New Tank

[smokeyjo]

My step mum is buying my father a tank for xmas and he is working days on christmas day so we are going to set it up while he is in work. The problem I've got is we are going to put sand in but we want to minimise the cloudiness caused by the sand. If I washed it and put it in buckets to settle in there do you think it wouldn't be as cloudy as normal. Thanks peeps

 

[fishprotector]

I normally wash mine at least 5 or 6 times before adding it to the tank and have never really had any problems with it clouding the water.

 

[smokeyjo]

Yeah I'm guna make sure I wash it loads but I'm guna get the argos play sand and its a bit harder to clean but I will perserver lol do u think leaving it in buckets for a while too will help

 

[fishprotector]

I have used the Argos one before. Just wash it well and you should be ok. I do not see why leaving it in buckets would help as all you need to do is get the dirt and rubbish out of it by washing it through.

 

[smokeyjo]

Ok thanks it compacts when left that's what I was thinking ill just keep washing it reguarly to get it clean

 

[Xraymark]

I used unipac black sand. Didn't have to wash it. No clouding at all. But more expensive than argus sand.

 

[smokeyjo]

How much and where do u get that black sand from?

 

[dazman74]

ADA products are great. You can get them from The Green Machine on line

 

[Juggler75]

half fill a bucket with the sand and top up with water and swirl it round. pour out water and repeat til you are pouring out clear water.

Have 2 inches or so of water in the tank then add the sand (so much easier as it doesn't clump then), then use a tupperware tub/upside down frisbee/dinner plate on top of the sand when you add the rest of the water and you'll have no cloudiness.

I followed the above and it worked for me.

 

[smokeyjo]

Awsome thanks for the advice much appreciated

 

[Xraymark]

<br />How much and where do u get that black sand from?<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I bought the sand online. Pet supermarket. It's called trilcot black sand but comes in a bag with unipac on it. 25 kg cost £30 and was enough for my rio 180. The sand is more grey than black but I think it's more natural almost like volcanic sand. The photo in my sig maybe give an idea(not best quality image).

I am very happy with it and can't wait to have a few corys messing it up.

 

[Fintastic!]

I rinsed my argos playsand until anything that doesn't sink immediately is gone though I may have been a bit too careful. It's in now and I added water from a hose and it remained settled. It takes patience though. In saying that, Xraymark's sand sounds good. Worth a few extra quid if you don't have to spend all day rinsing!