Few questions about pool filter sand
- Thread starter Jimmy16
- Start date
Most folks recommend 1 pound per gallon, but I've found that to be too much for me. I prefer a little more than half that. I'm doing the math in my head but I'm guessing your tank is around 150-180 gallons(?height).
I didn't rinse mine at all. Pfs comes very clean and mine went straight in the tank and cleared up in about 4-5 hours with just the filters running. Play sand and echo complete, now those are a different story.
I didn't rinse mine at all. Pfs comes very clean and mine went straight in the tank and cleared up in about 4-5 hours with just the filters running. Play sand and echo complete, now those are a different story.
I got some Red Flint sand, and I love it. I didn't rinse it at all, just poured 2 bags in. Tank was completely cloudy for several days, and I did many water changes to clear it up, even with my FX5 running the whole time. I have 2 more bags to put in, but I will definitely rinse it all before putting in the tank. I am going to partially fill a 5 gallon bucket with sand, pour water in there and shake until there is no residue left, then pour in tank. Yeah, it's gonna suck, which is why I haven't done it yet. lol For my 125 I have 2 50 pound bags in there right now, and it's a little thin for my liking, so I'll probably put another bag in and see how it looks. My fish can wash the sand away to the bottom pretty easily, so I like a little more in there, plus you can sink down driftwood and plants more.
I saw this neat video on cleaning sand the other day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-XB0bwtZh8&feature=related
My tank is 72x24 and I used around 150lbs. It really depends on personal taste. I'd start with 100lbs and add more if you want. If you have a leslies pool supply near you I strongly urge you get their sand. I have used many different kinds and theirs was the cleanest. I didn't rinse it at all (because I hate doing it just like you) and it didn't cloud at all. It was like $9 per 50lb bag
My pond (in my avatar) has 400 pounds of PFS. It's 8'x6'. I didnt rinse it at all. It comes very clean. Like all sands it leaves a bit of an oily bubble like stuff on the surface for a few days but it filters away.