I'm just sick of using gravel and was thinking about switching my 120 gallong tank to sand rather then gravel. I also have a couple tire track eels and bowfin that I think would like it. I picked up two 50 Ib bags of pool filter sand for 14 bucks for both. Looking at it the grains even look bigger then the sand they sell for aquariums that they try to get you to buy for 25 buck for a 20 Ib bag. Just wondering how many people out there have used pool filter sand in there tanks and what they think about it? I put the two bags in 5 gallon buckets and ran a hose into it until the water running out was clear and now they're sitting in the house to get to room temperature to make sure there is no temp spike when I put it in. look forward to any advice or opinions.
Thinking about switching to sand and using pool fileter sand. Any advice on this?
- Thread starter cowboycasanova
- Start date
yeah I actually like the looks of it a lot. Now I was gonna do it tonight and I was going to empty 3/4 of the tank into a rubbermaid container and take the fish out and then take all the gravel out and replace with the sand. I also was gonna put some of the rocks into a panty hose or something and leave in the tank for a week or so to keep some of the bacteria in there along with the bacteria in the filters. then put the fish and water back into the tank once it settles a bit. What do you think?
Tropical fish live in muddy sandy rivers and are constantly in and out of clouds of silt . They will be fine for a day of two of cloudy water!
I have 2 10" peacock bass, 3 knife fish, a bowfin, a tire track eel, a white bass, and two catfish in there think all of those will be fine in the cloudy tank? I would think so because of most places where bass and catfish come from but i'm not sure about the knive fish. thanks again.
and yeah my filter has been established for a while now so i'll just try changing it out without the gravel thing. do you think for now until I get a sponge I could cut part of a panty hose to put around the end of the input and zip tie it for now?
i rinsed my pool filter sand in 5gal bucket in back yard with hose. 1/3 sand and let water overflow bucket while stirring sand with your hand. i did it till water overflowing was clear. tank was a little cloudy so i loaded up the FX5 with polishing pads for an hr and it was clear . i know its bad for impeller but like you never got impatient and took a chance
I've heard the issue of fish kicking up the sand, which causes impellers to be jammed or even break because of the sand. Pool filter sand are very very fine... So it might be an issue if you have a powerful filter that will suck it up..
actually the pool filter sand is bigger grit then play sand or the actual sand they sell at the fish store for aquariums out by me and its a hell of a lot cheaper too. Thanks for all the input on this.