Adding Sand

[laura120381]

hi everyone,

this is probably a really stupid question but my tank currently has black roman pea gravel and i want to add an area of black coral sand before i put any corys in. do i have to completely drain the tank to add the sand?? i have only ever added sand as a substrate to a brand new empty tank so i'm not sure!!

also i am needing to buy a new water test kit as my current one is almost finished. i had a nutrafin mini master kit which i found to be good. i am not keen on using test strips as i have heard they can be inaccurate. is this true? can anyone recommend a good test kit or should i just get the same one again??

thanks for your help.

L

 

[This Old Spouse]

You can add sand to your established tank, but make sure it's VERY well rinsed first. I'd scoop some of the gravel out where you want to put the sand, because if you just add it to the top of the gravel it will sift down to the bottom. It's easier to add wet sand ... just take a cup or glass and scoop it in a bit at a time.

I'd get another Nutrafin kit or Salifert. The test strips are horribly inaccurate and just a waste of money IMO.

Please post photos when you're finished!

 

[laura120381]

thanks for that. i wasn't sure. i will do as you said and clear a space in the gravel. had not thought of it sifting down!! i will post some pics in the next couple os weeks.

thanks again.

L

 

[Ben M]

Have you already bought the sand? If not, I would recommend that you use a different type of sand, as coral sand buffers the water, so should only be used for certain types of fish (african cichlids etc). It may also be quite sharp which could irritate your corys gills.

cheers,
Ben

 

[This Old Spouse]

Have you already bought the sand? If not, I would recommend that you use a different type of sand, as coral sand buffers the water, so should only be used for certain types of fish (african cichlids etc). It may also be quite sharp which could irritate your corys gills.

cheers,
Ben

+1
Good catch, Ben!

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I switched over one of my tanks from gravel to white sand and I just made sure there was no silt in it (like 10 full rinses or more) and then grabbed a bowl and filled it up, sunk it to the bottom of the tank and THEN emptied it out on to the bottom of the tank. I didn't bother taking my fish out and it only made the water slightly cloudy.

 

[laura120381]

thanks for the advice guys. no i have not bought the sand yet...thankfully!! what type should i get? thanks for the tip scott. that sound like it would be easier.

L

 

[Proxo]

Playsand is pretty common around the forum, i've got it in both my tanks.

 

[Fishy friend2]

so playsand will work in fish tanks

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes.

I have playsand in my tanks, and as long as it's really, properly rinsed it won't cause any problems.

 

[Fishy friend2]

so do you just spray it down with a hose outside

 

[fluttermoth]

Put the sand in a bucket (about a third full) and run a tap or hose into the bucket, stirring the sand around. Then you pour off everything, and I mean everything that hasn't sunk within the first few seconds.

Do that until every particle in your bucket sinks immediately and your sand will be clean enough to use; it's more than just washing out bits of twig etc; it's getting rid of all those light particles.

 

[laura120381]

hi guys,

i might consider changing all my substrate to playsand then. originally i was going to created a sand 'area' for my corys. i currently have black roman pea gravel and wanted to add some black sand. do you know where i could get sand this colour that would be suitable?? if not i will just remove all the gravel and put in playsand.

thanks

L

ps - don't worry...i have not added any corys yet and won't do so until i have put in a suitable substrate!!

 

[Scott MacAdam]

You SHOULD be able to get black sand at your LFS. mine carries it... Otherwise, I can vouch for play sand and beach sand. I've used both in the past.

Make sure you wash it WELL. when you feel you've gone completely overkill on rinses, do 3 more. hahaha. you'll thank us later, un-rinsed sand is terrible. Basically, I fill up a large bucket/container (mine is about 8 gallons)half way with sand and put it under the tap of the tub (outside hose works equally well). fill it up and get the sand moving around and then dump out all the water, anything floating is going to cloud up your water. Once it rinses clean, give it a few more to make sure you get the stuff at the bottom and you should be good to go!

My first time adding sand (white playsand) it clouded up my tank for at least 48-72 hours and I THOUGHT I rinsed it enough. hahaha

Best of luck,

Scott

 

[laura120381]

thanks scott!!! i will rinse, rinse and rinse again!!!!!