Aquarium subtrate

[nano55]

I have a 100 gal. tank that I was thinking of changing the subtrate from the aquarium gravel I have in there now to sand. I have African Cichlids in the tank. I have never had a tank with sand in it before, I have always used gravel. When I clean my tanks, I vacuum the gravel and add the fresh water with a python. How do you mantain a tank with sand? Do you need to worry about the filter sucking up sand back into the filter?

 

[Rbishop]

Just keep your filter intake about 2-3" above it and you should be okay. When siphoning for cleaning, you will hover the tube over the sand vice pressing into the gravel.

 

[bgourami320]

I have a small 10g(with sand) with a hob filter and I did cover the intake with sponge from a filter I wasn't using. I was seeing some sand on the lip of the area where the water flows back into the tank. If I let it go any longer I'm sure that I'd have to replace the impeller. I think if I had sand in my 75g I would do that too because the intake is down low and I wouldn't want sand in there for sure.

 

[jasonG75]

I would suggest pool filter sand for Cichlids..PFS is much whiter than regular playsand.

 

[shaynablizard]

I would suggest pool filter sand for Cichlids..PFS is much whiter than regular playsand.

I second that.