Black sand substrate questions

T

Tiger15

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Jan 20, 1999
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New Jersey
shirley.stormloader.com
I am thinking of switching to black marine sand substrate for African cichlids in the belief that darker substrate will show fish color better than white coral or dolomite gravel. My questions are: (1) How easy is it to vacuum sand in water change without siphoning them out into the drain, (2) Is there any danger of damaging the pump impeller as cichlids like to pick up substrate and spray, and (3) how good is marine black sand in buffering pH?

I appreciate input from anyone who has expereience in using sand substrate.
 
I just switched my German Blue Ram's tank to sand. I would suggest you make sure you rinse the sand before you try to use it. I scooped the gravel out of the old tank with a net. Then I put the sand in. Even after rinsing it still clouded the water horribly. I did 3 90% water changes after and the water cleared up. When I put the sand in the water I turned my filter off. I got a sponge prefilter that I put on the filter intake to keep sand from damaging the impeller. As long as you do those things you should be alright. Oh yea did I mention taking the fish out of the tank? This is a must. I have gotten many compliments on how much better it looks. I would suggest using a solid color background like black to also offset the colors as well. What kind of africans are you going to use? If I ever get another tank I am going to get some peacocks. I am running out of room tho LOL!

oh BTW here is the tank I changed to sand.......

 
answers to your sand questions

The plain black sand you are talking about is called Tahitian Moon sand, or something like that. I use it in all my non-cichlid tanks. It does NOT buffer the water, but it also will not hurt your filter. There is special sand made just for african cichlids that will buffer the water (I use it). It is not all black though, but a black/white mix. For the record: anything called "Aragonite" will buffer your water.

I use sand, rather than gravel, in all my tanks. The fish seem to prefer it.
 
How easy the sand get siphoned out in water change? I use the gravel vac to do water change.

I am surprised the black Tahitian Moon sand sold for marine use has no buffering capaicity. The buffering capaicity is not important to me as I do frequent water change and the pH approaches my tap water pH anyway.

I don't like the mixed African cichlid substrate because I prefer sand, not gravel, and the color is too light to show the fish color.
 
I use estes black sand on my 38gal. tank and couldnt be happier. Its a very nice look especially if you add a nice rocky display.

As far as vacing it I find it easier than gravel. Its a little more of an artform however because you have to "wand" above the sand to pick up just the debris on the bottom. The nice thing is if you have fish that dont stir the sand everything stays on top. Just make sure that you ABSOLUTELY stir the sand up every week. If the sand settles too long it packs down and creates an aenerobic bacteria that is not healthy for a freshwater tank. Besides that I love the switch Ive made to sand and Im more likely than not to use sand over gravel anyday.

BTW as long as your filter intake is about halfway up the tank you shouldnt have a problem with sucking up the sand. Besides that once the sand settles you should also have no problems with sand "floating" either. I find the fish dont kick it up very well at all anymore.
 
I love my 30gal black on black set up. Black gravel, black background and black/dark greyish rocks. And they do make eveything thats colored in your tank stand out ALOT.
 
I also have sand substrate in my tanks and love it. It looks cleaner, even when it's dirty. I stir it weekly to keep the anearobic spots from forming and use a piece of clear 1" hose I bought at Lowe's to "vacuum" the sand. I wave it just above the sand the day after I stirred it, or basically any time that I want.
TipStylz-
How do your Gourami's and Electric yellows get along? have you had them together long?
I want more color in my tank and had considered Gourami's until I ended up getting the Yellows.
 
I got the electric yellows when they were only about 2months old so their still small so there kind of scared to pick on the bigger guys? Also they were the last fish i put in my tank knowing your suppose to put the most agressive fish in last. Im thinking of trying to add 1 month old Electric Blues in...still thinking tho cause i know the electric blues dont get along with the yellows.
 
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