sand subtrate

[dpmac10]

Hey i just recently purchased sand for the bottom of my tank and i just have some Q's about it before i start it up to make sure i got everhting stright. Well how do u clean it i can't imagine useing a python vacom on it like u would gravel right. what would u use then in order to clean itl. And can almost all fish go in sand. Does the sand get in the filter and cloge it up i'm planing on useing a empior 400 with a power head. I also herd that if u put some kittie letter in the sand it would help for root of plants to grab. I bought this sand at home depot and it was allpupose sand and it said that is was cleile or somtlhing like that is that all right i no i'm going to have to clean it ALOT but that is all right. Thanks for the help and sorry for so many Q's

[Skippy]

From my experience :

Avoid stirring the substrate, just vaccuum across the surface.

and put a sponge over the intake for the filter and that should help cut down on sand sucked up and in.

[JamisonBWolsh]

I heard that air packets can develop, and if released, poison the water. Isnt the idea to STIR it a little to stop the air pockets to be created in the first place?

[Darkangel]

I have a black sand substrate and I clean that tank with my python. You do it the same as gravel you just have to be more careful. You can stir the sand and with control of the flow rate you can prevent the sand from going into the drain. My fluval does not pick any of the sand up. Just my 2 cents.

[JamisonBWolsh]

I second that. Listen from experience. By doing what darkangel suggests, you will avoid those air pockets.

[dpmac10]

so if a air pocket becomes it is poisnis to my fish and will kill them.l i don't get it can u explain please thanks.

[Darkangel]

You are not really concerned with air pockets. What you are however concerned with is the possibility of an area becoming anarobic. This would be an area in the sand that gets no oxygen. This could lead to a bunch of foul and nasty compounds developing in the substrate such as Hydrogen Sulphide. That is the compound that gives off the rotten egg smell. The same odour you get when you stir up mud in a pond. It could also produce other compounds. By stirring up the sand you eliminate this or at least reduce it. There are other ways to accomplish this as well. By placing burrowing animals or fish in the tanks. Some candidates would be Malaysian Livebearing snails, Kuhli loachs, tire track and their related eels or any other fish that likes to burrow. You would see it as a black area of gunky looking stuff.

[dpmac10]

thanks for the info. so as long as i get some kind of fish that will stir up the sand i well be just fine and have no worry's. Thanks again for the info.:D

[Decz]

Personally, I would not rely on a fish to stir the sand up. You will need to do this yourself periodically. I made the mistake of believing my snails/loaches would take care of that for me. Well, I ended up developing some rather nasty black bacteria problems. I posted here about it, and was told not to stire the sand anymore, because it could be deadly.

Luckily, I was moving a few weeks after that, so I jsut made sure nothing was bothered in the meantime. Then once all my fish were moved, and teh water was out of the tank, I took a good look around at this "crap". It was everywhere! All over the bottom of the tank on the glass, IN the sand, on the glass on the sides, on teh underside of rocks - EVERYWHERE! I ended up just chucking that sand out, gave my aquarium a good clean and put new sand in.

IMO, just stir your sand yourself, so that you know it is getting done!

Good Luck :)

*edit* I had only actually had sand in this tank for 5 months, so be warned, that this can develop quickly........

[punch]

And of course, some malasian trumpet snails would do the trick as well.

[Decz]

Punch, Actually, I had 4 of those snails (adults) in my tank (20 gallon), and they did a lot of stirring, but apparently, not enough to solve the problem.

[roper930]

Another solution is to not put a huge amount of sand in the tank. Maybe an inch or less and it will get moved around enough between the bottom dwellers and cleaning so there won't be any problems. I have my ray w/sand and he is constantly blowing into the sand searching for food, so that helps alot. It's funny to look at the sand and see all kinds of little pits in the sand where he's been blowing into it! :)
Also, I use a regular syphon for cleaning just like w/gravel. Maybe a little bit of the really fine sand get sucked up, but nothing really noteable. I've never had a problem w/it getting into the filters either. It settles back down to the bottom fast enough so there are no problems. I've never put sponges over the intakes.

Hey, BTW, are you gonna get me a 75 gallon or not? :rolleyes:

Beth

[JamisonBWolsh]

I have seen puffers blow the sand as well. But if you dont have these 2 fish, why have sand..carib sea makes sone REALLY nice gravel. They have at least 10 natural gravel coming from all around the world...

Check this out:

http://www.carib-sea.com/Carib1.htm

press the freshwater gravel...then super naturals.

I have this type gravel really nice stuff!!!!

or go directly to the gravel at :
http://www.carib-sea.com/naturalrock.jpg

[roper930]

Some people just like the look of sand, no harm in that is there? You really are quite the opinionated person aren't u Jamison?

Beth :rolleyes:

[Anton Wernher]

I would keep the sand about a inch or so.. this coupled with some animal that likes to "play" in the substrate you should be fine. As far as what sand to buy...my favorite has been some pool filter sand... I forget the brand though I think it had mystic in the name - I can check later. Anyways this was by far the easiest sand other than "aquarium sand" to clean.

[JamisonBWolsh]

well..they sell nice looking sand too...