Switching To Sand

[mayurkirti]

How should I switch from gravel to sand? I just finished cycling the tank. I am about to start making my tank look pretty and want to use sand. I am worried how much time the sand will take to settle before I can add the fish back into the tank. I dont have a spare tank to keep my fish and filters in.

Do these steps sound right?:

1. Remove filters, plants, and rocks in a bucket keeping them wet
2. Remove fish
3. Keep all water in separate container
4. Wash and add sand to the empty tank
5. Add the water from container
6. Add plants and rocks to the tank
7. Let the sand settle (how long does this take?)
8. Add filters back
9. Add fish

 

[Jallen]

How should I switch from gravel to sand? I just finished cycling the tank. I am about to start making my tank look pretty and want to use sand. I am worried how much time the sand will take to settle before I can add the fish back into the tank. I dont have a spare tank to keep my fish and filters in.

Do these steps sound right?:

1. Remove filters, plants, and rocks in a bucket keeping them wet
2. Remove fish
3. Keep all water in separate container
4. Wash and add sand to the empty tank
5. Add the water from container
6. Add plants and rocks to the tank
7. Let the sand settle (how long does this take?)
8. Add filters back
9. Add fish

That's pretty much fine.

The sand will settle enough to put the fish back in after about 10-15 minutes if washed correctly, and it will still make the water misty. After about 24 hours the water will probably be close enough to as clear as it will get.

I kept my fish in a bucket while I did the whole thing (in tank water which started out at 26C and room temperature was 22C, had no losses despite them being in my 15L bucket for about 1 and a half hours)

 

[21rm]

Im no expert on this but your method does sound about right.

 

[waterdrop]

Make sure you have the right buckets/containers beforehand. Do the "hose in the bucket" sand rinsing before the entire process starts and have the clean sand waiting, to make the rest go a little faster. Nobody's going to be able to answer that well about the sand settle time because it varies for the different sands people get, so just eye it and guess it. If you've hose rinsed the new sand long enough (till it seems quite clear) then it shouldn't take too long in the tank to be safe for your filter impellers.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[mayurkirti]

Guys, I got some sand from Home Depot. They had a really large bag. I think it is 22lbs bag. When I poured half of the sand in a half filled bucket, the water got completely milky. I think the sand will take lots of washes before I can use it. Is this how it is supposed to be?

WD, I dont think I can do "hose in the bucket" rinsing. I will however put the bucket below the tab and have the water run while I move the mixture with my hands.

I need you guys to please confirm that I got right sand before I put it in the tank!

 

[cowboy507]

you should have the right stuff. It will take a while to wash. just keep fresh water flowing to it.

 

[mayurkirti]

I washed the sand a lot and finally added it to the tank. Most sand has settled now, but the whole tank is cloudy now. How long should I wait? Can I put the fish back in, would they mind?

 

[cowboy507]

the cloudyness should settle soon. adding the fish wont hurt too much.

 

[mayurkirti]

I panicked and added the fish anyway. They seem to be doing okay. My male guppy somehow started harassing the pregnant female for some reason and chased her constantly. oh guppies.

The cloudiness seems to be settling slowly.

 

[cowboy507]

I panicked and added the fish anyway. They seem to be doing okay. My male guppy somehow started harassing the pregnant female for some reason and chased her constantly. oh guppies.

The cloudiness seems to be settling slowly.

yeah gotta love guppies.

 

[Tu13es]

Filter floss helps get rid of the silt, if you have any. Polyester pillow stuffing does the trick as well. I just cram as much of it into my filter as will fit, it seems to do a decent job.

 

[waterdrop]

Right, the pillow stuffing from walmart and places is super cheap and perfect but you do want to watch that its not coated with anti-fire chemicals, which, for me at least, has been a bit hard to figure out sometimes...

~~waterdrop~~