Who's the REAL SANDMAN? Questions about Sand.

[Riv D]

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!

 

[Pwn]

Sand is a pain to vac, it gets sucked up and moved around too easily. It shouldn't mess your filters up unless your intake is near it. As long as you clean it well (and I mean really well) it shouldn't cloud up on you. If you vac it up, it will dust up a bit but settle right away-the weight of the granules should just take it right back down.

Overall, I say it looks better than rock but it's a pain in the ass to clean

 

[Riv D]

Sand is a pain to vac, it gets sucked up and moved around too easily. It shouldn't mess your filters up unless your intake is near it. As long as you clean it well (and I mean really well) it shouldn't cloud up on you. If you vac it up, it will dust up a bit but settle right away-the weight of the granules should just take it right back down.

Overall, I say it looks better than rock but it's a pain in the ass to clean

THANX PWN!
Now, what about what type of sand to use?
Is there a particular one that aquarists prefer more?

 

[black&white]

I used play sand in my 180Gal, play sand is very dusty, i know sand cant be dusty but belive me wash your sand in a bucket and poor off the stuff on the top then put it in the empty aquariam and then fill with water slowly like a trikle so it dont destuerd the sand . let it settle a little then turn on filters

 

[Pwn]

Tahitian moon sand seems to popular. The least expensive way is to use pool filter sand. Both come in a variety of colors. The most important thing to do is to wash it very well.When you think you have washed it enough, wash it again

 

[FSM]

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!!!

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.

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

Yeah, what FSM said.

I would add that on #4, my fish didn't seem to be bothered when I switched from gravel/silica sand to pool filter sand. Like everyone else has said, just clean it very thoroughly.

 

[Riv D]

You Guys Are Awesome!!!!
THANX a Million !!!!!!!

 

[oscarluvr]

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

 

[Riv D]

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

Got any Pics of you tank with sand?
Just so I can see the negative side of things.
-THANX