Sand & Gravel

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ChicagoDvd

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 12, 2012
147
1
0
Chicago, Il
I have a 55g that I currently use gravel in. I love the way sand looks so much better!! So I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with...

1) What is easier to maintain (sand/gravel)?

2) How would I make the switch to sand from gravel?

3) How often (if ever) would I have to change the sand?

If anyone could help, I'd really appreciate it!
THANKS!!


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1) sand is easier to maintain

2) scoop the gravel out. to clean the sand dump the sand in a 5 gallon bucket and run the hose in it until the water overflows out of the bucket clear (do this outside)

3) you may need to add some sand occasionally because small amounts may get sucked out of the tank when you do siphon water changes

i would recommend pool filter sand. i have pfs in all of my tanks and i love it. i never see it in my filters it stays on the bottom and it settles quickly when my fish stir it up. you can get pfs from any pool store i bought mine for $12 for a 50 pound bag.
 
rwellbaum said:
1) sand is easier to maintain

2) scoop the gravel out. to clean the sand dump the sand in a 5 gallon bucket and run the hose in it until the water overflows out of the bucket clear (do this outside)

3) you may need to add some sand occasionally because small amounts may get sucked out of the tank when you do siphon water changes

i would recommend pool filter sand. i have pfs in all of my tanks and i love it. i never see it in my filters it stays on the bottom and it settles quickly when my fish stir it up. you can get pfs from any pool store i bought mine for $12 for a 50 pound bag.
Click to expand...

THANKS A LOT!! GLAD TO KNOW ITS THAT EASY!! I WAS KIND OF SKEPTICAL AT FIRST! Again, THANKS!!
I'll probably Make the change this weekend if I'm not too busy! By next weekend for sure!! Lol

OH!! One more thing! I have my baby, a royal pleco. Would it affect my royal at all??


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Yes, keep it above the sand. The waste will slowly be drawn up while the sand stays settled.

I don't know if anyone said this, after scooping out the pebbles, you can siphon out the bottom to try to get any of the small pieces left.
 
when you do water changes with sand in your tank it is a good idea to sometimes run your hands through the sand to mix it up because sometimes ammonia pockets can build up in the sand. i have never had this happen though because my fish move the sand around enough.
its nothing to really worry about though just a fyi
 
Once a month. I remove all plants and decoration before doing my water change. I stir up all the sand in the tank, to get anything that worked its way down to a lower level of my sand has been kicked up. Whether I need to, if its good for my tank, or harmful I do not know for certain. I know that I have not had any fish show signs of it effecting them. They do hide out in the corners of the tank, but that happens regardless while doing water changes. At the same time. I rearrange the tank, this way if they have any stress when its all over they can go exploring to relax.
 
My sand solution...

Buy a piece of 5/8ths pvc tubing to siphon. Wide enough for big fish turds and you can stay an inch off the sand.

For sand agitation, rubberband a plastic fork to the end of a 2 foot length of 1 inch pvc. Just slowly rake it and youre fine!

Pool filter sand is amazing!

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