Cleaning Sand

[Dave]

Im soon going to be doing a major project. I have to move my 300l tank. But Im waiting on a tempary tank for my fish before I can do it. I plan to remodel the whole of my big tank during the move. I am going to add lots of Rocks and Plants. (Ive been pinching ideas from you guys and dols in the picture section) Anyway Im thinking of having a mixed substrate of gravel and sand. But How do I clean the sand. Ive seen tanks with sand where its gone all green and looks

So whats the secret?

 

[wetwetwet]

idk m8 I don't have sand but I'd imagine regular gravel cleaning and some ammano shrimp would help

 

[Dave]

mmm Thanks wetwetwet, I clean my gravel with a syphon tube at the moment, you know the type you suck and get out of the way quick I think if I use this method the sand would be to light and end up just geting sucked out of the tank.

what do you think?

 

[Tanked]

Dave, I have sand in 3 of my 4 tanks, and have found vaccuuming to be rather simple. I have natural plants so I don't stir the sand up or stick the siphon down into it, but just graze the surface of the sand with the vac. yes some of it does get sucked up and into the bucket, but it is such a small amount I don't worry about it. once i dropped the vac and it succked alot of sand up. when I refilled the bucket I used the vac to syphon the sand right back into the tank.


hth



Richard

 

[wetwetwet]

If you find your syphon/gravel cleaner is too strong you can allways restrict the flow - say with a peg/clip

 

[Dave]

Thanks everyone, Ill keep you posted on the progress of my tank. Who knows it might even be a contender for tank of the month I wish!

Just one more question though Tanked do your plants do ok in sand or do you use pots for them??

 

[-=DG=-]

I sometimes suck up the top layer of and and rinse it out because the carp does get inside the sand a little bit.

 

[Mogo]

I've used both natural sand and silica sand. I found that the natural sand eventually started to turn brownish, and the silica sand is more durable and doesn't stain. If you plan to use sand, make sure to cover your filter intake with some type of sponge. I use the fluval sponge inserts for this.

Mogo

 

[Tanked]

My plants stay down in the sand fine, but I have about 3 1/2 inches of sand in the tank

 

[Jamnog]

i have a battery powered hoover for my tank (reminds me i must pick up some more batterys) anyways that thing just picks up the sand allong with the water so what i tend to do is ither take of the cleaner bag and wizz the sand thru the cleaner into a net and pour it into a bucket then rince the bucket of sand in rain water tho its much more difficult than with gravel. one other thing i do is to have lots of sand in the tank so i can just trun it over. and yes crabs shrimps (but not cray) do a wonderfull job of looking after the tank substrate no matter what it is.

 

[Dave]

I didn't know the natural sand turns brown, I suppose you learn something new everyday, Well I do on this site anyway

So I think Im set then, sand it is for my refitted tank. Probably silica sand, but ill have to see my lfs as im not sure what this is? Oh and it looks like shrimps are in order (good old working fish). Sorry don't do Crabs anymore they keep destroying my plants

Jamnog: Ive never seen one of those battery hoovers for your tank before. So I think Ill just be using the conventional syphon method (Carefully)

Thanks again all.

 

[gadazobe]

Sand does look really good, but I still think that the general upkeep of gravel is easier. I've also heard that you can get a lot of "dead spots" with sand.

 

[Tanked]

Gad is dead on with the dead spots in sand. i stck my hand into the sand and till it about once a month to help avoid this.

 

[Jamnog]

dead spots?
whats a dead spot?

 

[CFC]

Patches of poisenous gasses trapped in the substrate,otherwise known as anerobic spots (spelling).More common with sand than with gravel,little fish digs one up and boom its dead.That is why you shouldnt have sand deeper than 1".