Sand Substrate

[JasonandJill]

I've just washed half a bucket of play sand before starting to change out my pea gravel. I think i was being a bit naive about what I was expecting, but what I wasn't expecting was something resembling baby food. Is it going to look the same in the tank?? Can't say i really fancy it in there as it is.

 

[BigIan]

Nope once its in the tank it`ll be fine,
Make sure you give it a really really good wash though. then wash it some more.

 

[JasonandJill]

Thanks for that. I couldn't see anybody recommending it if it didn't look good, but i reckon changing substrate is going to be hard enough as it is, without worrying about the result as well

 

[jmkgreen]

Sand is nigh-on impossible to clean once inside the tank. At least with gravel you can use a vac knowing the substrate will return to the bottom and the crap will be drawn out. With sand it's a maintenance headache.

 

[BigIan]

YTep it takes a good few weeks/months for the sand to really come into its own imho. but its well worth it, ground dweeling fish such as corrys love it. the plants love it and its not that hard to clean, (never having had a gravel substrate i wouldn`t be able to compare but i`ve never had a problem. just hover the siphon over the debris and it gets sucked up.

 

[JasonandJill]

I know what you're saying, that's the reason it's also in my other tank, and the pea gravel looks fine in both but i've just got a Satanoperca Leucostica. Didn't realise gravel was dangerous to them hence the change. Buy without knowledge and put up with the consequences i guess

 

[elisew]

When you refill the tank to avoid too much cloudiness from stirring up the sand, it really helps to place a dinner plate or bowl on top of the sand and then let the water overflow onto the sand.

It`s a bit daunting not being quite sure what the end result will be but you`ll get there and I bet you`ll be chuffed to bits with the end result

 

[JasonandJill]

I've looked hard trying to find an answer i like but i can't find it. Is emptying the tank of water, fish, decorations etc the only way to go? It's an Aqua One 300l bow fronted

 

[fluttermoth]

You could try syphoning it out with a wide bore pipe, like a hose pipe; that'll take out any gunk that's hidden in you gravel too.

I tried to change my substrate a few moths ago just by scooping the old out and it made a horrendous mess, even though I'm pretty good at cleaning my gravel. It was obviously stressful for the fish as well, as I had an outbreak of whitespot afterwards, and I haven't had whitespot in a tank for about 25 years! So don't do it that way!