To use Sand or Not to use Sand???

[BettaLover]

Hi Guys,

I would like to use sand in my new set up, so today when I went to my LFS I was asking the owner about her experiences with using sand. She told me that it is awful to use and that she trys to talk anyone out of buying it. They have one large tank set up at the LFS that has sand and it is cloudy and she says that's how a tank set up with sand will always look because the fish stur it up so much. I know that many of you on these forums have sand, and I've seen your tanks, and they all look beautiful so what's your secret? Does she just have too many fish in that tank and that's why the sand is being stirred up so much? My guess is that it's a 90 gal tank with 2 large oscars, a Jack dempsey, and 4 or 5 large mnuba cichilds.

Thanks guys

*sarah*

[Damon]

She needs a new line of profession. Sand is a good substrate, in fact perferred by some fish such as cories, cichlids, and loaches. THe hardest problem with sand is getting it into the tank. If done properly, your water will be crystal clear. The amount of work required is dependant on the type of sand you use. In general, the more expensive sand (bought from the aquarium store), is easier as it is cleaner but still needs to be washed. Pool filter sand takes moderately more work while playsand takes the most rinsing to clean it up.

[BettaLover]

Thanks Simpte! I bought some playsand and have been rinsing and rinsing and rinsing, but it's just not coming clean, so I decided to put it in the holes the dog has dug in the backyard. I just don't want to risk getting it in the tank to find out that it's still dirty. I know that I will have to rinse the aquarium sand, but I will feel better knowing that it's meant to be with fish.

She also said that the sand will ruin the magnets in your filter. Is there anyway to make sure that it stays put in the bottom of the tank? I have an overflow box and a pre-filter, I would think that would help block out most of the sand before it gets to my sump. Any suggestions would be great

Thanks a lot!!!!

*sarah*

[osteoporoosi]

I agree, in fact I think that sand is the best substrate for fish and plants. If you get some malaysian trumpet snails you don't even have to worry about stirring the sand once in a while.

[sumpthinfishy]

Or if you have weather loaches like mine, they'll stir it for ya'! I had gravel in one tank and have since changed it to sand. Much easier to clean and I prefer the looks.

[Osiris]

Even with pleco's or Mbuna cichlids which stir sand up the most, only within the first couple months will it get cloudy here and there, but after bacteria has well seeded and covered the sand it will merely all fall and will clear very quickly even if you take your hand through the sand and drop some in the tank, Sand is great to use and easy to clean. She may just not know how to do it properly...

[Alin10123]

Hmm...
anyone have a writeup here on how to setup or cleanup sand? I imagine you can't just use a regular siphon that you use to clean gravel for the sand.
Plus i imagine that the same is less poreous (sp?).
So less extra food or fish waste will be stuck down there.

How about plants? Do they prefer the sand over the rocks?
Anyone got any pics of a freshwater aquarium setup with sand?

[maxpayne_lhp]

That's the question he he jk...

but it's just not coming clean

Sure, you can never get rid of them (dirt) completely. But after a while, things will settle down. But be sure to wash them throughly before apply in your new-established tank.

I just don't want to risk getting it in the tank to find out that it's still dirty

Well, if the tank is not established. Just put the sand in, run your filter and cycle for a while. I'll be safe.

She also said that the sand will ruin the magnets in your filter. Is there anyway to make sure that it stays put in the bottom of the tank? I have an overflow box and a pre-filter, I would think that would help block out most of the sand before it gets to my sump. Any suggestions would be great

Just put the filter pumping part higher so that the sand can't be sucked in. Sand is quite heavy so just pull your prefilter a bit higher than normal.

I imagine you can't just use a regular siphon that you use to clean gravel for the sand.

Well, just use the regular siphon, but be careful as you are cleaning the subtrate. Don't have it too low, an angle of 75 degree is ideal so that the siphon only takes our stuff, not sand. As sand is heavy.

So less extra food or fish waste will be stuck down there.

For sand, it's more "tight" so it only traps waste on its surface, a siphon will take them out nicely and easiy.
Many plants can go with sand.
I dont' use sand as the main subtrate but i plant into small pots and a bonsai pot that are filled with sand. Let me see if I have any pic.

In brief, to me, sand is a wonderful and an easy subtrate. Just clean it up (some suggest to boil it) and mix them with some gravel (3 sand : 1gravel) then you're almost done. Wait until it settles down and finish your cycle. However, it's not a good idea to add more sand into an established tank.
Hope that's helped.