Sand or gravel??

[emjay653]

I've been thinking about converting a tank I have from gravel to sand, but I have a few questions:

1. Can an Undergravel filter be used with sand, or would I have to replace it?
2. Can I still use the same gravel cleaner syphon tube that I do just now, but hover it above the sand to clean it?
3. How would you prevent the Hydrogen Sulphide, apart from snails as I don't want them.
4. Is it an acceptable substrate for Cichlids, eg Firemouths, Acaras?

Mj

 

[MizPlaya692003]

OK. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT USING SAND. BUT IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE IT WILL WORK. YOU CANT USE A UNDERGRAVEL FILTER. GET ONE THATS ON TOP. THAT YOU JUST PUT OVER THE BACK OF THE TANK. PLUS THE FISH MIGHT EAT THE SAND AND MAKE THEM SICK. SAND WILL ALSO GET MIXED IN THE WASTER AND MAKE THE WATER ALL CLOUDY. IT SOUNDS NICE BUT I WOULDENT RISK HARMING THE FISH. IDEA ! IF YOU GOT A SMALL 2GAL TANK TRY IT OUT WITH SAND AND BUY TWO OR THREE OF THOSE CHEAP FEEDER FISH AT A PETSTORE. THERE ONLY ABOUT $O.7 AND SEE IF THEY DO OK. IF THEY DO THEN YOU CAN PROBLEY USE IT IN YOUR OTHER TANK.


GOOD LUCK !

p.s seening that i tryed to help you. whenever i have a topic posted anywhere can you please try to help me. thank you!

 

[Lithril]

Evening Emjay, firstly is that tank you're thinking of converting already got fish in, if so you're going to need to change to sand in stages letting the bacteria build up each time - you can usually just use a divider to stop the 2 substrates mixing.

If you've got an undergravel filter in there at the moment and are going to change the substrate it might be an ideal time to think about upgrading and changing to a better filter, UGF can cause problems with debris collecting underneathing, saying that I have seen some that are sand compatible if you did want to keep it. How big is the tank there is a good UK based site for buying eheim filters failing that the Hang on Back (HOBs) or new internal ones are great.

I've got a 30 gal with sand in the bottom and the gravel vacuum works well, just lower until you see sand start to move then raise it slightly sucks all the much off of the top. I do use snails in my tank but thats also as I need them as a food source for my puffers. If you're worried about dead spots forming just mix the sand up (different area each time not all at once) when you're cleaning, especially under any ornaments you've got in the tank.

For the Cichlids I'll have to let one of the others answer that one, not sure I would have thought so but don't quote me on that

HTH and if you've got any more probs just yell

Matt

PS Mizplay I know feeder fish are only $0.7 but its still a creatures life and its better to find out exactly then start experiment with that.

 

[Eelzor]

Yep, cichlids are fine with sand, I in fact have my convicts delving in it.

 

[KnuckleHead]

OK. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT USING SAND. BUT IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE IT WILL WORK. YOU CANT USE A UNDERGRAVEL FILTER. GET ONE THATS ON TOP. THAT YOU JUST PUT OVER THE BACK OF THE TANK. PLUS THE FISH MIGHT EAT THE SAND AND MAKE THEM SICK. SAND WILL ALSO GET MIXED IN THE WASTER AND MAKE THE WATER ALL CLOUDY. IT SOUNDS NICE BUT I WOULDENT RISK HARMING THE FISH. IDEA ! IF YOU GOT A SMALL 2GAL TANK TRY IT OUT WITH SAND AND BUY TWO OR THREE OF THOSE CHEAP FEEDER FISH AT A PETSTORE. THERE ONLY ABOUT $O.7 AND SEE IF THEY DO OK. IF THEY DO THEN YOU CAN PROBLEY USE IT IN YOUR OTHER TANK.


GOOD LUCK !

p.s seening that i tryed to help you. whenever i have a topic posted anywhere can you please try to help me. thank you!

Sand is an excellent choice to use as a substrate. Just be sure you rinse it real well and do a funky chicken dance. Alot of cichlids love to burrow and sand is perfect. I recommend the white sand available at pool supply stores. To aid in the prevention of anerobic bacteria, a chop stick works very nicely. Just poke around the sand to stir up any dead spots. I do the very same thing and also have cory cats. The coreys help in keeping the top half inch stirred up and clean. Just because a fish costs next to nothing doesnt mean theyre lives are worthless.

 

[juanveldez]

yes alot of cichlids love sand that was orginally the reason that I changed over my 55 to sand so that my JD wouldn't get into trouble when he was digging in the gravel. as far as cleaning yes your siphion would be fine. no a UGF wouldn't work, you need to invest in a hang on the back filter

 

[smb]

Yep, I'm with juan and the others. I'm changing my sub to sand for my cichlids.

Like mentioned you can't use a UGF.

 

[Lateral Line]

Don't get fine sand/silver sand/building sand, it packs down to much. I use swimming pool filter sand and poke it around with a chopstick to keep it open. No probs.

 

[emjay653]

Afternoon all,

Firstly thanks to all that replied, it's been most helpful.

As I was in the process of setting up the tank in the first place with gravel and hadn't put any fish in it, it was easier to effectively start from scratch, which is where I am right now. Today I went and bought sand, and a filter, for it, so the next thing is to get the tank established and let the fishes play in the sand! Just have to watch out for them sunbathing too long!

Mj

 

[juanveldez]

thats great that you are going to go with the sand just remember to rinse it till the water turns clear, stir it up the rinse again. and no matter what keep your filter off for about a day and a half as you will just end up getting a noisy filter. trust me I know but not through any fault of my own my JD decded that it would be funny to flip a bunch of sand into one of the filters.

 

[Inchworm]

I recommend the white sand available at pool supply stores.

Just because a fish costs next to nothing doesnt mean theyre lives are worthless.

How much does this sand cost and how is it sold? (50 pound bags or ?)

__________
Those inexpensive little feeder fish can grow into beauties if given a chance. The guppies are more like natural guppies than the expensive overbred ones sold these days and their markings are unique and beautiful in their own way. And the goldfish grow into big sturdy fish, each one having its own individual personality.

A person who keeps nothing else but these inexpensive little guys will still have a collection of fish to be proud of!

 

[Nallen]

Sand is an excellent choice to use as a substrate. Just be sure you rinse it real well and do a funky chicken dance.

Seems like a very nice method