A siphon will pull up the sand if you hold it under the surface of the sand. I would think that a power filter would definitely pull up the sand if you got too close. Otoh, you could probably vacuum up without getting right down onto the sand, so you should be able to avoid sucking up the sand if you're careful.
Sand or Gravel? Input will be helpful!!
- Thread starter Mr Meaty
- Start date
i have had both gravel and sand. sands a great option. sure you might suck some up when your cleaning but if you buy it from smart places like home depot its really cheap. just take the time to mix up the sand each month so no toxic gas builds up. i never had problems with mine after 3 years but others have reported they have.
I’ve heard of people putting a chopstick (or something near the same) at the end of the vacuum that extends down 2-4 inches to stir the sand without sucking it up. I’ve never tried it put I’ve heard it works good.
Help, I tryed sand. I brought play sand at Menards.
Rinsed it out and added it to the new 55gal.
This was Sunday night. Still very cloudy. VERY, cant see nothing. I just added a bubble want and now the tank looks like it did right after I added the sand.
Whats wrong? very upset. Is there a differant type of sand?
Cylon
Rinsed it out and added it to the new 55gal.
This was Sunday night. Still very cloudy. VERY, cant see nothing. I just added a bubble want and now the tank looks like it did right after I added the sand.
Whats wrong? very upset. Is there a differant type of sand?
Cylon
I rinsed it for a couple of minutes. I had a 2 1/2 gallon bucket and I rinsed each bucket while stiring it. It was night time, dark and cold out side. Im an hour N of Chicago.
So the sand is ok then?
I did a water change last night to get a lot of the cloud out.
didn't help.
Since the bubble wond made it so much worse should I remove it and just use an air stone? It's still as bad this morning as it was last night and the bubble wond is still running.
What do you think I should do at this point?
So the sand is ok then?
I did a water change last night to get a lot of the cloud out.
didn't help.
Since the bubble wond made it so much worse should I remove it and just use an air stone? It's still as bad this morning as it was last night and the bubble wond is still running.
What do you think I should do at this point?
The first time I did it I had the same problem. At this point, the best you can do is lots of BIG water changes (or start over). You could also try a diatom filter. You have to rinse the sand VERY well!
Here's the secret to rinsing the sand: Get one of those large plastic buckets from home depot (5 gallons or a little more). Tilt the bucket so that one side is lower than the other. Put a hose in near the top angled along the rim. When you get the bucket overflowing on one side and swirling fast, add the sand SLOWLY. The swirling water will carry the light stuff out of the bucket, and only the heavy stuff will sink. One pass is enough if the water is swirling fast enough.
Here's the secret to rinsing the sand: Get one of those large plastic buckets from home depot (5 gallons or a little more). Tilt the bucket so that one side is lower than the other. Put a hose in near the top angled along the rim. When you get the bucket overflowing on one side and swirling fast, add the sand SLOWLY. The swirling water will carry the light stuff out of the bucket, and only the heavy stuff will sink. One pass is enough if the water is swirling fast enough.
Question...sorry for interrupting lol. Can crushed coral(not fine) be graveled? Or will it get sucked up by the siphon? I do not know if the stuff is heavy and what not. Thanks.
I have Estes sand, I like it. Many colors and I get local. $1 a lb. All the colors of the rainbow, safe for the tank. You can get it from Amazon. Here is the website www.estesco.com
