Yep, all fish accounted for and healthy. Did the head count as I took them out. All are active and appear unaffected.
Sand substrate problems
- Thread starter bottomdweller72
- Start date
Yep, all fish accounted for and healthy. Did the head count as I took them out. All are active and appear unaffected.
How deep is too deep? It was about 2" I think, maybe more? I never actually measured. With all the digging and stuff from the corys and goldfish, it got hilly in there in some areas. I tried to flatten it out when I was vacuuming it.
Do you remember the brand name of the sand? Play sand, depending on the brand, may be too fine and compacts too tightly in the aquarium.
I usually use an inch of sand or less or just put enough in to reach the top edge of the plastic trim if you have a rimmed tank.
I usually use an inch of sand or less or just put enough in to reach the top edge of the plastic trim if you have a rimmed tank.
I don't remember the brand but I do remember it was sand for reptile and fish. It was a very fine sand and definitely went above the trim.
I would replace the sand with pool filter sand not play sand. It's relatively cheap and take very little rinsing before you add it to the tank. 1" of sand is plenty unless you have fish that like to bury themselves in the sand. Two + inches of sand is pretty deep and not needed.
What is your PH?
I am not saying this is your issue, but the majority of reptile sands are made up of dyed calcium carbonate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate
Calcium carbonate wont really dissolve in water, just sits there, but because it is so fine, it forms a cap over the top of it when submerged, killing any bacteria that might be living in it.
in addition, it is very useful in raising the PH in a soil or large body of water.
I didn't use play sand. And until I understand this better and figure out what caused the massive stench, I will stick to tried and true river rock. I've never had a problem with it.
It does seem to be a combination of things though but I am not 100% sure.
My ph is a steady 7.6
I have no idea what caused it. Upon removing the sand, it was more sludge and muck than sand. From what I'm reading, thickness of it is a contributor for sure. This sand was only 3 weeks old. I had to look at my calendar and realized this week would have been 4 weeks with sand. It's insanity to me lol
Hello; If you want sand may I suggest this approach. Get some construction sand. I got 3/4 ton back in 2011 for $20. You wont need that much but get some extra over what you need.
Get or make a sieve. Some screen material on a square box can be made or perhaps a colander or other store bought.
The trick is to sift the sand while it is dry. This way the very fine stuff can be discarded. It is that fine stuff that is the problem. You can have sand particles of many sizes in construction sand, up to say small pea size or more. The size of the particles you wind up with is determined by the size of the sieve holes which is your choice.
After the dry sifting it will need to be rinsed a lot. I use two or three buckets, a garden hose and an old broom handle. Put a half gallon or so in a bucket, hit it with a jet of water and then stir with a stick. Pour off the murky water before it settles and repeat. No fun at all and takes a while if you need a lot.
The construction sand is cheap enough so discarding some wont cost much. If you own land the excess can be used on that. Don't know what to do if in an apartment.
Get or make a sieve. Some screen material on a square box can be made or perhaps a colander or other store bought.
The trick is to sift the sand while it is dry. This way the very fine stuff can be discarded. It is that fine stuff that is the problem. You can have sand particles of many sizes in construction sand, up to say small pea size or more. The size of the particles you wind up with is determined by the size of the sieve holes which is your choice.
After the dry sifting it will need to be rinsed a lot. I use two or three buckets, a garden hose and an old broom handle. Put a half gallon or so in a bucket, hit it with a jet of water and then stir with a stick. Pour off the murky water before it settles and repeat. No fun at all and takes a while if you need a lot.
The construction sand is cheap enough so discarding some wont cost much. If you own land the excess can be used on that. Don't know what to do if in an apartment.
Yeah, the thickness was too deep but it sounds (to me)like you used Calcium carbonate sand (based on the sludge comment) not quartz/silicon dioxide
