Help with annoying sand
- Thread starter RemainVayne
- Start date
It's never possible to keep sand even with Ray's... usually you will end up with a big pile on the middle from them flapping up all sides of the tank
I'm guessing that you have a fair old turnover rate on your tank. If so, that fast turnover in conjunction with your four returns, and powerheads, is obviously causing this problem. You've tried several different positional combos already, to no avail.
Would it be such a problem to dial your turnover down, do your fish need high turnover? I think that's where i'd start, dial it back, see how you go, and turn it back up incrementally until you reach a happy medium between an acceptable turnover and minimal movement of sand.
If you reach a point where your sand only remains dead still with a really low and unacceptable turnover then you may have to think about a heavier substrate if you want your current flow.
Would it be such a problem to dial your turnover down, do your fish need high turnover? I think that's where i'd start, dial it back, see how you go, and turn it back up incrementally until you reach a happy medium between an acceptable turnover and minimal movement of sand.
If you reach a point where your sand only remains dead still with a really low and unacceptable turnover then you may have to think about a heavier substrate if you want your current flow.
I agree with Ulu. It looks like you have the barrel or round return nozzles. I had a similar issue with my tank and it would blow the 0 and 1 Grade sand everyone because the flow bounced off structures and the glass. Try swapping over to this style nozzle and it will help spread your flow horizontally, giving you a more broad flow. Also, avoid aiming your nozzles directly at the front glass. I would angle them at a 45 degree to give you more distance in the water for the flow to go.
Sorry, haven't posted back in a while. Turns out dialing down the flow a little, as well as crossing the loc line outputs, has lessened the sand disruption (for now).
Thanks for all the help and suggestions to everyone!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions to everyone!
OK I lied. Took a little longer to disrupt the sand, and while decreasing flow and changing around powerheads did work, the front of the sand bed has been pushed all the way back again.
Aside from diamond black, what other brands would you recommend? I can't seem to find any black sand that doesn't appear very fine.
Aside from diamond black, what other brands would you recommend? I can't seem to find any black sand that doesn't appear very fine.
The thickest I've came across is imaginarium black sand from petco but even that wont cut it. It will still shift. Doesnt matter how much u dial down the flow. You could have no flow in the tank and ur sand will still get pushed back bc that's just what Ray's do as they climb up the tank. It will be easier and easier for them to push it back the larger they get.
Your best bet is to just paint the outside bottom black .
