Sand And Magnetic Driven Impellers

[Torrean]

I've read that you should not use sand with a magnetic driven impeller filtration system. I am currently doing just that in a ten gallon tank and I've had no problems so far. My girlfriend wants me to put sand in her 29 gallon. I'd love to do it but i'd hate for it to ruin her filter. I'd have to get a new impeller asap switch the sand back to gravel and get the tank back up and running before the tank crashed. I don't think I can do that soo I thought I'd talk to you guys about it first. Is this really a concern and are there anyways to counter the effects of sand on an impeller. Let's here your experience with impellers and sand.

 

[Teelie]

It's only a concern under certain circumstances. The most danger comes when adding it to the tank. You must have the filter off when adding it or you'll definitely get the sand in the impeller. After that there are only two real potential dangers which are fish like some digging cichlids spitting sand around and it going up the intake and the intake being too close to the sand and getting in there during maintenence.

I have 4 HOBS that use impellers, one internal and a cannister all with sand and not one has had a problem with sand after several years.

 

[SamUK]

i figured something like this could happen when i was setting my cichlid tank up bak at xmas.

the fluval 4+ is quite tall too so it would of been touching the sand in my tank.



to get round it and to be safe i jus cut this plactic container in half..... guess you could use a big coke bottle but its best if its bigger for better circulation.

and sunk that into the sand so the filter jus sat in that and didnt have any sand around the bottom.

i used a few pebbles to hold it down and its been good so far.


cant see it in the water either.

 

[Synirr]

I have 6 tanks with sand, and all have magnetic impeller systems in their filters. I've never had a problem. I think those impellers are tougher than they make them sound for sure, snails are constantly crawling into one of my filters and I hear them getting knocked around by the impeller on occasion, but as soon as they're out of the way of the impeller things go back to business as usual, and trumpet snails are considerably larger than sand

 

[Paul_MTS]

you shouldn't have any problems at all as long as the intake is sensible placed.

Although at work the sale tanks are quite shallow at 12" so the Fluval 3 plus filter we use in the sand tanks get there bottom sounded and burried in sand with no problems.

When the filters get cleaned the impeller and housing is all cleaned at the same time and they go for about 3 weeks before they reduce speed alot.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

it should be fine unless you have fish that kick up sand

 

[Iron Man]

The only problem I ever had was running my Emperor 400 while actually dumping the sand in. A grain has gotten in there and would either make a god awful noise or lock up the impeller where it doesnt turn, or both. I either had to jiggle the impellor mechanism at the top of the intake tube, or take the impellor out and clean out the sand grain. Either way.....it didn't really hurt anything.

The impellor is pretty much worn out now but I have run this filter for several years now....it should be worn. Even the impellor on my Eheim 2217 is worn a little after a couple year's use.

Don't worry about the filter....just don't let any grains fly up into the filter while dumping sand in....the best way to do this is to shut it off while doing it....and then turning it back on after things have had a moment to settle down.

Also....as I'm sure you most probably know....clean the sand well.

 

[Torrean]

I'm considering using a pre-filter of some sort on my hob to protect the impeller from sand...I'm thinking I'll stuff filter media into the thing at the end of the intake tube. Is this a good idea? Will it make my filter work to hard? Is there a better way?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

you shouldnt restrict the flow before the impeller because this will make your filter work really hard and the life of your filter will decrease. unless you have fish that kick up sand, you will be fine without any pre filter