Changing substrate to sand...need a little advice

[twhittle]

I am changing the substrate in my 210 from gravel to pool filter sand tonight after work. I am going to be cleaning the sand first to get rid of dust. Do I need to remove all of the fish when I put the sand in, or can I keep them in there while I do this? What do you recommend?

 

[jay240G]

i added my sand with fish in didn't seem to bother them much. Just keep an eye on them.

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

As far as cleaning the sand... Yes, I would. It takes a while, but the best way I've found to do it is to take about 10 pounds at a time in a 5 gallon bucket, run water directly into the bucket in a bathtub or something similar. Fill the bucket with water and keep it running as you SLOWLY stir the sand. This allows all the smaller particulate to be carried away by the running water.

 

[bigspizz]

Rinse it GOOD! I would plan on rinsing it in a big rubbermaid trashcan for pretty much a whole day....Let it soak, agitate it over flow it...everything you can to avoid the cloudiness that will come with it...even after rinsing FOREVER there will still be some clouding. Just use your net to get the old rocks out, And I would get a fat piece of PVC to put the sand strait to the bottom....Sounds like a lot, but you can never be too safe...Play sand is the worst....PS...Where did you find pool filter sand? Thanks bro

 

[USMCtanker]

ya and does pool sand come in black, i wanna make my 150 sand, heard poolsand is awsome and cheap but does it come in black, i have seen black sand at lfs and wow it cost a arm and a leg lol

 

[CTU2fan]

My pool sand is the color of regular beach sand, somewhere between tan & grey. It looks cool, and watching the fish play in it is cool.

 

[CrystalizedHairs]

ya and does pool sand come in black, i wanna make my 150 sand, heard poolsand is awsome and cheap but does it come in black, i have seen black sand at lfs and wow it cost a arm and a leg lol

Most black sands are calcite. These will conciderably raise your pH and water hardness. Becareful choosing black sand.

Leaving the fish in is fine. I like to rinse small amounts at a time and add it by using a 3-4" piece of pvc that will reach the bottom. This will stop most of the cloudiness that will occur when adding it to a filled aquarium. No matter how much you rinse it, there will still be dust. The rinsing process actually makes dust. As you stir, the sand grains rub against each other, grinding and polishing, producing dust.

Sand is great. Enjoy and good luck.

 

[twhittle]

Rinse it GOOD! I would plan on rinsing it in a big rubbermaid trashcan for pretty much a whole day....Let it soak, agitate it over flow it...everything you can to avoid the cloudiness that will come with it...even after rinsing FOREVER there will still be some clouding. Just use your net to get the old rocks out, And I would get a fat piece of PVC to put the sand strait to the bottom....Sounds like a lot, but you can never be too safe...Play sand is the worst....PS...Where did you find pool filter sand? Thanks bro

I got it at a pool store here in Sunnyside. All pool stores have it. It was $7 for a 50 lb bag. Good advice on the PVC pipe. Thanks.

 

[japes]

Personally I'd take the fish out, they'd be fine in buckets while you did the quick change.

Water would be cloudy as all buggery for a few days afterwards though unless you drained the tank, removed gravel and then put the sand in and refilled. Pool filter sand cleans really easily, just half-fill buckets fill them with water while stirring. Don't try and get it perfect, it's impossible. You'll know when you're doing it that you've done it well enough.

 

[twhittle]

Thanks all, I made the change. Took me nearly 6 hours! I'll post before and after pics when the water clears up a bit.