Play Sand Sucks!

[Lufbramatt]

today i got the play sand for my new tank so i can start washing it- £4.99 for 25kg from Toys 'R Us! Says its seived, washed and dried so it will be interesting to see how it compares to the argos stuff when i start washing the dust out.

 

[raptorrex]

today i got the play sand for my new tank so i can start washing it- £4.99 for 25kg from Toys 'R Us! Says its seived, washed and dried so it will be interesting to see how it compares to the argos stuff when i start washing the dust out.

it will still need washing tough, unfortunately. people report no difference (washing wise) in the Argos and Toysrus products. Argos palysand is washed too. price is a steal though .

@ OP, you can funnel playsand use a wideish guage of tubing and a funnel. put the pipe end as close to the bottom, (as is required to allow flow) as you feel, then pure the sand . you can draw the tube over the bottom (from side to side) till you have covered it. this still makes the water cloudy, but far less so, and for less time.

I've also had success using a takeaway tub (Tupperware?) i empty the tank half way. then a spoon(?) the sand in with the tub. you need to take care, but this also causes clouding. still less than most report though.

I'd also suggest you wash the sand several time (4-6) i think, the truth is, its not muck that clouds your tank. but the sand itself. I'll bet you could wash the sand till its all gone. but the last load, would still cause clouding.

 

[waterdrop]

Unfortunately I cannot top off with a garden hose as A) it is too far away and B) I cannot control the temperature. Our faucet inside wouldnt allow for a python either, I dont think, because of the shape and design of the faucet. Im trying to think of how I could make the plate method work. . .

Here is the sand, FYI -- http/www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/SandPremiumPlay.asp

Your comment about the Python surprises me as the whole thing that's quite attractive about this company are the quite large number of brass adapters they offer. I was all convinced that they would not have one for my obscure Grohe designer faucet but in fact they had one that fit perfectly (in fact, -they- thought they didn't but I made a lot of measurements and bought one anyway and it was perfect.)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Rynofasho]

I suppose maybe the have SOMETHING funky but our kitchen faucet is weirdly convex around the top and it would be a strain finding one I bet. I instead got this --http/www.biorbfishtanks.com/biorbcleanersiphonpump.aspx . It makes it super easy actually. I swapped everything out last night. Took a loooooong time, like 3.5 hours.

 

[Doc7]

For my 20 gallon, I filled two 2-gallon buckets about 1/3rd full of sand, and watched TV for an hour with the sink running full blast into them, swishing vigorously with my hand during commercial breaks.

Now my cories snuffle around all day in the sand!!

 

[Joshwainwright]

I wish my nearest Argos would hurry up and get some more play sand in stock!

 

[Aqua Tom]

When my sand is gettting a bit low in the tank from my cleaning. I clean some sand, half fill a 2 liter jug that I have especialy for the tank with sand, then submerge it in the tank.

I then stick the jug close to the substrate & pour the sand out. works a treat.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I wish my nearest Argos would hurry up and get some more play sand in stock!

I just went to tesco 10kg for £2.67, looks nice, added it approx 2pm today and its about 70% clear

 

[Joshwainwright]

I just looked on their website and there is everything except sand...

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I just looked on their website and there is everything except sand...

Defo there mate, was play sand right next to bob the builder

 

[Joshwainwright]

I'll have a gander