Sand Substrate Query

[LauraB]

Hey guys,

I have changed from gravel to sand for my new aquarium which is 5ft x 1.5ft x 2ft (length,width,height)

I have put 3 inches in. I know i will have to agitate it but how often? and do i need to agitate the sand underneath the ornaments?

My fish are.. 1 x Common plec (11 inches) 1 x Dennison barb (6 inches) 4x Bolivian Rams (1.5-2 inches) 4x scissor tail barbs (1.5-2 inches) and 3x black widdow Tetras (1.5 ish inches)

The out take pipe is 3inches higher than the sand, but i was wondering if the sand is too high?

The fish have not moved in yet and is cycling, so i have a few weeks to play with it, i was just wondering what other people have? and what you do for the maintenance side of things? and how should i look after it?

What will plec do with the sand? giggles i can just picture a mountain of sand because i have a plec do you think i should make the sand shallower? or keep it 3 inches?

Thank you

Laura B

 

[aly_starh]

Hi, depending on if its a planted tank then 2 1/2 -3 inches is fine.
You will have to 'disturb' the sand every week, to prevent the pockets of gas from forming.

I have argos play sand in both my tanks, i clean it by syphoning it and agitate it 0nce a week, IMO, it looks more natural and brighter than gravel. From when i had a plec in my tank (rehomed now ) he never done anything to the sand apart from uprooting my plants

Hope that helps

 

[LauraB]

Thank you

Yes i have argos play sand too so far all the water levels are great with it

I dont have a planted tank, i do have plastic plants and a clay pipe and a couple of big ornaments and stones but i was hoping the 3 inches would delay the plec from uprooting too often hehe. Though probably not.

Should i agitate the sand underneath the ornaments as well? or do you think the plec would reach those hard to reach areas for me

and also should i only agitate the top layer of sand or the compacted area as well right at the botom of the sand?

Also should i vacuum the detritus (muck) off before i start agitating to stop the muck getting mixed in with the sand. (i know it is probably common sense but i like to get other opinions)

Laura B

 

[LauraB]

oops forget the vacuuming question you answered it already

 

[aly_starh]

Its advisable to agitate all the sand, even under the ornaments. Pleco won't do it.
Syphon the sand first then 'disturb' it If you do it the other way round the dirt will be under the sand.

 

[LauraB]

Thank you

 

[Truck]

There's no need to disturb the sand, its a myth, Pockets of hydrogen sulfide may form in the substrate and people are right in saying it is a highly toxic substance, but it only forms in anaerobic pockets that lack oxygen, as soon as it is in the presence of oxygen it oxidizes to form water and sulphur dioxide:

The chemical equation goes like so:
2H2S + 3O2 > 2H2O + 2SO2

The hydrogen sulphide reacts with the oxygen to create water and sulphur dioxide, which will rise to the surface and gas off, it may tickle your nostrils with a rather rotten eggy smell but thats the only harm it will do.

Hydrogen sulphide oxidizing in freshwater lakes can pose problems though, because they're shallow and the volume of the mud and dirt underneath is greater than the volume of the water in most cases, oxygen depletion can become a problem, but in freshwater tanks this wont happen.

Disturbing the substrate is more likely to cause ammonia spikes, and as a result, you will get algae.

 

[Gr44]

Also curious on this....

When you siphon is (I assume with a normal 'gravel vac' ?) don't you lose a lot of the sand in the process?? Top it up once a month or something?

Going to replace my gravel with sand soon so just wondering!!

 

[jjkremp]

lil tirck for your sand that i use really works great for me and the bubbles are in a diff spot everytime wha ti did was placed bunch of bubble stones at the bottom of my tank 85gal so it was alot they covered every inch of the bottom then i filled with a thin layer of gravel since it will shift more than sand finally placing 3 inchs of sand ontop of it
keep them bubbles on for about 9 hrs a day and 3 hrs at night and everytime i turn em back on they pop up from another spot as they move the gravel and sand around trying to escape. also keep all the gunk off the bottom so that the filters can catch it all

 

[LauraB]

I did not know that about the gas pockets.
So.. if i get you rightly, the gas pockets will naturaly form and naturaly get rid of them selves?

As for cleaning the dirt off top of sand i have read that hovering the gravel cleaner tube 1 inch above the surface of the sand and moving in circular motions will make a miniwhirl pool and lift the debris up for you and get sucked in to the tube without disturbing the sand.

 

[Truck]

I did not know that about the gas pockets.
So.. if i get you rightly, the gas pockets will naturaly form and naturaly get rid of them selves?

As for cleaning the dirt off top of sand i have read that hovering the gravel cleaner tube 1 inch above the surface of the sand and moving in circular motions will make a miniwhirl pool and lift the debris up for you and get sucked in to the tube without disturbing the sand.

they may form, but when disturbed by you, they're rendered harmless as they come into contact with oxygen in the water.

 

[LauraB]

oh ok, so i do need to disturb the sand then maybe lol so the fact it could be harmful is a myth? as if it ever escapes with my help or not it will always be neutralised on coming into contact wth oxygen wether i disturb it or not? sorry i am a girl

 

[Truck]

oh ok, so i do need to disturb the sand then maybe lol so the fact it could be harmful is a myth? as if it ever escapes with my help or not it will always be neutralised on coming into contact wth oxygen wether i disturb it or not? sorry i am a girl

no need to disturb it, it doesn't matter if it is disturbed and yes, the "hydrogen sulphide will kill your fish" is a myth.