putting in sand

[flyhockey1037]

i put a post recently about changing the substrate. i figure i can do it all at one shot. ill let the sand sit in tank water for a few hours before i do it. but my question is. will the sand sink to the bottom like gravel will or will it float around for a long time and get sucked into my spiffy new filter??? anyone ever had experience with going from gravel to sand in an established tank?

 

[KnuckleHead]

If your not going to drain your tank, turn the filter off and remove all fish before adding the sand. Be sure to rinse the sand 2000 times and do a funky chicken dance, then rinse a few more times. Your tank will be very cloudy at first with the water already in it. After a few hours turn your filter back on. It should be safe then to place the fish back in after this. Your water will clear after a day or two if you did the dance correctly. Personnely I would drain the tank completly before adding the sand. If your filter is already established you wont have a huge cycle to go through.

 

[flyhockey1037]

also, how does it work with cleaning a tank with sand as a substrate. a gravel vac would suck up all the sand i assume.

 

[flyhockey1037]

how exactly do u rinse sand anyway?

 

[KnuckleHead]

also, how does it work with cleaning a tank with sand as a substrate. a gravel vac would suck up all the sand i assume.

Lightly skim the surface of the sand with your vac. You will suck up sand but just a wee bit. I always stir my sand up abit after cleaning. This helps in preventing the harmful bacteria (cant remeber the name) that could occur if left unsifted. I have good scavenger fish and snails. My sand has stayed a bright white now for 6 months.

 

[KnuckleHead]

how exactly do u rinse sand anyway?

If your using lfs sand, just place in in a large bowl and run water in it while stiring. Then drain off the excess water. If its from your local hardware store, get an old pillow case and fill it with a few pounds at a time. Then using your garden hose, rinse it until the water runs clear. It'll take awhile to clean with that type of sand.

 

[flyhockey1037]

which type do u use? wont the sand overflow along with the water if u put it in a bowl?

 

[KnuckleHead]

I got my sand from my local hardware store, 5 bucks for 50 pounds and did the pillow case method. With th bowl method, fill the bowl halfway with sand and gently run water in it until its full. Sift the sand around to loosen the smaller particles and dust then tip the bowl to drain. Repeat until the water is clear. This may take quite a few rinses.