I recently posted asking ways around buying expensive gravel and the most popular solution was sand. I want it to be a cichlid tank and i was told that they will love to move the sand around. Now i have questions about using the sand. Does it matter what kind i buy? Do i need to be careful using the sand with my filter? How do i prepare the sand for my tank b/c it seems it would be cloudy for weeks if i used sand? preciate all of the help thus far
Using Sand in my 95 gallon
- Thread starter crmarti
- Start date
I've always used pool filter sand from Home Depot; about $5 or $6 per 50lb bag. It's denser than play sand, so it settles quicker. You shouldn't have any problems with your filters, as long as you keep the intake at least a few inches above the sand. I've always rinsed it in a 5 gallon bucket until the water runs clear. After adding it to your tank, allow it to settle for an hour or so before turning your filter on. You may want to add a prefilter to your filter for a day or two after as an extra precaution to prevent any sand from getting into your filter. It may take a day or two afterward for your water to completely clear up.