Switching to Sand

[BrookeLea]

Hey everybody. I'm switching my 55 gallon over from rocks to sand. I'm going to make it a lot more natural looking. My brother got me a HUGE piece of drift wood out at the lake and I've got some river rocks that I pulled out of the river when I went camping in Alabama. I just went and bought the sand, and I'm not quite sure how to clean it. I know there was a really good thread on here a while back with a step by step, but I can't find it. Can anyone help me out? I'd appreciate it.

 

[Fishist]

Check this out:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=90878&hl=

 

[rdd1952]

Never tried the method in the thread you have but it looks like it would work well. I usually just put a small amount in the bucket, turn the water on high (outside hose of course) and stick it in the bucket. Stick the hose actually down into the sand where it makes the sand boil up and use the hose and your hand to stir the water. The water will flow out of the bucket. You can pour it off every so often to clear the water up.

Depending on the type sand you have, it may not take long or could take quite a while. The general consensus is that the cheaper the sand (play sand) the longer it takes to get it clean.

You mentioned the driftwood and rocks. Be very careful adding anything you pick up from the ground or take from the water. It could contain bacteria or parasites that could wreak havoc on your tank. Make sure you boil them to kill off anything. Also, I have read (don't know where now) that evergreen wood such as pines and cedar can't be used in aquariums. Also, some types of rocks will cause problems with your pH (pour vinegar on it, if it fizzes, it will raise your pH).

 

[Teelie]

I use a bowl, fill it a third of the way with sand, then another third with filtered water and use my fingers to swirl the sand until the water clouds. After that, I carefully drain the water so sand doesn't spill out and into the sink. I do that until the water runs clean two or three times through. It might be slower than some methods but I've never had cloudy water from this except when I did it with Tahitian Black Moon Sand and even then it was only lightly clouded, clearing up fast.

 

[LoachLover]

I use a bowl, fill it a third of the way with sand, then another third with filtered water and use my fingers to swirl the sand until the water clouds. After that, I carefully drain the water so sand doesn't spill out and into the sink. I do that until the water runs clean two or three times through. It might be slower than some methods but I've never had cloudy water from this except when I did it with Tahitian Black Moon Sand and even then it was only lightly clouded, clearing up fast.

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I do the same thing, and I did it with the Tahitian Black Moon Sand and it wasn't very cloudy, but it was a little. I think it's just easier to do it this way.

 

[BrookeLea]

Thanks for the help, guys!

rdd1952...I thought about the driftwood being a problem when I picked it up just a little while ago and moved it into the house and got full of sap. I'm not sure what kind of wood it is. Is there any way that I can sterilize it? I'd really like to use it, if I can make it safe.

 

[fish_keeper2]

im not sure but if it has sap then its not really drift wood. also as far as i know only pines and such have lots of sap and pines dont work.

 

[BrookeLea]

im not sure but if it has sap then its not really drift wood. also as far as i know only pines and such have lots of sap and pines dont work.

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Thanks. I believe it's really drift wood, though. It looks like drift wood... I'm still worried about the sap, though.

I'm going to start a new thread just about the wood so I can get more help. Thanks everybody!