I want to go with sand in my next tank but I have no experience with it. I typically use a gravel vacuum to pick up all the junk in my tank (my fish are very messy eaters and my pleco is a crap factory) but I assume a vacuum would suck up the sand as well.. So whats the procedure for cleaning sand substrate?
might be a stupid question
- Thread starter Thalan
- Start date
u can still use a gravel vacum on the sand it will suck up a littel but not alot it does make the water a little cloudy when u do vacum it and that is y i stick with bare bottom or gravel and it gets in your filter and makes all kinds of noise i hope this helps in ur decision
Get pool filter sand. It does not get cloudy. It does not get sucked up in the vacuum. It is VERY cheap. It requires much less cleaning than other sand (when you buy it). Oh it comes in a bunch of colors (3M Color Quartz)
I used play sand and HATED it.. swore to never use sand again.. Tried pool filter sand and now I want it in all my tanks.
I used play sand and HATED it.. swore to never use sand again.. Tried pool filter sand and now I want it in all my tanks.
You're right, this is a stupid question.
Just playing. The pool sand is becoming a favorite. Another thing you can do to help with vaccuming is run something through the sand (like your hand) and just vaccum the waste from the water, then just skim across the top of the sand to pick up everything that fell back down.
Just playing. The pool sand is becoming a favorite. Another thing you can do to help with vaccuming is run something through the sand (like your hand) and just vaccum the waste from the water, then just skim across the top of the sand to pick up everything that fell back down.
If you want to go with sand... i suggest for your next tank use an overflow. Just incase you or your fishies stir up the sand it wont go up high enough where the sand would get sucked into your filter. If you use one of those cannister or hang on back type filters that have the intake tube hanging low towards the bottom where its close to the sand... the sand could easily get stirred up and get sucked into the filter and clog it or even mess up the motor.