I Don't Like Sand!

[ecotack]

My 3ft tank had sand in the bottom, left over from a tropical set up. When I removed the power filters I used two corner air driven filters that sat on the sand, which I though was good enough for the goldfish.

When I can to dismantle the tank to move it, I noticed the vibration from the filter had caused the sand to not only ware away the corner of the filter, but had also warn a grove in the tank. Luckily for me this was a well made tank with a very thick glass base. If this had been my old 3ft tank, it would have failed.

I don't use sand any more.

 

[noshybabs]

I hate sand, It make a right mess too. I will never us it again

 

[erk628]

My 3ft tank had sand in the bottom, left over from a tropical set up. When I removed the power filters I used two corner air driven filters that sat on the sand, which I though was good enough for the goldfish.

When I can to dismantle the tank to move it, I noticed the vibration from the filter had caused the sand to not only ware away the corner of the filter, but had also warn a grove in the tank. Luckily for me this was a well made tank with a very thick glass base. If this had been my old 3ft tank, it would have failed.

I don't use sand any more.

So your saying the sand wore a groove in your tank hmmm. Is you tank glass or acryilc?

 

[noshybabs]

Thats a good question, beacuse glass is harder than sand, so what should have happened it the sand should have been ground down

 

[discus dreamer]

I have just switched to sand in my smaller tank for the sake of the corries' barbles but did the new set up on saturday and the water is still really cloudy (6 days later). Will it clear eventually? andy tips of getting it to clear faster?
The sand was ready washed and 'suitable for aquaria' and is the same type of sand I put under the gravel in my big tank without this problem.
thanks
Isis

 

[Kevstir]

I have just switched to sand in my smaller tank for the sake of the corries' barbles but did the new set up on saturday and the water is still really cloudy (6 days later). Will it clear eventually? andy tips of getting it to clear faster?
The sand was ready washed and 'suitable for aquaria' and is the same type of sand I put under the gravel in my big tank without this problem.
thanks
Isis

You can get interpets filter aid, its clumps the fine particals together so that the filter can remove them.

 

[noshybabs]

I stuck a bit of filter wool arounf my sponge and it cleared in hours!

 

[sharkbaitwoohaha]

i love sand. use it in all but th betta tank, and thats nly cos ive not changed it yet

 

[ecotack]

That's a good question, because glass is harder than sand, so what should have happened it the sand should have been ground down

Sand contains Quartz which is harder than Glass. On a hardness scale glass is 5.5 and quarts 7 (fingernails have a hardness of 2.5).

 

[sic0198]

I was gonna use sand in my 10 galllon, after I talked to some people I decided to use white gravel.

 

[erk628]

I have just switched to sand in my smaller tank for the sake of the corries' barbles but did the new set up on saturday and the water is still really cloudy (6 days later). Will it clear eventually? andy tips of getting it to clear faster?
The sand was ready washed and 'suitable for aquaria' and is the same type of sand I put under the gravel in my big tank without this problem.
thanks
Isis

They have chemicals that you can buy that are for cloudy tanks. What it does it clumps up the particals so the filter can remove it better. I've used it recently on two tanks and it works great. Also just because the sand has been pre washed it still creates dust because it has been handled alot before you purchased it, thats why its a good idea to wash it good before putting it in your tank.

I was gonna use sand in my 10 galllon, after I talked to some people I decided to use white gravel.

They both have there purposes, it just depends on the type of fish you are going to have. IMO sand looks more natural and is the safest way to go for the fish.

 

[sic0198]

But isn't it messy?

 

[nmonks]

Depends how you define "messy". Yes, poop and detritus sits on top of the sand and is consequently very obvious. On the other hand, it doesn't sink into the sand (as happens with gravel) so it much easier to siphon out that stuff. Yes, sand often contains silt when purchased, and even after cleaning it, some silt ends up in the aquarium. But that's easy to remove using a combination of new filter wool and filter aid (the latter isn't essential, but it helps). The silt should be gone within a day or two if you do this. Yes, sand gets into the aquarium filter, but only if you put the inlet pipe too close to the sand (or have fish that throw the sand about wildly). Yes, sand can scratch the glass, but it will only do so if you physically drag sand grains along the glass (e.g., with an algae sponge or magnet).

Personally, I find sand to be attractive and versatile. Lots of fish are better when kept with sand: cichlids and catfish love "sifting" it for food, and gobies and loaches dig into enthusiastically. Anyone keeping small species of spiny eel should consider sand mandatory, as keeping them without it leads to an early death, but even the bigger spiny eels love the stuff, as do things like flatfish, Corydoras, and even some pufferfish.

Cheers, Neale

PS. Have a quick read of this for some tips:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=131373

But isn't it messy?

 

[Yetti]

Actually some types of sand are used to make glass, it is melted down in really high temperatures. you should not be scared of using sand, unless the filter actually pushes it to the glass.

 

[PaulEbs]

In my opinion, it beats the look of gravel with the right lighting.

But it does take a while to get used to, and a hoover every 3-4 days - but well worth it in my opinion.

Regards,

Paul.