Play Sand

[Bojangles]

I have just reserved 3 15kg bags of play sand at Argos (£7 not bad) and a Vacuum Cleaner

Currently have gravel in my tank so this is probs a really stupid question

Should i leave gravel in and just put sand on top of it or take gravel out then replace with sand?

I am only really asking because i currenty have a betta in the tank im changing to sand and the weather in the North East of England is freezing so dont really want to put him in a bucket till i sort tank out if its going to harm him

 

[doresy]

Hi, catch your betta in a beaker (a brand new one is best, ie. no detergent has been used on it)

Place a cloth over it as they can jump. He'll be fine in there for ages. If it is cold wrap a towel around the beaker.

If you place the sand over the gravel it will mix up in time and look horrible (imo) so yes, remove it and be careful you do not scratch the tank

Before doing any of this make sure you rinse out the sand thoroughly. Place a few handfuls in a clean bucket and run a hose through it and skim off the scum. Keep doing that to all off the sand, if you skimp on the rinsing at this stage you will regret it as your tank will remain cloudy for months!

As it is, expect your tank to be a little cloudy for up to 2 weeks depending on the filtration.

When your tank is back up to temperature then don't forget to introduce your betta to the water as you would with a new fish....ie acclimatise.

 

[erk628]

You have to take the gravel out then you can put the sand in because you don't want food and waste getting trapped under the gravel. You really don't have to rinse the sand as it usually comes prerinsed. Its better if you do but its not a must I did it at first but the other four tank I set up I didn't rinse at all. Your water wont be cloudy for weeks or months regardless not sure were that came from. You go to fill the tank back up with water pour the water on a plate because thats were most of the cloudiness comes from is the water hitting the sand hard. It will be cloudy but should last no more then a day. I always put this chemical in that helps clear the water up withing a hour or two. The information I have giving above is just my experience with sand other people may have other opinions.

 

[Bojangles]

Cheers for the reply's

Well i put sand in but made mistake of not washing it properly but i have 3 filters running in the tank a stingray 15. Fluval 4 plus , and some small filter i got with a small tank many moons ago water is starting to clear but slowely.

 

[doresy]

Oh I don't get it

Questions asked then 10 minutes after I take the time (my time!) to do a really helpful and easy to follow reply.

Then, basically, a couple of hours later all replies thanked for but advice obviously ignored completely....

*Correction to previous poster* ALL substrate requires rinsing whether it is gastly coloured beads or best building sand or infact anything in between.

As I climb off my soap-box I am wondering if my time here on this forum is drawing to an end

 

[Schmill]

As I climb off my soap-box I am wondering if my time here on this forum is drawing to an end

NO! Some of us do listen!

I guess all you can do is give advice, and then it's up to people whether they take it or not. If they don't and they come unstuck then just hope that they learn from their mistakes, (at the same time learning the 'value' of the various advice that was given and followed or not followed.

This isn't just about this thread, or this poster in anyway, but just about all the thread that I read where questions have been asked, good sound advice has been given (often several paragraphs), and then the advice is obviously either not followed, or worse, the original poster never seems to return to the thread to give any feedback

 

[Bojangles]

Oh I don't get it

Questions asked then 10 minutes after I take the time (my time!) to do a really helpful and easy to follow reply.

Then, basically, a couple of hours later all replies thanked for but advice obviously ignored completely....

*Correction to previous poster* ALL substrate requires rinsing whether it is gastly coloured beads or best building sand or infact anything in between.

As I climb off my soap-box I am wondering if my time here on this forum is drawing to an end

Advice was not ignored

I did not get chance to read your reply because something come up and i had to go out just after i finished posting the question up would also of read your reply when i got back had the electrician not come to sort electrics out on house so i did the sand to kill the time!!

 

[rach3l---x]

I didn't know you could put normal sand in a tank
I thought it had to be proper from the pet store !

Cool

xx

 

[Bojangles]

I didn't know you could put normal sand in a tank
I thought it had to be proper from the pet store !

Cool

xx

You can use play sand from Argos but it needs a very good clean before you put it in the tank.

Wish i waited till i could of got back on here before doing it

 

[doresy]

I didn't know you could put normal sand in a tank
I thought it had to be proper from the pet store !

Cool

xx

AHHHHH, what a dink couple God did I say that out loud

Sorry, yes all sand has to be puchased from your local fish shop because it's special

Would other members like to continue the TOP TEN LIST of things told by the Fish Shops to IGNOR

If it's sand you are after then Play Sand from Argos or Tesco's £3 for 15kg or £2.99 a spoonful from the LFS!

Word of the day though RINSE, RINSE then Rinse some more!

 

[Bojangles]

I didn't know you could put normal sand in a tank
I thought it had to be proper from the pet store !

Cool

xx

AHHHHH, what a dink couple God did I say that out loud

Sorry, yes all sand has to be puchased from your local fish shop because it's special

Would other members like to continue the TOP TEN LIST of things told by the Fish Shops to IGNOR

If it's sand you are after then Play Sand from Argos or Tesco's £3 for 15kg or £2.99 a spoonful from the LFS!

Word of the day though RINSE, RINSE then Rinse some more!

I can back that up now

On the subject of prices i went in to my LFS and they wanted £29:99 for a 10kg of aquarium sand

 

[doresy]

Hey Mr Bo.......these forums are a learning place....like a library full of books, but the books need to be opened to be learned from...

You were unsure which is why you asked yet to proceed before reading the answer...well next time.... maybe?

Hey, not my tank

See you next time

 

[Bojangles]

Hey Mr Bo.......these forums are a learning place....like a library full of books, but the books need to be opened to be learned from...

You were unsure which is why you asked yet to proceed before reading the answer...well next time.... maybe?

Hey, not my tank

See you next time

As i said not really a case of not reading the answer but more as couldnt at that time and then thinking i knew best by going ahead with it

But i know i will be waiting till i can see what people have to say in future thats for sure

As they say you learn from your mistakes

 

[doresy]

Hey Mr Bo.......these forums are a learning place....like a library full of books, but the books need to be opened to be learned from...

You were unsure which is why you asked yet to proceed before reading the answer...well next time.... maybe?

Hey, not my tank

See you next time

As i said not really a case of not reading the answer but more as couldnt at that time and then thinking i knew best by going ahead with it
But i know i will be waiting till i can see what people have to say in future thats for sure

As they say you learn from your mistakes

Must be a youngster!....... JUST KIDDIN'

 

[rach3l---x]

I didn't know you could put normal sand in a tank
I thought it had to be proper from the pet store !

Cool

xx

AHHHHH, what a dink couple God did I say that out loud

Sorry, yes all sand has to be puchased from your local fish shop because it's special

Would other members like to continue the TOP TEN LIST of things told by the Fish Shops to IGNOR

If it's sand you are after then Play Sand from Argos or Tesco's £3 for 15kg or £2.99 a spoonful from the LFS!

Word of the day though RINSE, RINSE then Rinse some more!

dink couple?

They didn't tell me that.. I just assumed