thinking of switching to sand,

[overstocked]

I have a 55 with good filtration, and good levels,

i want to switch to sand,

any advice on set up and maintence would be greatly apreciated,,,

thanks

 

[Rare_Cichlids]

great idea. what substrate do you have now?? gravel??? All of my tanks are Sand now........ it looks great and its much easier to clean because the poop stays at the top of the sand. also the filter picks up the fish waste too.

 

[overstocked]

what about vacuming? daes the vac suck up sand? right now i have medium brown and black gravel,


when i first put in the sand, should i wait a certain amount of time before turning on the filters?

 

[goose_uk]

what about vacuming? daes the vac suck up sand? right now i have medium brown and black gravel,


when i first put in the sand, should i wait a certain amount of time before turning on the filters?

You have to hold the vacuum just above the sand....too close and you will suck some sand up. And just make sure your sand is clean....if it is clean you can turn your filters on as soon as it settles......


Good choice though....I prefer sand, anyhow!!!

 

[Rare_Cichlids]

the vacuum will pick up the sand if you are not careful. but all you have to do is hover the vacuum over the sand and don't go too close to the sand with it.

the filter can be turned on immediately right after you finish putting the sand in the tank.

 

[Rare_Cichlids]

You have to hold the vacuum just above the sand....too close and you will suck some sand up. And just make sure your sand is clean....if it is clean you can turn your filters on as soon as it settles......


Good choice though....I prefer sand, anyhow!!!

damn you beat me to it. lol

 

[overstocked]

two more questions,,,

do air stones kick up sand?

and how did you guys go about rinsing this stuff before aplication? i got a bag of and and a sink, but i think i am gonna lose half of it .


thanks

 

[aznxcalikid]

keeping sand is so easy. just make sure you wash it real good. real good because i rushed a little on mine and my tank wouldnt stop clouding up. i took out all the sand and water and my tank is crystal clear.
cleaning is real easy. just use a syphon tube without the big attatchment to pick up big pieces of poop. the sand wont get sucked up if youre careful. dont use the vacuum just the tube.

 

[japes]

It really depends on what size sand you're getting. I've got 1mm pool filter sand mixed with 1mm and slightly larger coarse riversand (little bits of rock and debris) in my tank and gravel vacing IN the sand isn't a problem at all.

Just push the vac down into the sand, then pull it out quickly and and give it a little shake. This way you keep all of your sand clean, and if you do it correctly you'll suck up very little or no sand at all.

 

[jloos1988]

im in the process of taking out all the gravel in my 180 (total pain in the ass) and i wanted to do sand but i think im gonna do no substrate cuz lately iv been doing more maintenence then enjoying my fish..sand would be cool for a smaller tank tho liek ur 55