Who's the REAL SANDMAN? Questions about Sand.

[pcfriedrich]

I used pool filter sand. play sand seemed too fine and dusty. make sure you rinse the sand first.

don't worry about vacuuming. you don't loose too much sand and it is cheap to replace.

i just switched to sand, and I love it. it looks great, and my aquarium is cleaner than its ever been. with gravel uneaten food and poop falls down into the spaces between the gravel. with sand, there is no uneaten food, because it stays on the surface of the sand to be eaten, and poop is easy to see. you can spot-vacuum. I also use a HOB filter, and find lots of turds stuck to the intake grate every day (which is easy to clean, I just use a net). never had that before. makes me realize how dirty my tank was with gravel.

I didn't rinse my sand (impatient) and it was cloudy for about 3 hours.

I took my fish out, removed the gravel (left a little bit, for BB purposes), added the sand, and once it started to settle a little (about 1 hour) added the fish. cloudy water doesnt really hurt the fish, they dig through the sand, anyway. by the next day they seemed happier than ever.

pros- 50lbs of pool filter sand was less than $5, and more than enough to cover a 55 gallon. easily enough for a 75/90. other dude said his fish moved the sand around too much. I'm having the opposite. my fish moved gravel too much. they don't move the sand as much.

 

[Riv D]

Is an HOB filter a "Hang on Back"?

 

[likestofish]

i just switched back to gravel/rock, i still have pool filter sand in one other tank, however this weekend the sand will be gone, i will never have sand again, my plecos and oscars enjoyed piling the sand up against the front glass at least 6 inches deep could not see in the tank without walking up close to it, imo after a while the sand gets to looking bad.....just my opinion

get something that would keep the sand from piling up like bogwood or other hperactive bottem dwellers.

 

[DISCIPLE]

1 not if your intakes are far enough up. Canisters willl be fine, even if some sand gets in there.

2 Pool filter sand is the best IMO. Its very clean and looks natural. However, I don't think it comes in any color other than tan.

3 Mine was clear within a few hours.

4 Can't help you with this, I added mine before the fish.

5 Just skim the end of the siphon across the surface of the sand. Also, stir it up with your hand before you siphon that part.

6 It looks nicer, no digging around in the gravel, and it is cheap.

7 clean it a lot, especially if you get play sand. There is also stuff called 3M colorquartz, which is used for pool surfaces, that comes in many colors and looks really good. Hard to find though.

he just gave you some excellent advice
i use the 3M in black t grade its a lil more coarse at the size of the smileys eye. i also use the s grade in smoke which is like very very fine sand. however this stuff is heavier then sand imo. i vac mine weekly w/ water changes and have no problems w/ any of my filters. i use a penguin 150, emperor 400, hot magnum 350 , and fluval fx5. i have my intakes 4" off tank bottom. for added protection you could always use foam around your intake or pantyhose.

 

[Riv D]

he just gave you some excellent advice
i use the 3M in black t grade its a lil more coarse at the size of the smileys eye. i also use the s grade in smoke which is like very very fine sand. however this stuff is heavier then sand imo. i vac mine weekly w/ water changes and have no problems w/ any of my filters. i use a penguin 150, emperor 400, hot magnum 350 , and fluval fx5. i have my intakes 4" off tank bottom. for added protection you could always use foam around your intake or pantyhose.

If 3M is a size, what brand of 3M?
Is this a pool filter sand or other?
-Thanx.

 

[Fishermoe14]

the 3m sand comes in 2 different types..

first off its called 3m color quartz and its used in pools..

grade s is a smaller spherical shaped sand whereas grade t is larger but coarse..

 

[pcfriedrich]

3M is a name brand. they make all kinds of things, including scotch tape and post-it notes.

the 3M color quartz is used to line pool bottoms and sides. its engineered to be delicate on feet and skin, making it ideal for bottom feeders and diggers.

it's hard to get a hold of, you have to go through a pool contractor's suply warehouse. They're not located in every town.

HOB is a hang on the back filter.

 

[Ang]

I want to switch over to sand but I have several questions about this substrate that I hope you all can answer.

1. Will it screw up my pumps?
2. What type of sand is best (for fresh water) Pool Filter Sand, Play sand, Sea Sand, etc.?
3. How long will it take to settle/clear?
4. Will the fish be extremely stressed by the change?
5. I use a python to vaccume the gravel, how do I clean the sand?
6. Pros and cons of using sand.
7. ...anything else anyone can come up with to help would be greatly appreciated!!!

-THANX!

1, Only if you have fish that spit sand into the intake tubes. Then you can cut the length of the tubes so they arent as close to the substrate.
2, I used Pool Filter Sand. Doesnt change the PH, is very clean and doesnt cloud the water.
3, I made sure to rinse my sand really well and it cleared in a few hours
4, My fish didnt care. But if you have delicate fish, thats your call. I have SA Cichlids
5, With Pool Filter sand, it is heavier than silica and other sands. Its more like a super duper fine gravel, so it doesnt get sucked up by a vacuume. If you use finer sand you need to stir it up before you vacuume, then just skim the surface.
6, I am super glad i switched to sand. Looks WAY better. Other than that, the only reason to switch would be depending on the fish you have. If they are Poly's, or Rays - sand works better.