Can I switch to sand? Do I need underground filter?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

RREID

Feeder Fish
Jul 15, 2010
3
0
0
Central Ohio
I have a 110 high tank with (one each) Silvini, Red Devil, Green Terror, Carpintas. Sorry I am fairly new have no idea of proper names.

I really like the looks of Sand. I have read on what types of sand but can not find anything telling me if I need a underground filter. I am using one now with the gravel in my tank. If I should take it out that is fine if not then that is ok as well.

My concern is with the underground if they start to burrow it will expose the filter and from what I read that would make the underground useless.

Any opinions on what type of sand (I would like white in color) or any ideas or information on the best way to set the sand up would be appreciated.

Thanks, Rocky
 
Skip the old school UGF. They don't work with sand...or cichlids for that matter. Go with a wet dry sump if possible, if not, probably a cannister filter is your next best option. For sand, go to your nearest pool supply store and get some nice 20-grade pool filter sand if you decide to go with light color sand. It's a little larger grained and already clean straight out of the bag. If you go dark, I don't have any recommendations.
 
undergravel filters are outdated peices of junk even with gravel and they plain don't work for sand.


heres what you need to do go out and buy a nice canister filter or build a wet/dry for yourself.


run it AND your undergravel filter together for atleast 3-4 weeks this will allow your new filter to colonize some beneficial bacteria. Then take your undergravel filter out (but try to keep as much gravel in as possible as this will be where most of your bacteria are) leave for another 2- 3 weeks. after that you can take your gravel out and put your sand in.

all of this is to reduce the chance of a mini-cycle and therefore not shock or kill your fish.
 
Zander_The_RBP;4290113; said:
undergravel filters are outdated peices of junk even with gravel and they plain don't work for sand.


heres what you need to do go out and buy a nice canister filter or build a wet/dry for yourself.


run it AND your undergravel filter together for atleast 3-4 weeks this will allow your new filter to colonize some beneficial bacteria. Then take your undergravel filter out (but try to keep as much gravel in as possible as this will be where most of your bacteria are) leave for another 2- 3 weeks. after that you can take your gravel out and put your sand in.

all of this is to reduce the chance of a mini-cycle and therefore not shock or kill your fish.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
Sand packs too tightly for an ugf to work, the only thing they are good for is running them in reverse o that waste is forced into the water column and is captured by a real filter. Pool filter sand is very light in color and very cheap. I have 150#s of it in my 125 and paid under $20. Its always a good idea to swap out half your substrate at a time and wait a couple of weeks between the first and second change
 
yeah what these guys have said is the best option but personally i know im really impatient with that kind of thing and would go crazy waiting over a month just to switch out sand, so what i would do is get a good canister filter, i suggest rena Xp3 or Fluval Fx5. run it with underground filter for 2 weeks, then take out all gravel and ugf and add pool filter sand, NOT PLAYSAND, (make sure to rinse it thoroughly or it will cloud your water) and then get some CYCLE and use it as instructed, its a little on the expensive side but works great and keeps the water safe for the fish while your mini-cycle is going on.

now of course the slow method is the best one and if you can follow that route would be the safest for your fish, im just giving you an alternate option that could work if you are very impatient like i am. also just so you know that stock isnt really going to work long term, most likely the red devil will kill everything and claim the tank for his own, and even if he didnt it would be way to much bioload for that size tank to have all those fish at full size in there, GOOD LUCK and WELCOME TO MFK!!!
 
I already have a canister filter on the tank. I was just using the underground for a culture. So I could take out the underground at any time.

I know the tank will not be large enough for these fish in the near future. I am going to add peacock bass and a couple of each of these fish (two or 3 total of each) to a larger tank. I have not decided on the size as of yet but it will be between 600 and 1500 gallons when I make the move. I am leaning toward the 1500 gal. because I would like to have 3 or 4 peacock bass along with 3 or so of the others I have now.
 
Well in that case you can remove your UGF and gravel immediately. As others have said your UGF won't work with sand. Get the pool filter sand as suggested, give it a rinse in a bucket until it runs clean (PFS is usually pretty clean, it shouldn't take long). For a 90G one 50lb bag will be enough. You'll like it, it looks good and your cichlids will enjoy digging around in it.
 
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