SAND SUBSTRATE

[roxie]

I just got a 10 gal tank and put sand in it, this is my first attempt at using sand too..i washed it alot and started the filter up and it is still cloudy, how long will this last and also what about cleaning the sand when it's established?

 

[KnuckleHead]

Sand is an excellent choice to use as a substrate. Depending on your filtration, the water should clear up within a day or two. Sand is real easy to clean. Just keep the end of the hose roughly an inch above it ans swirl the water. One thing to do periodicaly is to stir the sand. This keeps any of the bad bacteria from building up and killing your fish. I use a sterile plastic chopstick as an example.

 

[KnuckleHead]

oops doublepost sorry.

 

[Da_Oz]

After a few weeks and few PWC you should never have another cloud problem. Just be sure to poke it ever so often. Or I have trumpet snails in my sand tanks. But beware once you add then you will have a hard time getting rid of them. But they dig into the sand at day time and out at night which keeps the sand turning and only get about the size of a pea.

 

[roxie]

I am using a whisper 20 that is mechanical, biological and chemicaly filtering is this ok for the sand?

 

[Aquascaper]

They best thing i've found for stirring sand is banjo catfish

You never see them during the day apart from a nose and a tail but after lights out .......

 

[Eve]

Welcome to the wonderful use of Sand! The best way to go by far

Yes the filter your using will be fine

What are you planning on stocking in the tank?

 

[roxie]

I am still thinking on the stocking of it, the cloudiness has pretty much gone away and I put 2 Platy's in it for now to help with the cycling...I really love the elephant nose and was thinking of about some small schoaling fish, but still no good ideas yet.

 

[clutterydrawer]

NO elephant noses in a ten gallon tank.

for small schooling fish, maybe black phantoms tetras or harlequin rasboras? although as you;ve got sand, cories would be nice