Play Sand Sucks!

[jonathand]

When cleaning sand for the first time, I find it easier to do a bit at a time rather than the whole lot all at once.

You can also use a shower head or hose and leave it running slowly into the container so that the water gently overflows, carrying the dirt out while the heavier sand sits at the bottom.

When filling the tank with water, pour it onto a plate or bowl to stop the sand being swept about so much

 

[moochy13]

if you use your garden hose to fill the tank you wont kick any sand up at all. well, maybe for the first inch or so, but atfer that it wont be a problem. i sued the plate method till i had a couple of inches of water in, then left the hose floating in the tank while it filled.

 

[james_fish]

Nice tank Andy G!

What livestock do you have in it?

James.

 

[Andy_G]

Thanks guys, i've dwarf frogs and cherry shrimp, there's a journal in the planted section http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/343446-low-tech-home-for-shrimp-and-frogs/ i don't want to go hijacking the thread, just put the pic up for Sweeden to see the black sand.

 

[symon_say]

You have to give the san a really nice clean before putting it into the tank, i spend about one hour cleaning mine, now i can pick up sand in my hand a release it, and it'll sink without getting my water dirty.

You have to clean the sand with running water, and when you think is clean enough take your hand to the bottom and move the sand up, that way all the dirt that is trapped there will be free and go out of the bucket.

I use sand blaster silica sand, cause i work with it, and i have some bag laying around.

 

[Rynofasho]

Unfortunately I cannot top off with a garden hose as A) it is too far away and B) I cannot control the temperature. Our faucet inside wouldnt allow for a python either, I dont think, because of the shape and design of the faucet. Im trying to think of how I could make the plate method work. . .

Here is the sand, FYI -- http/www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/SandPremiumPlay.asp

 

[Aqua Tom]

I think your problem is that you are trying to wash all the sand at once. I use a 3 gallon bucket. Fill it about a 1/4 full of sand the rinse it out in the sink. When it is clean, add to aquarium & repeat.

 

[Andy_G]

i use a 7 gallon bucket from a homebrew shop. fill the bucket with the shower, carry it over to my tank and use a few feet of garden hose to syphon it into the tank. it's a bit more effort, but it gives me a lot more control of the water goin in. Andy

 

[Joshwainwright]

I don't know why, but I've just got over excited that the Argos bags of play sand are 15kg rather than the 10kg I though they were. That just makes it more of a bargain!!

 

[Aqua Tom]

i use a 7 gallon bucket from a homebrew shop. fill the bucket with the shower, carry it over to my tank and use a few feet of garden hose to syphon it into the tank. it's a bit more effort, but it gives me a lot more control of the water goin in. Andy

Syphon the sand?

 

[Andy_G]

I was meaning for when rynofasho uses the plate method, instead of just pouring from the bucket. i have seen people syphon sand not recommended. The shower is the best place in my flat for cleaning sand with running water though, my sinks are too small and i don't have an outdoor tap. A

 

[sXeLifer]

My tank went from

before:

to middle:

to end:

The relevance to your post by the way is that in the 2nd picture I used an 8 kilo bag of sand from pets at home on top of sand I'd had previously. This was cleaned before use and it still came out minging, just shows that £12.99 sand will kick up just as much crap as any other.

 

[Joshwainwright]

I'll try the cheap stuff first, with an extremely good clean!

 

[Aqua Tom]

I'll try the cheap stuff first, with an extremely good clean!

Good move

 

[Rynofasho]

Alright, well thank you for all the tips. Not sure if you caught it, but I put a link in to the sand I'm using. I know it is safe as I've been looking across the web and see lotsa people use it in the US. The bigger bits I was referring to are just pieces of silica sand I believe. Like I said, only 1-2mm but it is just noticeably different. I got a lot of it out, but there is still plenty, so I think it will do well to look natural with pieces that aren't all identical in size.

I haven't put anything in the tank yet because im still finishing up treating Ich. That said, I will heed everyones advice and take a 5 gallon bucket and put some sand in from the main tub that was rinsed and give it a quick scouring before it goes in the tank next weekend. I still have to decide on some plants for my background. I'm not sure how big of a fan of Vals I am. I was maybe going to try some hydrocotyle leucocephala. The tank is 18" tall, so I want something that will at least grow to 12-15" or so. I'm only at 1WPG with a T5, but already my one anubias nana that has been in the tank since the beginning is far greener and has sprouted two new leaves, so I know that it is helping. Also going to dose Flourish and Excel and probably start all the stem plants off with fert tabs. Either that, or I may put a really thin layer of laterite or flourite under the sand.

So many decisions!