I like the sand better. I started with an empty tank but it could be added with the fish in it as long as it was clean and the fiters were off while adding it. It will damage filters if it get into the impeller area. I also keep the intake up about 3 inches off the top of the sand. It is great stuff.
Pool Filter Sand
- Thread starter Convict Cichlids
- Start date
If you get high quality pool filter sand here are some attributes it should have:
1. Heavy enough to use a gravel vac.
2. No need to wash (it should come this clean - after all, people are using it to filter out fine particles from their pool). If its the nice stuff, when you rinse it, almost nothing should happen.
3. Heavy enough that it doesn't really fly around the tank when you mix it. Everyone should still be cautious and turn their filters off, but seriously, mine settles out immediately.
After having bought lots of sand - I couldn't be happier with the stuff I had (I went BB recently). This stuff was worth it. Most stuff I bought at stores as "pool filter sand" was not worth it.
1. Heavy enough to use a gravel vac.
2. No need to wash (it should come this clean - after all, people are using it to filter out fine particles from their pool). If its the nice stuff, when you rinse it, almost nothing should happen.
3. Heavy enough that it doesn't really fly around the tank when you mix it. Everyone should still be cautious and turn their filters off, but seriously, mine settles out immediately.
After having bought lots of sand - I couldn't be happier with the stuff I had (I went BB recently). This stuff was worth it. Most stuff I bought at stores as "pool filter sand" was not worth it.
Did my change and that stuff works great I went to a local pool place and bought it there paid 11 bucks but it would have costed me more in gas to go somewhere else lol.. Here's before and after... My fish are still a little mad at me though lol.
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hi there I actually work for a pool company and no the pool sand wont comprimise water chemistry, a few members are right is #20 grade silica sand and one other member is right if ur intake tube is to low a fish thrashing around can stir up the sand and if its by the intake tube then u can say good by to ur cannister filter, but like he said u can pre filter it with any fine cheese cloth material zip tied to the top of intake filter or the specialty one at your local fish store may carry. I have a few friends with out side ponds running sand filters and 0 issues the only issue is the life span of the sand starts to hold and grow algea really bad after 4 years so just keep that in mind other wise im using the peagravel that is typically under the sand around the latterals so sand doesnt get sucked in and returned to the pool water other wise yes its cheap and typically will come in 50 pound bags
