Sand as a substrate

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J

JeffC

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 14, 2007
54
0
0
Kalispell, Montana
Hi all,

I want to use sand as a substrate but have read/been told it is not good in a freshwater aquarium. I know it is being done and would like to know if anyone is using it and how it is going? What type to use? how to keep it clean? And, how to keep it from going anaerobic?

Thanks
 
i'm using sand. Its industrial sand. First i get like 50lb bags for 5.99 then i fill half of a 5gallon bucket and just wash it out with water and stir the sand until eventually i fill it up i can see to the botto,m of the bucket. GJC told me thin he might know more PM him if you would like
 
I like sand, but you need to be more careful to unplug the filter when doing water changes or you will screw up your impeller.
 
I use pool filter sand cleaned much the same way and since your posting this in the sa/ca cichlid section I think youll find your fish will move the sand around enough,when combined with an occasional stirring,to keep the sand from developing anaerobic pockets.:thumbsup:
 
nomadofthehills;728448; said:
I like sand, but you need to be more careful to unplug the filter when doing water changes or you will screw up your impeller.
Click to expand...

Currently my problem, Ive got two Ottos and a Fluval that are ruined due to sand. I prefer the look of sand but find it compacts to quickly so I mix in 1cm gravel aswell, I find it looks more natural aswell.
 
I use decor sand sold at Home depot it's also called sandblasting sand. White as snow looks great. Never had any problems. put a prefilter on all your filters because sometimes sand can go into your impeller. If you have large cichlids they will most likely move the sand all over the place for you, so don't worry about stirring. Everytime I do water change I just put the sand back to all flat, and they move it all around again so the sand is always moving. I have never had the sand get hard like someone said earlier. I have never even had the slightest hardening problem.
 
I have Torpedo Beach sand in my 75. The fish are always digging around and I have a ton of MTS so I don't worry about any "dead spots". I also raised up my intake tubes about three inches from the top of the sand and that solved the sand in the filter problem.
 
Ive heard of putting pantyhose on ur intakes to block the sand but then it stops the mechanical filtration so i never understood that. I just raise my intakes atleast 6 inches offf the bottome of the tank
 
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