Sand and High Circulation FX-5

[MichaelAngelo]

Hey Guys,

I was in the car with my buddy today, told him I planned to go from bare-bottom 135G to pool filter sand. He freaked out and told me that the sand would make a mess in my tank, especially because of my FX-5's water-pushing.

He said it would be a mess and get everywhere, I have really big fish in there (1' to 2' fish) that would definitely stir up the sand bed during feeding or just a bickering.

Thoughts?

Michael

 

[sbuse]

it sould be ok just point the inlets up...i have a fx-5 on a 180gal with sand and it is fine...

 

[MichaelAngelo]

it sould be ok just point the inlets up...i have a fx-5 on a 180gal with sand and it is fine...

Do you find the sand to be a pain in the arse? Should I go with a bigger particle?

 

[sbuse]

it isn't to bad...i only have issuse when i go to do a wc then it sometimes gets stured up, from the filter running, my big fish simming more (1@ 22", 3x 15",1@ 13",2x 10") and me moving stuff....but i like it and i have sand in 2 of the 3 tanks i have now and i am thinking of putting snad in the third one... so in the end if you like how it looks then do it cause if you'll like it (as i do mine) then it is worth it...on that tank i also have an emporer 400 with the fx-5 witch adds to the flow...i have an emperor 280 with some home made air sone tube filters in a 20gal with really light soft fine sand i got from a lake and it is good...

 

[Pharaoh]

I love sand. I think it is easier to clean than gravel. Never had too much of a problem with it getting stirred up.

 

[Jumbie]

I have pool filter sand in almost all my tanks and I love it! The only time I ever had a problem with sand was a few year ago before I knew a bout pool sand I used play sand. Man was that a big mistake! Oh yeah by the way I have an fx5 on my 120 with pool sand in the tank and I never had a problem.

 

[TechBox]

I have pool filter sand in almost all my tanks and I love it! The only time I ever had a problem with sand was a few year ago before I knew a bout pool sand I used play sand. Man was that a big mistake! Oh yeah by the way I have an fx5 on my 120 with pool sand in the tank and I never had a problem.

Can you tell me what is bad about play sand? It is hard for me to find pool filter sand right now in my area and I am thinking to get Quikrete play sand.

 

[NSKIRK559]

I have (2) FX-5's in my 180gal and sand wasn't a problem as long as you do regular cleaning on the pumps you shouldn't have a problem!

 

[Danger_Chicken]

Can you tell me what is bad about play sand? It is hard for me to find pool filter sand right now in my area and I am thinking to get Quikrete play sand.

It's really fine and will do all the things OP's friend warned him about. search out PFS or wait until spring. I plumbed the outlet of my FX5 to 6" above the sand and it cleans it for me.

PFS+FX5=NICE

 

[stewnew]

you could always get a crushed aragonite.. pretty big particles