Substrate - Aragamax Sand Question

[d&a]

I recently ordered CaribSea's Aragamax Sand online and unfortunately just read some reviews on it...

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/reviews/view_...iew.php?id=1022

...I already have two brand new HoB AquaClears 500/110 that I plan to use in this 55G Malawi Tank I plan to make. Should I be worried, will my 2 HoB filters be on a timed death ...

...also for the monthly sand-churning, is it true there will be a bad odor ...

All this is freaking me out !

 

[mamafish68]

Dont panic!!!! the )&% in the first review was no doubt too impatient. I'm convinvced he/she rushed thru the washing process and dummped the sand in too fast. I've used a few different sands in my tanks for a few years now, I've settled on caribsea's eco-complete and never have I had the cloudyness that person speaks of. Mind you eco-complete is prewashed and comes "wet with bacteria in place". Any other type os sand I've used I spent the time and energy to rinse until it ran clear. The key is to churn it while your rinsing it, I use a rubbermaid tub resting on a brick to elevate one side and stick the hose in @ a medium flow/pressure. I churn churn churn churn until I cant'churn no more!!!!



As for filters, I ALSO run Aquaclears on all of my filters along with Emperors and yes I've burned thru a few impellers, NOT ANYMORE!! The key is keeping the intake valves high enough that when your darling little diggers and sifters release the sand it doesnt get sucked up.

There is no smell of sulfer if you're doing the water changes correctly! Pythons are the key, I'm convinced!!!!

What I'll do is sink the siphon tube down far enough that any gas build up is taken care of immediately. Where I have rocks piled up and cant vacc I'll use a long handled wooden spoon to poke around and release any pockets. Water changes should be done @ 25-40% weekly IMHO depending on bioload and it sounds to me that the poster on c-f wasnt doing that .

Good Luck and CHURN CHURN CHURN CHURN.............

 

[brewyn]

I changed my tank over from gravel to sand when it was completly with water and fish, I did this by using some drain pipe and positioning it where I wanted the sand to go, and then dropped the sand in. It was cloudy for only an hour before it cleared fully. dont know if your tank is already set up, and if not, maybe this will be of some help to someone else wanting to change over.

 

[d&a]

Well my Aragamax sand has arrived...but after some research I've decided to return this ( got to ship back 60 pounds of sand !).

I've always enjoyed the ease of gravel maintenance and admired the look of sand, but the fact that I've been adjusted to the gravel maintenance, the sand maintenance will forever frighten me .

But after reading several forums, I've found something called 3M Color Quartz T-Grade, and comments on this was that the T-Grade was a coarse version of sand (though it was never advertised for aquarium use, quite a number of fish hobbyists have been using it for their tanks due to it's price & look, though it provide no buffering capabilities). Reviews on some forums claims it has the ease of gravel in terms of maintenance and looks of sand.

I'm kind of determined to get this cause as for buffering I have Seachem's Malawi Buffer. Is there any red flags being raised in my decision for this type of substrate before I attempt to get this?

 

[mamafish68]

dont get mad at me for saying this but I think your wimping out, not to mention the previous sand was going to do the buffering for you, if you get the seachem buffer you're the one thats going to have to keep up with it and not screw it up. a mixed up ph is more deadly then a lower one.



mixed up meaning up/down up/down never a constant.



your still going to have to poke thru the new stuff your looking at. AND rinse it too



so i really dont understand why you're only going to make more work for yourself. it's silly

 

[d&a]

I'm not mad , and I appreciate all comments as for this is my first cichlid tank, but I kind of agree with what you said ... I am sort of wimping out cause my experience level in the fish hobby is still at the novice level and I want to take it one step at a time.

Eventually as I build my experience I'll reconsider using the Argamax sand, but for now I'm pretty determined. As for the SeaChem Malawi buffer, I already have a pretty large jar so I might as well find some use to it.

As for the pH maintenance for my weekly change, I'll try to be on top of everything .

Again thanks for the comments/replies.

 

[d&a]

...change of plans

Turns out the person who had an extra bag of 3M Color-Quartz of whom I was about to buy from don't have anymore ...

Guess I will have to take the step up, and going to open the 60lbs of Aragamax Sand that I ordered...so first thing first is...

...churn...churn...churn...churn...churn...churn ???

Ok...that will be my cleaning process...

As for weekly maintenance, I already bought a mini-siphon tube to hover around the visible area for cleaning...but as for the monthly (estimate according to bio-load) that is where I have the most confusion. I am suppose to stick the whole siphon tube into the sand??? Won't that suck up all the sand?

Or is it the monthly maintenance just churning as I would do for the cleaning process and then allow all the sand/debri to settle and hover siphon again?

And if that is the case, during the churning of the sand-bed and hard to reach areas...do I turn off my HoB Filter from the begining to the very end where the last debri settle?

Sorry to bother again , I just want to be prepared.

 

[mamafish68]

...change of plans

Turns out the person who had an extra bag of 3M Color-Quartz of whom I was about to buy from don't have anymore ...

Guess I will have to take the step up, and going to open the 60lbs of Aragamax Sand that I ordered...so first thing first is...

...churn...churn...churn...churn...churn...churn ???

Ok...that will be my cleaning process...

As for weekly maintenance, I already bought a mini-siphon tube to hover around the visible area for cleaning...but as for the monthly (estimate according to bio-load) that is where I have the most confusion. I am suppose to stick the whole siphon tube into the sand??? Won't that suck up all the sand?

Or is it the monthly maintenance just churning as I would do for the cleaning process and then allow all the sand/debri to settle and hover siphon again?

And if that is the case, during the churning of the sand-bed and hard to reach areas...do I turn off my HoB Filter from the begining to the very end where the last debri settle?

Sorry to bother again , I just want to be prepared.

YOU"RE right on key!!!! I use the Python to do all of my water changes except on the 10's, LOL it would suck up the whole tank in seconds

but i'll sink the tube to the bottom and lift up, tap on the glass to start the sand back out the tube, if not it can be sucked up and HUGE PROBLEM THERE with 50 feet of hose and you get this compaction of sand in the middle.....like constipation of the python LOL



the best way for you would be to turn off the HOB's though until you get the hang of it all. and that will be real soon! you're a quick study!