Sand in Freshwater Aquarium

[Alec2cool]

I would like to set up a 10g with sand instead of gravel. Im not sure how to clean sand. i plan on putting my Dwarf Gourami in there with glass or cherry shrimp (cant make the decision which, both are so awesome!). Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks:dance:

 

[Rbishop]

I never wash my sand...hasn't been an issue.

 

[jm1212]

just put some in a bucket and rinse...all of the dust should stay suspended in the water column and the sand will remain at the bottom. that said, make sure you get a type of sand that has coarse enough grains so it sinks easily. pool filter sand comes to mind.

 

[Ballyhoo]

I use play sand

 

[Khemul]

Easiest way to clean sand, Malaysian Trumpet Snails and water circulation.

If you need to clean the sand yourself (and I don't find it is needed all that much personally) then you just wave a siphon back and forth a couple inches above the sand. Typically the dirt/debris gets kicked up off the sand and into the siphon.

 

[david mcgregor]

play sand ok i use it on my 3 tanks just give a wash in a bucket

 

[azolla]

I like play sand also. And usually $5 for a 50 lbs bag to boot. That beats the $4 for a 5lbs bag of gravel.

 

[Chrisinator]

I would recommend trying Pool Filter Sand rather than play sand as the grains are much larger and would be easier to clean than play sand. Malaysian Trumpets snails are necessary ( or you can stir yourself) to prevent anaerobic pockets from forming and killing your fish if they get dislodged.

 

[Alec2cool]

So a Dwarf Gourami and Glass Shrimpx6 would be ok with sand?

 

[OrionGirl]

Gourami might eat little shrimp. Otherwise, yes.