Tips fpr 1st-time Sand -bottom tank

[Guapoteguy291]

Play sand got me too looked great but it was costly

 

[Frank Castle]

I've had sand alter my ph before so I would keep an eye on that.

Higher or lower?

If your just using a sponge filter you're good to go, but if you go hob you'll want to keep the intake about 5" off the bottom to prevent sand from getting sucked up......this will make for a noisy filter and eventually will kill the impeller.

When refilling the tank during w/c, use a large plate to deflect the water to prevent disturbing the sand too much. Every month or 2, stir up the sand, to prevent anaerobic conditions

Keep it out of your filters sand will eat up a filter in no time. Keep your intake tubes as far up and away from the sand bed as you can. Any time you plan to disturb the sand be sure to turn your filters off and don't turn them back on till the sand settles

If I use a filter at all, it will be a sponge, I might simply just plant the living heck out of it like a giant Betta-bowl and breed feeder-guppies in it untilI decide if I like san or not. I got a 30L that's planted w/ so many Pothos, Arrowheads, etc, you can barely see the top of the tank or the water surface

Putting any cichlids at all, dwarfs included, in a 10 gallon tank, is bad news. It never works out. Trying to keep the water parameters perfect with such a small amount of water is an absolute nightmare. You are limited to either mollies or guppies. Even dwarf cichlids should have at least 20 gallons.

I mean, I do have some other tanks open right now, I listed them in other threads, but I was thinking Mbuna.....I'll see if I can find them. Someone was looking to fill a 29g, and it reminded me that I wanted ideas too for my tanks, but yea, lemme go find the links...

....here we are: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/mbuna-species-only-tank-20l-20h-29-30br.658635/ <============== it's Finception......a fish thread within a fish thread within a fish thread within a fish thread....

 

[jaws7777]

Pfs is the way to go. This doesnt apply to the 10 gal but if you decide to addcit to your larger tanks it will make cleaing a breeze. If you tinker a bit with your returnes all the ditrus mulm poop will collect in one spot.