So I have a bit of a question for all. I love sand but can never seem to keep it clean due to fish excrement. When i use sand and I want my tank to look good i have to clean it every day to get the poo away. Because of this I always seem to switch to gravel. So my question is: is there any way to keep sand clean to where you don't have to clean it every day, but it doesn't look like you can see every bit of poop in the tank. By the way I'm talking about black sand.
Sand Vs. Gravel
- Thread starter Rawrzer
- Start date
I set up my first tank with sand a few months ago. I have found that it takes a lot of water movement to keep the sand clean.
In my 220G am using two Tunze Nanostream pumps (about 1200 GPH each, I believe) plus the sump return of about 600 GPH and the mechanical filter running another 700 GPH.
In my 220G am using two Tunze Nanostream pumps (about 1200 GPH each, I believe) plus the sump return of about 600 GPH and the mechanical filter running another 700 GPH.
I'll definitely try something with alot of water movement out when i move to my 180 because i want to give sand another go. thanks! Any recommendation to help me as far as water movement and pumps and such?
I've had gravel in the past, but I currently have Black Flourite Sand in my tank. I like the look of it a lot better than gravel, go with sand imo. I also agree with what Dan Feller said, it does take quite a bit of water movement to keep it clean, but it's worth the effort if it's aesthetics your looking for.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/213826/product.web
Still cleaning every day, but it doesn't involve a water siphon
Still cleaning every day, but it doesn't involve a water siphon
I also use sand and I just put small 220 on the back wall and on the other side the same 220 (gph). I clean anything laying around everyday anyway ,but it does do a very nice job. Do you wanna sit in any of your poo ?
For my serra, it seems to poop in one area only. So i make a crater, so when it poops they'll be in the same area. So then i'll get a net and scoop out the poop. Which is in addition to weakly vacs and water changes. During my water changes, i would "fan" the sand and they suck out whatever is floating around.