Sand - filter intakes

[Derringer]

For those of you who have sand as a substrate, what measures do you take to keep the sand out of your filters?

 

[ct-death]

My black sand eventually settled down, but ellivating the intake helps and shutting it off during water changes/gravel vacs helps a lot too.

The other thing I did for a while was to direct my flows from the filter against the tank wall to reduce the turbilance.

I tried the sponge, but I didn't like it, and it didn't really seem to be affective except in blocking the intake...

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i use a sponge to keep it out..... the intake is about 2/3rds of the way down the tank.

 

[Derringer]

I sponged my eheim intakes and moved the 350 HOBs as high as they could go ... hopefully I wont experience any problems. The sand looks really sweet and the cories love it!

 

[fishieperson321]

I didn't change anything with my Whisper and I had the bottom of the stainer touching the gravel. My filter never sucks up sand and I never hear any grinding noises nor does my impeller look damaged or anything. I have never had sand in my cartridges, either. You can cover the intake with a pantyhose if you are worried, but try letting it settle and not changing anything with how your filter operates. Just play around with it to find what works for you.


Daniel