sand in my tank

drobbins27 · Mar 30, 2004

You seriously just made me decide that I'm going to switch my 29g to sand once I get my 100g set up :thumbs:

Thanks man

handsomeboy · Mar 30, 2004

give us some info on cleaning/maintenance after a few days....
i might just go sand on my 55g

also, plant growth? is it improvement or does it not grow anymore?

tyty

Stryker · Mar 31, 2004

Yeah, I'd also like to know how it affects plants in general.

I'm so close to trying sand in my smaller tank

What put me off sand was reading the sand tank article.... on this site I think.

myenigmaself · Mar 31, 2004

I think sand is easier than gravel, actually. I have two sand tanks and one gravel, and cleaning the sand is a brease. I siphon twice a month, stir the sand once a month. It's cake! The sand I have is pretty heavy, too, so I can actually root around a little in it and the siphon doesn't pick it up: just the poo

)

All the fish love the sand more than gravel, particularly my loaches (kuhli and red-tailed sand loaches). I guess the difference is similar to the difference between cleaning a multi-colored shag carpet versus a short white carpet. You notice the dirt sooner on the white, but it's way easier to clean up (particularly since sand doesn't stain like carpet does). My apple snails actually burrow in it a little to get away from my puffers. Tank looks great SConrad!!

Note, sand isn't as good for heavily planted tanks. Particularly plants with roots. If you're going to do that keep the plants in a better base, and then just cover that in sand.

SConrad · Mar 31, 2004

wow! i didnt even see the second page..lol, glad i made some people change their minds! i will let ya know how everything goes. i hvent realy been thinkin of the dirty-ness lately, because i have lost a fish, i think!! the next day, after doin the change, i noticed i was missing a tiger barb!!! i cant find him anywhere! i hope hes not in my chihuahua's tummy! lol not a funny thing, but just real strange.

myenigmaself · Mar 31, 2004

Did you do a live switch? Looks like you did. Hope you didn't scoop him out with the gravel!!

SConrad · Mar 31, 2004

well, first i took out all of the fish, then i took out the gravel, i hope i didnt kill him!

blakwidoe · Apr 1, 2004

man I wanna go sand in my 75 but dont think I wanna keep replacing filters SIGH

SConrad · Apr 1, 2004

if this sand causes me to have to replace one filter, im done with them, i def. cant afford that!!

jams.alaskan · Apr 1, 2004

I love the change! What a nice set up - how are the fish liking it?

ALASKA

SConrad · Apr 2, 2004

well, as far as i can tell, they love it! they are more active(mostly the shark and pleco), and they seem to be all around happier, less territorial fighting, and i love it also, makes the tank look cleaner(hope that last a while ;/) and no sign of the tiger barb!