Sand.

[dalethewhale]

Just washed a load of sand, ready for the big change in the next couple of days. Quick question, the sand is all wet now so obviously i can't pour it, what's the bes way to add it to the tank?

I'll be completely draining the tank so i guess just shovel the sand in with a jug or something?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yeah, just shovel it in; it'll look awful to start with, but if you really have washed it, it'll take hardly any time to settle once you start filling with water.

 

[Harlequins]

Yep use a tub or similar to scoop & add it

If you add around 4-5 inches of water into the tank before adding the sand,it'll make it easier to scape the sand how you want it to be

 

[dalethewhale]

Yeah, just shovel it in; it'll look awful to start with, but if you really have washed it, it'll take hardly any time to settle once you start filling with water.

I put little bits into a bucket, and washed each bucket about 6 times, until the water was clear after a few seconds

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

I got sand a few weeks ago and spent hours washing it but it was great and very clear. my corys though had an emotional attatchment to it or something and tried to follow it as we scooped it out of the tank. then they wouldn't touch the ground so I put some gravel back in and that worked. I am slowly taking it away now to adjust them to the sand.

 

[raptorrex]

Yep use a tub or similar to scoop & add it

If you add around 4-5 inches of water into the tank before adding the sand,it'll make it easier to scape the sand how you want it to be

I think the tank is inhabited. so the job will be done with the tank, mostly, full.
I took, just short of, 50% out prior to removing the grave and replacing it with sand. though, thinking about it. i removed the gravel with the tank full. letting the filter clear it. before staring the change. either way.
its a pain replacing the water, but worth the work.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

If there is water in the tank, the sand will be "pourable". I did it a pitcher at a time from very close to the bottom. Ultimately, the more you cleaned it, the better this will go, but pouring from low height will help with the cloudiness factor. You will want to have the filter off during this process. Let the tank settle a bit before you turn it back on - about an hour or so. The bacteria will be fine.

 

[minnnt]

I think the tank is inhabited. so the job will be done with the tank, mostly, full.

I'll be completely draining the tank so i guess just shovel the sand in with a jug or something?

If you add it with water in the tank then it will splash all over when you add the sand. I added it from a bucket which worked well, then started to fill with water. If you have good filtration then you will soon have a clear tank!

Good luck mate

 

[raptorrex]

I think the tank is inhabited. so the job will be done with the tank, mostly, full.

I'll be completely draining the tank so i guess just shovel the sand in with a jug or something?

If you add it with water in the tank then it will splash all over when you add the sand. I added it from a bucket which worked well, then started to fill with water. If you have good filtration then you will soon have a clear tank!

Good luck mate

oops, missed that.

that said, many of us do it with water in the tank. i have no problems with the sand "splashing about". nor it seems, do others. I guess its a case of the care you take, doing it.

 

[minnnt]

I was doing a complete over-haul of my tank so decided it was easier. I was fitting another external filter, adding a background and going planted. So i decided to remove everything. I had a few stubborn pieces of algae that wouldn't come off so i tended to them too.

Trial and error mate i reckon!

 

[dalethewhale]

Going to my LFS today to hopefully get some vallis and dwarf hair grass.

My plan of action is to syphon a load of the water into a large tub, but the wood and plants in there also, catch the fish and put them in. Then I'll remove the gravel, then drain the rest of the water.

Give the empty tank a good scrub down and try and remove some scrathes, scoop the sand in, add a few inches of water, plants and wood in and put hthe sand exactly how i want it then fill with water, wait till it settles then turn the filter back on and add the fish, then job done!

I'll post pics when finished

 

[skinbad]

i asked a similar question with regards to do a fish in substrate change, which isnt such a good idea, but doing it this way, is it advisable to re-add some of the older tank water? or just do a 100% water change with it?

 

[millym]

i changed our 4 ft tank to sand a couple of years ago- it was a major pain but im so so glad i did it, i changed it with fish in situ- not the best idea but after trying to catch our yoyos & failing miserably i gave up the idea of moving all the fish out!!!, i used a piece of perspex to block off the tank in half & herded all the fish to one end then scooped out the gravel, i didnt disturb the gravel around the plants - left it and then put the sand in. I left the tank for approx a week before fdoing the other half.i poured the sand in mixed with water with a jug. over the years a few bits of gravel pop up & i just remove it - think its all gone now. I ran an extra 2 internal fluvals to help clear the water quickly and it didnt take long, watching corys & our loaches sift through the sand is brilliant, i would never use gravel, the other 2 little tanks i have were started up with sand & im just about to change our betta/khuli tank from yellow to black sand - this time i will be removing the inhabitants into a bucket with the filter.

i asked a similar question with regards to do a fish in substrate change, which isnt such a good idea, but doing it this way, is it advisable to re-add some of the older tank water? or just do a 100% water change with it?

Hi keep as much water as you can - 100% water change is not a good idea your tank will cycle again and your fish will be at risk, just buy cheap buckets and syphone as much as poss out & put back into tank afterwards

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Why would the tank cycle again??? The bacteria are found predominantly in the filter, not the water, substrate or anywhere else in the tank.

 

[fluttermoth]

Why would the tank cycle again??? The bacteria are found predominantly in the filter, not the water, substrate or anywhere else in the tank.

+1

If your maintenance regime is up to scratch there should be no problem doing a 100% water change, as your tap and tank water shouldn't be too far apart (excepting buffered water for Malawis and discus kept in RO and that sort of thing).