a_ellis
New Member
I am getting rid of my jade gravel & getting sand this weekend. I really don't know the best way for getting the gravel out & I don't know how to clean a sand bottom. (for a 55 gal tank). Any suggestions? 
how do you clean sand
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lady_tanksalot
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i got my gravel out with a net, but boy does it make a mess. after removing all the gravel, one tank was veyr cloudy and i had to leave it for a day to settle. then i syphoned any remaining gunk of the bottom so both the water and the bottom where clear.
i used play sand, put the sand in a bucket and washed it until the water was running clear, took about ten minutes.
i turned the filter off when i added the sand, just until it had settled so for about an hour. some people leave the filter running but i thought too much sand would get in and maybe cause a blockage.
i have all four of my tanks with sand and don't really ned to clean it,the corys plecs cats and loaches that i have disturb the sand enough when 'playing' to keep any crap from settling so it gets sucked into the filteration system and heypresto, clean sand.
i used play sand, put the sand in a bucket and washed it until the water was running clear, took about ten minutes.
i turned the filter off when i added the sand, just until it had settled so for about an hour. some people leave the filter running but i thought too much sand would get in and maybe cause a blockage.
i have all four of my tanks with sand and don't really ned to clean it,the corys plecs cats and loaches that i have disturb the sand enough when 'playing' to keep any crap from settling so it gets sucked into the filteration system and heypresto, clean sand.
Bryan
Fish Crazy
lady_tanksalot said:
Keep it clean with fish that disturb and/or eat off the bottom.
dirtydogg
Fish Crazy
Cleaning = Corys
as for changing to sand I recently did this: pulled everything out and dumped the gravel, I didn't want to save any of the fish poo or dead fry that where down there, and filled it like a new tank. Just keep your filters submersed in tank water and your fish obviously. I saved all but about 10% of my water to put right back in. Came out to a normal water change, but I had no problems. took a couple of hours, but no problems.
as for changing to sand I recently did this: pulled everything out and dumped the gravel, I didn't want to save any of the fish poo or dead fry that where down there, and filled it like a new tank. Just keep your filters submersed in tank water and your fish obviously. I saved all but about 10% of my water to put right back in. Came out to a normal water change, but I had no problems. took a couple of hours, but no problems.
ddm18
Fish Crazy
I used a scoop that came with my tank for removing my gravel (as a replacement - how about a mug or cup?), but did it without removing the fish. While I was doing this, I kept my filter (external canister) running, which sucked up most of the cr*p that had been in the gravel.
Then I left the tank (filter still running) for about an hour, to let everything settle down a bit, and to give the fish a bit of a break. After this all the cr*p from the gravel that hadn't been sucked up by the filter was sitting on the bottom of the tank, so I could easily syphon it out.
Next I turned off the filter and (using the same scoop) put the sand in. I filled the scoop (again, you could use a mug/cup) about half way, lowered it right to the base of the tank and GENTLY tipped the sand out, so that it didn't fly up too much in the water. This took surprisingly less time than I'd expected (I was worried about leaving the filter off for too long). Finally I left it for another hour or so, before turning the filter back on, to let the sand settle. The tank was never very cloudy, and after the hour it was almost completely clear again.
People have said that leaving the fish in will be far too stressful for them, but as far as I could tell they had absolutely no problem with it. I left two pieces of bogwood in for them to hide on/around/behind, just in case, but they were far too interested in what I was doing to be scared!
Then I left the tank (filter still running) for about an hour, to let everything settle down a bit, and to give the fish a bit of a break. After this all the cr*p from the gravel that hadn't been sucked up by the filter was sitting on the bottom of the tank, so I could easily syphon it out.
Next I turned off the filter and (using the same scoop) put the sand in. I filled the scoop (again, you could use a mug/cup) about half way, lowered it right to the base of the tank and GENTLY tipped the sand out, so that it didn't fly up too much in the water. This took surprisingly less time than I'd expected (I was worried about leaving the filter off for too long). Finally I left it for another hour or so, before turning the filter back on, to let the sand settle. The tank was never very cloudy, and after the hour it was almost completely clear again.
People have said that leaving the fish in will be far too stressful for them, but as far as I could tell they had absolutely no problem with it. I left two pieces of bogwood in for them to hide on/around/behind, just in case, but they were far too interested in what I was doing to be scared!
What if you can keep the bottom virtually maintenance free.
Along with the idea of bottom dwellers, a couple of well placed powerheads, and/or an increase in filtration in general, will keep the lighter debris in the water column where it will readily be picked up by filters. I don't need to do any sand cleaning at all in my 25, and in the 110 it is either picked up by filters or settles into one area where I can easily syphon it out with the python.
Along with the idea of bottom dwellers, a couple of well placed powerheads, and/or an increase in filtration in general, will keep the lighter debris in the water column where it will readily be picked up by filters. I don't need to do any sand cleaning at all in my 25, and in the 110 it is either picked up by filters or settles into one area where I can easily syphon it out with the python.
a_ellis
New Member
Okay!! Lots of wonderful help, thanks so much. This really demystifies a lot of things for me. Now, one last question. I've never had cory cats, all I have is plecos. How many & what kinds of "bottom disturbing" fish do I need? (just in case I can't get corys at my lfs).
I haven't seen a fish shop without cories, and they like to be in schools so atleast three or more if you can, with a 55g I recommend six atleast (of the same species of cory) if you don't have cories though maybe you'll have kuli loaches (but these are a lot harder to find around here) and once again I recommend three or more.
good luck I'm changing my gravel out to sand tomorrow and I'll have pics afterwards
good luck I'm changing my gravel out to sand tomorrow and I'll have pics afterwards
a_ellis
New Member
thanks mxpx, I went to lfs today & got some kind of catfish (he's silver & black finned with some tiny speckled black spots) & he's about 4 inches long. I don't know exactly what kind he is but, he's very active!
Thanks so much everyone!
Thanks so much everyone!
sounds like a pictus catfish to me, will make a great addition to your 55g, once again they like to be in groups of 3 or more (3 should do) so if you've got room I'd recommend a couple more of them, just a thought.
Maya~4Ix12chen
Fish Fanatic
If I wanted to replace gravel with sand in my tank, what effect will it have on my filters?
What kind of sand is best to use?
and I have lots of live plants in my tank, is that a problem??
how big do cory's get? do they go well in a community aquarium?? if not what kind of bottom dweller would??
I was reading this thread about the sand and I would like to change over to sand aswell. currently I am using gravel.
What kind of sand is best to use?
and I have lots of live plants in my tank, is that a problem??
how big do cory's get? do they go well in a community aquarium?? if not what kind of bottom dweller would??
I was reading this thread about the sand and I would like to change over to sand aswell. currently I am using gravel.
Maya~4Ix12chen
Fish Fanatic
never mind my last post here, i see the pinned topic!! 
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