its a bit of an eyesore sometimes, but its quick and easy to do a spot vac (especially before company comes over).
pool filter sand is so cheap ($4 for a 50lb bag), also, that I just vacuum it like I would gravel. every once in a while a lot gets sucked up at once, but that's alright. The way I see it, the particles that are small/light enought to get sucked up are the ones that would eventually clog my filter, anyway. its cheap enough to replace.
when I add more sand, I'm gonna use my python (just on syphon, no faucet pressure) to clean it. I should of done that in the first place.
pool filter sand is so cheap ($4 for a 50lb bag), also, that I just vacuum it like I would gravel. every once in a while a lot gets sucked up at once, but that's alright. The way I see it, the particles that are small/light enought to get sucked up are the ones that would eventually clog my filter, anyway. its cheap enough to replace.
when I add more sand, I'm gonna use my python (just on syphon, no faucet pressure) to clean it. I should of done that in the first place.
pcfriedrich;2100736; said:
Okay, you've convinced me. Everything better work out or you're going to have to come to my house and vacuum my sand
The Doctor.I used pool sand in my 240 also. My local pool store sells prewashed filter sand so almost no dust or small particles to worry about. I just gave it a quick rinse and put in the tank. Worked very well.
