Sand Substrate

[charlie_fish]

Hi,

I am using silica sand as a substrate in my 20 gallon. It looks natural and really nice buy its such a pain in the ass to clean. All the sediment from the tank settles on it and how can I clean it? Ive tried using a net to scoop up the sediment but this just stirs it all up and I end up with a cloudy mess and my plants get covered in sand, any ideas? Can I usea gravel cleaner or will this get completely blocked with sand? Thanks

Charlie

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi Charlie fish.

We use sand to one degree or other in all 5 of our tanks. I've found that the best method is to hover just at the point where the vac won't pick up the sand, I find this point by slowly lowering the nozzel to the sand, as soon as sand starts to lift I raise it up slightly, and make slow/medium circular motions with the vac. This causes little sand tornadoes in the nozzel, lifting the debris and dropping the heaver sand back to the bottom. That is the method I use with the electric vac when cleaning, when doing a clean/waterchange I use the gravity vac and wiggle it along the sand surface. I do get a small amount of sand in the water bucket (1/2 a cup from the 90 gal. which is all sand substrata) but if I want to put it back into the tank when I'm done I wash it out in a piece of clean cotton and put it back into the tank by using the gravity vac to syphon it out of the water bucket.

HTH

Don.

 

[charlie_fish]

Thanks Don, I'll try it, hopefully I shouldn't have too much trouble!!
Charlie

 

[Pufferpack]

Happy to help

 

[LesGerber]

Thanks Don for the tip, I am still waiting for the cloud to settle in my tank and let me tell you......There has been more than one time I have said what did I get myself into



Les

 

[Pufferpack]

....one word of caution...don't get mesmerised by the tornadoes....the floor could get awfull wet.

 

[shark89]

watch your damn language buddy

 

[LesGerber]

Shark, i dont have anyclue as to why you have come in here and started your crap, I know of the nasty pm you sent to playfulalliecat and your response here is enough to give you a warning. This site is here for people to help others, not to be hateful. If that is all you wish to do, the let me show you the door

Les

 

[Pufferpack]

Shark89...although I would have to agree that we should watch what language we use when posting, as this is an open forum that people of any age can access, I dont think that your use of strong language is the proper way to get your point accross!

 

[Doohic722]

I dont think anyone should respond to anything shark89 says, people like this love the attention. The best thing to do is ignor the behavior, not encourage it. And I think any issues mod's take up with him should be done behind the scenes, wheather in PM's or emails. just my opinion.

And of course if shark says anything helpful, we should encourage that by praising him.