Will I kill my filter?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
D

decoy50

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2012
1,136
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VA
I have just finished cycling a 90gal and I've decided I like the look of sand better than gravel. I want to pull my gravel and add sand to the tank. The last time I did this, it took about four days for the sand to settle out of the water column. Can I pull my filter media and put it in a bucket with an air stone to keep the beneficial bacteria alive for a couple days?

I want to shut the filter off to keep sand out of the motor until it settles.
 
Wash the sand really well. Turn off the filter when you put new sand in and just wait about an hour before you turn the filter back. Or you can get a very fine sponge to cover the filter intake.
 
what kindof sand are you using that it takes that long to settle?

i recommend white pool filter sand from any local pool store

you need to clean the sand before you put it into your tank, to do this you should dump the sand in a 5 gallon bucket and run a garden hose in the bucket until the water runs out of the bucket clear (do this outside)

then after you have taken your gravel out of the tank... dump the sand in the tank

with white pool filter sand you should only have to unplug your filters for 15+- minutes, it settles real fast

if you want black sand then i would recommend black diamond blasting sand
you can get this from any Tractor Supply store, i found some at my local Menards.

in all of my tanks i have the black diamond blasting sand and white pool filter sand mix, i think it looks best... just my opinion
sand is much easier to clean than gravel and it looks so much better

good luck!
 
Here's the trick, when adding sand to a full tank, take a glass and get 1 scoop at a time, hold the glass upright all the way to the bottom of tank, then dump sand as close as you can get to bottom.

Or do a huge wc, add the sand.

If newly setting up, dump in sand, pat it down the way you want, put a glass upright on top of the sand bed, stick the hose inside the cup so it doesn't blast sand everywhere, fill up!


As stated above wash sand till it runs clear and turn off filters for an hour!



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I use pool filter sand from Home Depot - quickrete brand I think. I always wash it in a bucket first but it still seems to take forever to settle. I'll try F1 VETs suggestions...but if the water column is full of sand, will the bucket & air stone thing work or do I need more current over the filter media?
 
I fill the bucket halfway, place it under the spiggot outside and let it run until the water is clear. I mix it up a few times with my hands while the water is running.

Anybody know if the bacteria in my filter media will be ok in a bucket with an airstone?
 
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