Good Filter For Sand

[ixd88]

Hi, i have a 10 gallon tank with an aquaclear 30 filter. I recently changed to sand and my filter just stops (because of sand coming in), so i have to constantly fix it. Anyone know a good filter to use?
ps. i tried adding a strainer to stop sand from coming in but it didnt work

 

[mwood2]

is it because of when the water from the water hits the sand causing it to go into the filter? Have you tried to place something below the out take to prevent it from moving the sand? Also do you have your aqua clear on its highest flow or lowest flow rate?

 

[ixd88]

is it because of when the water from the water hits the sand causing it to go into the filter? Have you tried to place something below the out take to prevent it from moving the sand? Also do you have your aqua clear on its highest flow or lowest flow rate?

its was on the highest flow and yes i tried putting a strainer in the intake tube

 

[mwood2]

there is your problem, turn down the flow rate and place some sort of decoration under where the water flows out so that the incoming water doesn't blast the sand around.

 

[bitteraspects]

what exactly do you mean by "strainer"?

the problem is that the intake tube sits too close to the sand. there are a couple of ways to fix this.
a foam prefilter on the end of the intake will help tremendously. though it will need to be tightly woven.
the best thing you can do, if youre handy, is a little DIY on the filter. because the ac30 is a bit bigger then you would normally use on a 10g, the stock intake tube is kind of long on the tank. you will want to shorten the intake, or otherwise move it away from the sand being kicked up by the filter. the easiest of which would be to simply cut the intake tube in half (or however long you want it) using a fine toothed hacksaw. then just add a prefilter the the open end.
the more effective way would be to reroute the intake using PVC or CPVC.

 

[ixd88]

what exactly do you mean by "strainer"?

the problem is that the intake tube sits too close to the sand. there are a couple of ways to fix this.
a foam prefilter on the end of the intake will help tremendously. though it will need to be tightly woven.
the best thing you can do, if youre handy, is a little DIY on the filter. because the ac30 is a bit bigger then you would normally use on a 10g, the stock intake tube is kind of long on the tank. you will want to shorten the intake, or otherwise move it away from the sand being kicked up by the filter. the easiest of which would be to simply cut the intake tube in half (or however long you want it) using a fine toothed hacksaw. then just add a prefilter the the open end.
the more effective way would be to reroute the intake using PVC or CPVC.

i shortened the tube

 

[bitteraspects]

nice. so its fine now?