Regenerating A Old, Dying Fish Tank.

[Curiosity101]

The filter alone should be ok as technically it's only moving around 50% of the water it was.

Just go for it and keep a close eye on the fish. If you see them go to the surface even once to gulp air then just pop the air pump on too.

 

[ChrisChrisChris]

Ok sounds good.

Ive just removed alot of the remaining gravel, water is still very clouded so tomorrow it should be crystal clear then ill siphon off the remaining gunk and then begin to treat the fish.

Meanwhile i must research sand vs gravel...i'm still unsure of what to go for, sand seems high maintenance (Community 48" wide tank...well once these problems are solved!).

 

[Curiosity101]

Sand really isn't high maintenance I promise.

I've had both sand and gravel, and I would never go back to gravel. Unless I wanted a black substrate, I think black gravel is significantly cheaper than black sand. So if it was then I'd go back to gravel, but other than that I love sand.

The bottom dwellers seem to enjoy it...My rams seem to enjoy it...the plants do just as well.
Can't complain.

 

[ChrisChrisChris]

Doesnt it turn brown with all the small poop?
Isnt it difficult to get the dirt out without losing alot of sand?
Do you constantly need to top it up?

Thanks

 

[Curiosity101]

No, No and No.

I barely notice any build up of dirt on the surface, you quickly get the knack of cleaning the surface.
And I've never topped mine up...But when you can get a 15kg bag for only £2.89 (Argos playsand), then you really can't go wrong even if you do need to top up!

 

[ChrisChrisChris]

My next worry is the filter propeller?
Mines a fluval 403, i've read if sand gets into the propeller it can destroy it?

I imagine if you have big plecs darting around they can toss it up > Into filter. Also when doing the change if the filter isn't allowed to be on, won't bacteria die (without their food from the fishes flowing into the filter).

Thanks

 

[Curiosity101]

Your fine for at least up to 10 hours. My dad switched mine off one night so he could feed them, then forgot to turn it back on. He remembered in the morning around 10 hours later...I didn't have so much of an ammonia spike.

Also so long as the sand hits a filter pad before it hits the propellor then you shouldn't have an issue.

 

[ChrisChrisChris]

How will you know if it hits the sponge before propeller? Mines a fluval 403 2 bits of sponge at the top, then biomix in layer below, then empty (gotta buy something to go here actually!).

 

[Curiosity101]

Your water will come up through the biomax then through the sponges. So you should be fine when it comes to sand particles. It'll go in exactly the same order as my external

 

[OldMan47]

The flow path in a typical canister is from the bottom to the top of the canister. The impeller, mounted in the top of the filter, is protected from solids that are coming through the filter because the solids are trapped on the filter media. It can be dangerous to use a fine sand on a tank using a HOB filter because the water flow starts by going through the impeller first. With no protection, one of those can be damaged by rough particles floating around in the water.

 

[m00se]

You guys have made me want to change my large tank substrate to sand, now. Especially you, Curiosity. *shakes fist*

 

[ChrisChrisChris]

Right now the things that put me off is Cleaning - People mentioning siphon off dirt/poop every 3-4 days as its far more obvious.
also alot of people say that Sand is always sucked up/lost? Plus theres still the risk of it getting into the prop (which there isn't at all with gravel).

However im attracted by the price as 15kg is around £3 in argos.

Although i'm now looking at B&Q and other hardware type stores for cheap gravel, as my petshop sells a small bag for £4...i think i'd need atleast 4-5 bags of it for my tank (see sig).
Anyone know where i can get cheap fine natural gravel?

 

[Bigpig]

Right now the things that put me off is Cleaning - People mentioning siphon off dirt/poop every 3-4 days as its far more obvious.
also alot of people say that Sand is always sucked up/lost? Plus theres still the risk of it getting into the prop (which there isn't at all with gravel).

However im attracted by the price as 15kg is around £3 in argos.

Although i'm now looking at B&Q and other hardware type stores for cheap gravel, as my petshop sells a small bag for £4...i think i'd need atleast 4-5 bags of it for my tank (see sig).
Anyone know where i can get cheap fine natural gravel?

It depends on what you will stock.

I found sand got very messy with poo and had to be carefull when cleaning it not to suck it up. fine for small tank imho but for larger ones you cant beat gravel and a big gravel vac.
I use very fine black gravel in my big tank.

That a pretty nice tank you got their cant wait to see it cleaned up and with some tlc should look great

 

[ChrisChrisChris]

Bigpig, how much did your gravel cost you?

Ideally id like to get a whole load of it for peanuts, so i wonder if DIY type store stuff will be ok for fish? Just give it a clean like play sand?

Also does anyone know where i can view pictures with different coloured gravels/sands to help make up my mind.

 

[Bigpig]

Am not quite sure of the price was over a year ago. It was made by unipack

Play Sand can be very bright also and reflect the light and unsettle the fish.

Garden centre stuff should be OK but I would test it first

How to Test
Testing can be as simple as placing a few drops of vinegar on the rock or gravel you are considering using. If it fizzes or foams, don't use it, as it contains calcium deposits. Another way of testing rocks and gravel is to place them in a bucket of the same water that you use in your aquarium. Test the pH and hardness, and then let it sit for a week and test again. If there is a significant change, the rocks or gravel are likely to cause problems.