Best Way To Wash Sand?

[MermaidMel]

without losing loads down the drain

 

[MartinD]

without losing loads down the drain

In a bucket


Sand will sink to the bottom once you've given it a good wash then it's just a case of gently pouring the water out. I did this when I first put sand in
my 4ft tank and it worked well. 1 bag of sand in the bucket, give it a good wash (i usually put the tap on full blast and moved all the sand around in the bucket for 5 minutes with my hand) then pour out the water.


The key is to pour the water out slowly.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I agree, simply putting the sand in a bucket while filling it up with water and swishing the water around inside is the way way to clean the sand and remove any dirt or dust in it, as long as you pour the water out carefully and slowly when it fills up then you won't loose any sand as its actually quite heavy stuff unless you're making a real full force whirlpool in the bucket etc .

 

[pauly]

Yep, what those said. I'd just add that you may need to fill, wash, and empty the bucket a few times before you've cleaned it enough. Keep doing it until what you pour away is relatively clear.

Paul.

 

[MermaidMel]

Cheers peeps

 

[WILDER]

I finish off with boiling water just to make sure if there any parasites there killed.
Best way to fill the tank up with sand is gently pour the water in over a dish, so it dosn't kick the sand up.

 

[MermaidMel]

I always fill my tanks over something solid whether sand or not, even gravel can go flying lol

One more thing - Argos do 15kg bags for £2.49 a bag, I can use that can't I... how many kg to cover the bottom of a tank 47" x 14" x 25" roughly?

 

[aaronnorth]

here is a substrate calculator

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/..._calculator.php

some people use play sand but i don't think it is treated like aquatic sand

 

[OohFeeshy]

^ No, it isn't. It's 'treated' by being put into veery small bags with a very big price on them.

 

[MermaidMel]

here is a substrate calculator

[URL="http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/..._calculator.php"]http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/..._calculator.php[/URL]

some people use play sand but i don't think it is treated like aquatic sand

Great link thank you matey, grand total of 3 bags £7.50 woohoo