Sand Substrate

[orangefish]

I'm thinking about getting a sand substrate for my new tank instead of gravel, and I was just wondering how you would clean it? I use a gravel cleaner at the moment so I don't know how it would work with sand? Also, when you first put the water into the tank, will it not disturb the sand and make the water cloudy? Thanks

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I'm thinking about getting a sand substrate for my new tank instead of gravel, and I was just wondering how you would clean it? I use a gravel cleaner at the moment so I don't know how it would work with sand? Also, when you first put the water into the tank, will it not disturb the sand and make the water cloudy? Thanks

I swirl my gravel cleaner over the sand to lift the debris off it. Its still difficult not to pick up grains of sand. Place a bowl in the tank and pour the water onto the bowl will stop the sand being disturbed. You will need to wash your sand thoroughly before it goes in the tank ,i did this and it still clouded up for a day or two, following this it was crystal clear. Wash the sand in a bucket stirring it up constantly.

 

[PaBucsFan]

I actually have sand as a substrate in both of my tanks. I also do the swirl technique with a gravel cleaner. I also will use a net and run it through the sand. The holes in the net are just big enough to let the sand through but small enough to hold the fish waste, plus it rotates the sand to check it looking fresh! I use my spare breeders box to slowly pour the water in during water changes so I don't stir the sand up. Hope this helps!

 

[hay13]

ive just changed mine to sand wash it as much as possible before putting it in, and do the swirling tech with the gravel as it will bring up all the dirt and i put a plastic container in my tank and pourthe water into that,that way it dosent disturbe the sand when doing water changes

 

[orangefish]

Thanks, that's interesting to know. So when I use the gravel cleaner, will some of the sand be taken up and I will I therefore have to replace that lost sand every now and then?