Sand Vs Gravel

[Fisses]

I presume when yopu say silver sand you mean the smooth type like play sand?

im getting some from argos tonight, and whilst im not seein the mrs tonight im gonna attemp to do it(well, wash it out and if theres time take out gravel and put in sand)

will get pics up once done

 

[SuperColey1]

There are 3 names:

Play Sand, Dry Sand and Silver Sand.

All 3 are the same sands except silver and dry sand are dried out first whereas play sand isn't.

Pre bagging Dry Sand and Silver sand is stored inside whereas Play sand is left out in the rain on dirty concrete yards!!

Whilst this is no problem for children to play in I prefer to use the dried version in the aquarium!!!

AC

 

[Fisses]

Ah, hence why play sand is much dirtire with silt in it and requires a good wash out.

its dirt cheap tho so gonna clean it tonight, and if time put in tank

mrs doesnt want me to tho

 

[SuperColey1]

Beat some sense into her

AC

 

[Fisses]

lol she'll have no choice, im gonna try and do it tonight!

she hates me coming on here haha

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Fisses

If you wash it out in a dishpan, a little at a time, and stir it around with your hands, it gets done fast. A side benefit is that it will make your hands nice and smooth when you are done. That might have its advantages, don't you think?

 

[Fisses]

well its done,washing it out was pretty easy really, half fill a bucket with sand, in the bath and blast it with the cold water tap till water gets to top, leave 5-10 seconds to let the big stuff settle then tip out the scum on top, and repeat a few times till the water runs out clear then put in tank....

however, i was just finishing doing it and heard something which sounded like gravel fallin on to a work top, couldt find anything, put all back together and found a hairline crack in my tank so straight down to Pets At Home seconds before they was closing to buy another 60litre tank.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

i think it looks ace, and the catfish was already burrowing in the sand spitting it out through their gills like their supposed to in the wild so that makes me more than happy!

As you can see, it still looks a little bit cloudy but may take a few days for the tiny tiny silt to settle or get filtered out

 

[SuperColey1]

Give it a few days and then clean the filter out as it will be full of the particles it has removed. What I would do is add in some cheap filter wool/floss (79p from Wilko) and let that pull all the fine particles out.

That means you can quickly remove the wool/floss and chuck it getting the filter back in there quickly with minimal interference.

Did the missus see the burrowing/sand sifting? That should prove to her that it is better for the fish

Looks a ton better too. I won't get carried away trying to convince you to get rid of the background

AC

 

[Fisses]

No shes not interested anymore and never wants to hear about the fish again

don't think she'll forgive me for this

as soon as i put the sand in though they was happy burrowing around, im suprised how deep they burrowed themselves in too and seein the sand spitting out their gills was well cute!!

going to get some more corys soon

 

[Truck]

No shes not interested anymore and never wants to hear about the fish again

don't think she'll forgive me for this

as soon as i put the sand in though they was happy burrowing around, im suprised how deep they burrowed themselves in too and seein the sand spitting out their gills was well cute!!

going to get some more corys soon

women can be stubborn but they soon warm to an idea

 

[Fisses]

lets hope so, i did it for the corys, not for aesthtic reasons

gotta sort out my cracked glass now!

but i got a elite 60l kit, so gonna put my old tank back in and send it all back and get my money back ;-)

 

[Inchworm]

It looks great, Fisses. It was well worth the trouble. Too bad about the tank though.

 

[Fisses]

i know, i cant belive it got a crack in it, but got it all boxed up again now ready to return with full refund

 

[Fisses]

Oh and a quick tip for anyone doing it, if you put the sand into a jug first, then submerge it into the tank water, then lower it to the bottom of the tank and pour it out, it stops a lot of the particles dropping the flying up as it hits the bottom

i learnt that that the 2nd time doing it

 

[Fisses]

right, my opinions have changed!!!

hate it hate it hate it, but i had to give it a go or i'd never have known, so hopefully getting some pea gravel now, BUT what size is best for Corydoras?

sorry Jen