Sand substrate?

Waltmark

Waltmark

AC Members
Aug 27, 2010
163
0
16
39
Atlantic City, New Jersey
I'll probably be re-starting my 38g tank and was thinking of getting the blue gravel out and putting down sand. I have some live plants (java fern & java moss that need nothing special), rock, work, and will probably have two angelfish in there.

What do I need to keep the sand clean? What critters or special consideration do I need to know if I do switch to sand? My main motivation is aesthetics. I have a sump filter so I have no issues with sand hurting a HOB filter. I just want the sand to stay clean. Are there any FW critters that are compatible with angels that can do that?
 
There aren't really any animals that will clean up the sand. The only way to keep it clean is with a gravel vac.
 
you hold it above the sand to get the debris, but leave the sand in place, you might pick up a little but you should be ok
 
There is no livestock that I know of that can keep any substrate 'clean', apart from bottom feeders (e.g. Cories) picking up excess food that rests on the bottom - but that's all they do, nothing more.

Sand (Pool Filter Sand, that is) is a great substrate - looks good, easy to keep clean, grows plants well with root tabs, bottom dwellers love it, makes fish & plant colors really pop, doesn't clog filters, etc.

Maintenance of the sand is key, it should be stirred up with each (frequent enough) wc, following vacuuming, and the top 10% or 15% siphoned out every 3 or 4 months, and that replaced with new sand - do that and it should look good most of the time.
You may want to have a look at mine - It's been in the tank for nearly 2 years, and I maintain it just like I said - I've replaced the top layer only twice in that time - looks good and clean pretty much all the time ( 2 X weekly wcs).
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/Sept2011
Hope this helps.
 
I just hover my siphon hose over the sand to suck up any debris on the surface, I have MTS to keep it stirred up.
 
And if you use white silica PFS, which has a high density/weight, it will never be fully siphoned up with vacuuming - it'll flow up into the vac pipe for an inch or two, but then tumble right back down. I never lose any sand to vacuuming.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom