sand

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

My question is if you are going to buy sand for your tank can you still use an ungravel filter? Is there a special one you can buy or can you modify a normal filter to not let the sand through?

 

[heresmike]

No, you should not use an undergravel filter with sand. But don't let that discourage you from using sand. It's nice, and the ug filters are rather outdated IMO.

 

[heresmike]

BTW Based on your user name, I hope this is not the only post we can expect from you. Stick around... lots of good advice here!

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Don't worry you'll get a lot more questions for me it just happens that sand was the foremost thing on my mind.
Let me run through my reasoning.

I have a smaller tank a 113.5 liter (30 gallon) breeder. I have two power filters for it. I have the undergravel filter and think that due to the surface of the sand I can make a really good bio filter out of it.
My though is take the UG and cover it with a fine metal mesh. to keep the sand out. Now, with a powerful powerhead I can keep the water very well filtered to say keep a couple of african ciclihids.

Anyway thats my plan. What do you think?

 

[Captain Canuck]

I don't know if that will work, the water would be well filtered, but all the waste and uneaten food will still stay on top of the sand. I think you would need something with alot of power to move much water through the sand, especially as it consolidates and compacts itself.

It seems like a clever idea though, like a pool filter built into an aquarium. Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge about what a powerhead can do will add something.

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

My thought is that if I use a gravel vaccum with the UG on I should be able to get the waste off the surface with minimal loss of sand. I can always rake through it everyonce in awhile to keep it from compacting completely.

Again more information and thoughts please?

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Really I am curious does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[jams.alaskan]

I've never even thought about it. Surely someone has tried it... Let us know how you get on.

ALASKA

 

[thecichlidaddict]

No matter what you try sand will make a very inefficient substrate for an undergravel filter because the density of the sand makes it very difficult for water to be drawn through, and for oxygen to get very far below the surface.

There are so many effective types of filtration to choose from that UGF are just not necessary anymore, and the other methods are much cleaner long term, because you can actually clean them!

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Ok so I have 2 powerfilters will this be enough?
One is for up to 40 gallons the other is for 30.

the 40 gallon one has a sponge in it for bacteria grow the 30 does not.

If I skip my first idea should be good to go?