Aquarium Sand

[finchfarm]

After my traslucent-growth incident (see other posts), I've contemplated just throwing out the old gravel (so I don't risk reinfestation) and going with new gravel, or maybe sand. I've always used gravel in my aquariums, but I've always wanted to use sand, I just don't know anything about it, so I have a few questions.

•Will sand effect my filter differently than gravel? (AquaClear)
• Do you have to soak sand before you put it in your tank, like gravel?
• How do you clean tanks with sand, do you just gravel vac it?
• One of my fish is very big and very skittish and flips out and stirs up a lot of stuff off the bottom, how will this effect a tank having a sand bottom?
• Not important; but do they make black aquarium sand? I have an Amazonian biotope and the blackwater river I'm trying to simulate just wouldn't look right with white sand.
• Anything else I'd need to know about keeping a sand-bottomed aquarium?

I'd like all your input and opinions with sand vs. gravel bottomed tanks. Do you think its worth it for me to drain my entire 75 gallon tank, take out the gravel and put in sand or is it more beneficial for me to gravel vac, drain the entire tank and then put in fresh new water?

I would be much appreciative of any help.

 

[ShoC]

After my traslucent-growth incident (see other posts), I've contemplated just throwing out the old gravel (so I don't risk reinfestation) and going with new gravel, or maybe sand. I've always used gravel in my aquariums, but I've always wanted to use sand, I just don't know anything about it, so I have a few questions.

•Will sand effect my filter differently than gravel? (AquaClear)
• Do you have to soak sand before you put it in your tank, like gravel?
• How do you clean tanks with sand, do you just gravel vac it?
• One of my fish is very big and very skittish and flips out and stirs up a lot of stuff off the bottom, how will this effect a tank having a sand bottom?
• Not important; but do they make black aquarium sand? I have an Amazonian biotope and the blackwater river I'm trying to simulate just wouldn't look right with white sand.
• Anything else I'd need to know about keeping a sand-bottomed aquarium?

I'd like all your input and opinions with sand vs. gravel bottomed tanks. Do you think its worth it for me to drain my entire 75 gallon tank, take out the gravel and put in sand or is it more beneficial for me to gravel vac, drain the entire tank and then put in fresh new water?

I would be much appreciative of any help.

you could clean the sane before putting it it, when you do put it in you will have a misty looking tank for a while.

You use a gravel Vac but don't put it onto the sand just shake it from a distance so the dirt raises up and into the vac, Sand is light and will disapear if you holw the vac to close.

he will probably love digging in the sand.

they do sell Black aquarium sand. (pets at home does) crap shop tho IMO

Cant answer you with the filter,
on a side note be warned that you need to stir the sand occasionally to allow oxygen to enter the sand to prevent anaerobic conditions occurring
(where food rots without oxygen) as it can be harmful to fish (the gassed used)

sorry cant be much help

 

[Jazzyc]

•Will sand effect my filter differently than gravel? (AquaClear)

No Not really - a bit messy at first as all the silt settles but if you wash the sand first it should be ok

• Do you have to soak sand before you put it in your tank, like gravel?

Yes you have to rinse it through

• How do you clean tanks with sand, do you just gravel vac it?

Yes but hover about an inch from the surface of the sand and make circular motions

• One of my fish is very big and very skittish and flips out and stirs up a lot of stuff off the bottom, how will this effect a tank having a sand bottom?

He will make a little hole?? It will be fine... my Clown Plec loves to make a little hole in the sand to sit in and usually makes some mess with his tail - nothing major

• Not important; but do they make black aquarium sand? I have an Amazonian biotope and the blackwater river I'm trying to simulate just wouldn't look right with white sand.

Not Sure on the that one....

• Anything else I'd need to know about keeping a sand-bottomed aquarium?

Plants LOVE sand... they root so much easier in it.
It looks a lot nicer than gravel... IMO
My corys love sifting through it and thus helps it stay clean... much to my Shrimps anoyance!

Hope that helps.

 

[finchfarm]

So I don't have to worry about my AquaClear sucking up sand substrate along with the water and debris?

 

[Lhutch]

enless you very very very very overfiltered but for it to do that it would suck up all your fish ie 55gal filter in a 5gallon

 

[dthoffsett]

So I don't have to worry about my AquaClear sucking up sand substrate along with the water and debris?

As long as your inlet tube is at least 3 inches above the sands surface it should be just fine. I have an aquaclear running on my 75 gal along with a cannister and have never found sand in either one.

Just google Tahitian Moon Sand for black sand. It's kind of expensive though.