thinking about adding sand...

[mvirata]

Hi Guys, your friendly neighborhood newb here strikes again with a stupid question!

After successfully running a bare bottom tank for 2 months and no fish have died with awesome water parameters I am re-thinking of adding substrate to my tanks.

16g
2 cory cats
1 SAE
1 angel

29g
3 cory cats
1 SAE
2 rams
1 female betta
1 dwarf gourami
1 stupid snail who entered illegally

I was thinking a thin layer of crushed coral but so far that is a big NO NO. Unless someone says otherwise I will put that on the NO NO list.

I believe what appeases me best is a thin layer of pool filter sand. I am pretty much sold on that and I found a leslies pool supply near by so I think I am ok to get some.

Anyways my question is actually putting the sand in the tank. Here is the game plan:

1. I can move the 16G fish to the 29G and then add sand to the 16G.

2. Then I repeat the process by adding all the fish from the 29G to the 16G and add sand to the 29G.

3. Once complete bring all the fish back to normal home.

The problem I see here is since sand is going to be flying all over the place I have a feeling the tank won't settle in very quickly (cloudy water, sand particles possibly harmful to the fish??). I have read some people said it takes a day or so to settle and I know if I put all my fish in a 16G it is going to be a disaster, even for a day (maybe??). Step 2 worries me the most, Step 1 is not so bad since the tank is bigger I won't really care of the 16G fish stay in there for a day.

Maybe I am being TOO careful and it would be OK to put all my 29G fish into my 16G tank for a day?

Is there a way to get the sand to the bottom easier, I was thinking instead of pouring it in I would just use a small cup and add it in slowly.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[mvirata]

BTW I have a bucket also so I can actually move the fish into a bucket instead of moving them into each others homes. I could do this also as an option. But again my biggest fear is how long it will take pool filter sand to settle in the tank. I don't want to leave the fish in the bucket for more than an hour.

 

[lazyNode]

I'm thinking about converting to sand.
I was planning to get a pipe and funnel to put the sand in. Hoping that it would minimise water movement.

I need a pipe anyways cause the Angels keep stealing the sinking cory food.

 

[eyeman]

I would use a piece of PVC and afunnel as lazyNode mentions. Just go slowly.

 

[mvirata]

now THAT is a good idea. I wonder if I get a tube with a funnel it would allow sand to pass through. I think it might clump up once the sand hits the water which will clog up the tube. If it does work I won't need to move anyone anywhere...

 

[lazyNode]

As long as you are not using a straw to funnel the sand.

Oh yes, I also read you should turn off your filter until the sand settles. I was going to put a stocking a the end of my filter intake when I first turn it back on.

 

[mvirata]

OK problem solved!

hey lazy do you think I should put the fish in a bucket of their water until the sand settles or just go for the gold and pop the sand in with them in there.

I was thinking of using the big gulp straw but I think a pipe will work better.

 

[eyeman]

Pool filter sand is not as fine as playsand or some of the aquarium sand and therefore will not clump like you think. It would not work well when first turning a pool filter on if it clumped.

 

[lazyNode]

I would take the fish out. The cloudiness and stress might freak them out too much. If WW3 starts in the smaller tank, seperate the bad fish into the bucket with a heater and spare air pump if you have one.

Good luck, oh yeah, remember to wash the sand.

 

[crownjules]

Good luck, oh yeah, remember to wash the sand.

How exactly do you "wash sand"? I see that as being incredibly tedious and requiring quite a bit of time to actually accomplish. Is it really that much of a detriment to your tank to not pre-wash the sand?