Time to Stir Things Up

[dixaisy930]

I have a sand substrate in one of my 10 gallon tanks. I have only one or two malasian trumpet snails in there at the moment. I'd like to get one or two more (I know they'll be reproducing soon, however) to help keep the sand stirred up.

My question (finally) how often should I stir the sand. So far I've done it once a week.

 

[akhtar]

why stir sand up ?

 

[dixaisy930]

You need to run something through it, like a chopstick, to make sure no "dead pockets" form. Bad bacteria starts accumulating and growing in these spots because aerobic respiration can't occur because air can't get to the good bacteria. So the good bacteria dies off and the toxic bacteria grows in these pockets. The sand is alot more dense than gravel, and compacts easily, whereas the gravel has "natural" air pockets, so there's no need to turn over the gravel.

Did I get this right? I'm new to sand so I'm not sure if I got it technically right...but the idea is there. lol

 

[akhtar]

oh i see,

i dunno the answer tho

 

[PereguineFalcon]

If it was saltwater i would say get a Yellow Headed Sleeper goby!! lol!! Those buggas turn gravel/sand 24/7!! You could get a junipari or a firemouth if your tank was bout 30 gals. larger.

 

[noelberg]

Some plecs and cats will bury in the sand ... may I suggest a banjo catfish? I think they look massively cool B)

 

[guppygirly]

I used to have sand (didn't like it). Anyways, I was told to run a stick through it once a week. What kind of fish do you have in there? Some chilids are obssesive diggers, so if you keep these you may not have to stir at all. Just a thought.

 

[noelberg]

Just ran into this thread on tubifex worms:
http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...4726&hl=tubifex

It's food that stirs your substrate!

 

[dixaisy930]

I have a candy-striped pleco, white cheeked goby, yo-yo loach, dwarf puffer, and a molly. Many times I've seen the goby take in a mouth full of sand and spit it out (he also dug out his own little hide out under one of the terra cotta pots in there).