is sand hurting the filter?

[snjets]

hey i have a 20 gal I put sand and coral in it, i am using a whisper 2 on it is the sand goin to hurt or mess up the filter

ps i am going to use this tank as a breeding tank for a pair of convicts

thanks
sal

 

[RadleyMiller]

yes, it will wear away at the impeller

Just one pair of convicts?

Just so you know, the coral will raise the pH and will eventually dissapear because of the acids in the water.

 

[ewurm]

Whisper 20 sucks, get an AC.

 

[messiner]

Whisper 20 sucks, get an AC.

or a bio-wheel

 

[snjets]

ok so what should i do, does it wear away at the propeller fast or is it a slow process
i want to keep sand in the tank what do i do

thanks
sal

 

[mjryan]

it will were away at your impeller if you improperly clean your tank. when doing a gravel vac, shut down the filter and wait for the sand to resettle. then turn the filter back on. if your not sucking up sandy water, your not going to have a problem.

PS, stir your sand frequently too.

 

[MilitantPotato]

Go to the fish store and buy an open celled filter sponge, should help keep sand out.

 

[snjets]

Go to the fish store and buy an open celled filter sponge, should help keep sand out.

where would i put it? in the filter

 

[MilitantPotato]

You'd stab a hole 3/4ths through it (length wise) with a blade of some scissors and insert the filter intake tube into the sponge.

......| |
......| | <--filter intake tube
......| |
___| |___ <--hole stabbed through sponge
|....| |....|
|....| |....|
|....| |....| <--Sponge
|....| |....| <--hole stops here
|_______|

It doesn't go in the filter, but the on the tube that sucks water from the tank.
Should cut back on media replacement costs too, just rinse it weekly.

 

[baracuda]

My filter got messed up after using sand. The filter got really noisy would shut off sometimes so better turn the filter off during water changes and gravel vacs or it will mess up the filter.