Bare bottom tiles?

[Shishandfish]

I would really like to change from sand to a tiled bottom in my oscar tank, they seem to kick the sand up alot and it gets sucked into the filter far to often. Iv resurched as much as I can and there are so many different answers, all I would like to know is a suitable inexpensive tile I could use, im in the uk so advice on uk shops would be apreciated, thank you in advance.

 

[duanes]

You may find that sludge (and a lot of it) will collect under tiles, so they may be need to be lifted periodically, and the tank bottom vacuumed under them, otherwise water quality with degrade.
If you are using play sand, or some other very light weight sand, something heavier (like pool filter sand) may be a less labour intensive option, and less apt tp get pulled into pumps and filters.
I have tried tiles, at first they seemed fine, but after a while quite messy, because the spaces beneath and around them tend to be collection points for all manner of grunge.

 

[fishhead0103666]

If you are using play sand, or some other very light weight sand, something heavier (like pool filter sand) may be a less labour intensive option, and less apt tp get pulled into pumps and filters.

I personally can confirm that pool filter sand, or at least the one I use, will not get sucked into the filter. I can lift a handful up near the intake and none will go into it.

 

[krichardson]

The thought of all that sludge accumulating under the tiles is one of the reasons I removed them shortly after laying them.I loved the the look though,if I do it again I may seal them all in with silicone in order to keep the gunk from gathering underneath.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Could you rig up something like raise the tiles off the bottom a little and have a powerhead blowing under them to flush out any debris?
You might have to make sure the tiles fit tightly enough together so the flow goes all the way under them and out the other side rather than just the first few.
And you'll want a filter on the powerhead intake.

And...Now that I've typed that out, it sounds like a pain in the butt.

 

[Shishandfish]

Alot of food for thought, sorry not great at forums and trying to quote stuff has been agro lol. I am using play pit sand and it is a pain, I have heard of pool filter sand but didnt realise it would be denser.
Does the pond filter sand have sharp bits as there are catfish in the tank aswell.
I knew there would be collection under the tiles would pulling them up twice a year or so work or is it more of an issue than that?

 

[Shishandfish]

Could you rig up something like raise the tiles off the bottom a little and have a powerhead blowing under them to flush out any debris?
You might have to make sure the tiles fit tightly enough together so the flow goes all the way under them and out the other side rather than just the first few.
And you'll want a filter on the powerhead intake.

And...Now that I've typed that out, it sounds like a pain in the butt.

I thought of undergravel filter type thing but also sounded like a massive pain lol

 

[krichardson]

And...Now that I've typed that out, it sounds like a pain in the butt.

LOL!

 

[Rocksor]

Alot of food for thought, sorry not great at forums and trying to quote stuff has been agro lol. I am using play pit sand and it is a pain, I have heard of pool filter sand but didnt realise it would be denser.
Does the pond filter sand have sharp bits as there are catfish in the tank aswell.
I knew there would be collection under the tiles would pulling them up twice a year or so work or is it more of an issue than that?

Pool filter sand is mesh size #20, and big enough no to get blown around like play sand. Pool filter sand is fine with catfish.

 

[duanes]

Pool filter sand is normally sized and dense, enough so that when it is back washed, it falls back into place, and not flushed out and lost of a pool filter.
I found when I tried play sand years back, it was a pain, and PFS a much better option.
I have used it with many types of fish, including catfish and Geophagines without problems.