SETUP PROBLEM

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

fysh3r

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 10, 2009
19
0
1
kuching
I WAS PLANING TO PUT MY WHOLE AQUARIUM FLOOR WITH SAND AND WILL IT GET SUCK UP INTO MY FILTER AND SPOIL THE WHOLE THING?

BY THE WAY IT IS BETTER TO USE NATURAL SAND FROM THE BEACH O SAND THAT SOLD IN THE SHOP(WHICH LOOK LIKE PLASTIC SAND TO ME)

NEED ADVICE

THANK YOU:)
 
No it will not get sucked up in the filter (unless you lower the intake to suck up the sand lol). Sand settles to the bottom and pretty much stays there, new sand takes a few to get all the air out. I tend to stir it off the top with a small object helping it disolve to the bottom.

Far as natural sand I am not sure I would use that - it's too fine maybe. But I could be wrong.
 
Wait for the sand to settle completely before turning the filter on and keep the input far from your sand. I use an internal filter with one of my sand bottom tanks with no issues.

As far as beach sand, it comprises mostly calcium carbonate so it will increase both your pH and KH. pH is not an issue. KH however is to most fish that lack tolerance for high KH such as blue rams. What do you plan to keep there?
 
Lupin;3137384; said:
Wait for the sand to settle completely before turning the filter on and keep the input far from your sand. I use an internal filter with one of my sand bottom tanks with no issues.

As far as beach sand, it comprises mostly calcium carbonate so it will increase both your pH and KH. pH is not an issue. KH however is to most fish that lack tolerance for high KH such as blue rams. What do you plan to keep there?

planing to keep gars in it lol maybe should reconsider about natural sand
 
Depending on what color you want for sand, Pool Filter sand is a good choice and its really cheap and its prewashed so you wont have to rinse it as much as other sands. You can get a 75lb bag of Pool Filter sand for like 3 dollars in the States, of course it depends on your location.

You can also use play sand, just takes longer to rinse.

I been using Pool Filter sand for a long time now, and never had issues with my canister filters.
 
fysh3r;3137374; said:
I WAS PLANING TO PUT MY WHOLE AQUARIUM FLOOR WITH SAND AND WILL IT GET SUCK UP INTO MY FILTER AND SPOIL THE WHOLE THING?

BY THE WAY IT IS BETTER TO USE NATURAL SAND FROM THE BEACH O SAND THAT SOLD IN THE SHOP(WHICH LOOK LIKE PLASTIC SAND TO ME)

NEED ADVICE

THANK YOU:)

Dam you are NEW...***freakin newbie:nilly:***....First the sand....Go to Home Depot and buy the 25-50lb pound all-purpose or playground sand....Each bag only costs less than $3.....As for the sand being sucked up, it will, but not to a point where you are needing to add pounds of brand new sand every week....Just clean(siphon) the sand slowly.....O, yeah, DO NOT COLLECT BEACH SAND.....:headbang2
 
importracer;3138331; said:
Dam you are NEW...***freakin newbie:nilly:***....First the sand....Go to Home Depot and buy the 25-50lb pound all-purpose or playground sand....Each bag only costs less than $3.....As for the sand being sucked up, it will, but not to a point where you are needing to add pounds of brand new sand every week....Just clean(siphon) the sand slowly.....O, yeah, DO NOT COLLECT BEACH SAND.....:headbang2

Why I have beach sand in one of my nicer tanks now and never had any problems with it! Been in there for about 3 years, but if you do choose beach sand strain it for cig butts.
 
importracer;3138331; said:
Dam you are NEW...***freakin newbie:nilly:***....First the sand....Go to Home Depot and buy the 25-50lb pound all-purpose or playground sand....Each bag only costs less than $3.....As for the sand being sucked up, it will, but not to a point where you are needing to add pounds of brand new sand every week....Just clean(siphon) the sand slowly.....O, yeah, DO NOT COLLECT BEACH SAND.....:headbang2


You were new once too. remember that.


Play sand from a local hardware store is about the best you can do. IMO. And I wouldn't use a HOB filter with sand unless I had to. It can get sucked up into the filter and ruin the impeller. It's better to use canister filters or a sump setup when using sand.
 
pool filter sand is the cleanest and easiest to rinse IMO, go to a hot tub pool place to get it. As far a s filters you shouldnt have any trouble as long as your intakes are well abobe the sand.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com