filters and sand substrate

[scraps]

I was at the pet store pricing sand for my aquarium, and one of the workers started asking about my filters.
He told me only canister filters are useable with sand because they are the only filters where the water is run through the filter system before reaching the motor. If the water reached the motor before being filtered, the sand that gets sucked into the filter will clog up the motor and wear out the filter much quicker.

Is there truth in this or was the pet shop guy just trying to get me to spend more money?

 

[tlindsey]

I was at the pet store pricing sand for my aquarium, and one of the workers started asking about my filters.
He told me only canister filters are useable with sand because they are the only filters where the water is run through the filter system before reaching the motor. If the water reached the motor before being filtered, the sand that gets sucked into the filter will clog up the motor and wear out the filter much quicker.

Is there truth in this or was the pet shop guy just trying to get me to spend more money?

You can use other types of filter's with sand , I use hob filter's on a couple of my aquariums with sand.

 

[scraps]

Awesome!!! I was hoping I didn't have to buy a new filter just to switch to sand

 

[U1N5C]

You can use any type of filter with sand. You just have to be careful when positioning the powerhead and also make sure the intake of the filter isnt too close to the sand

 

[scraps]

Thanks for the tip. I'll raise it up once I get some sand in there.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

It will also help to put some sort of pre-filter sponge over the intake in the tank.