sand

RockabillyChick · 02-16-2006, 11:41 PM

how do you clean or vaccume sand? i recently filled up my 20 gallon and put my gourami and glowlights in it, and i just used play sand i had left over from my hermit crabs (baked and cleaned) rather than buying a bunch of gravel.

i just don't know how to clean it?

stealth · 02-17-2006, 12:02 AM

vacuum works

Tim · 02-17-2006, 01:53 AM

hey RockabillyChick,
Well for a start sand is not the best option for an aquarium because because the gravel vacuum will just suck the sand straight up with the yucky stuff. I would really advise you to get some gravel. It is not too expensive but make sure that it is suitable for aquariums. If you really want to keep the sand the only way i know to clean it is to get the net that you catch the fish with and sorta sift the sand to get out the big bits of poop and stuff but i dont know any other way. Hope this helped RockabillyChick!

MaryPa · 02-17-2006, 03:11 AM

If I were you i`d remove the old sand and spend a couple dollars for new to be sure it`s "Clean ". Get some MTS so they`ll keep all the gassy pockets out of the sand or you can slowly rake your fingers thru the sand after you vacuum it to remove any pockets of air.
I have sand in all of my tanks ( sandblasters extra fine sand ) and I love it. Sand is very easy to clean, just skim the vac over the sand picking up any visible waste. It`s much easier to clean than gravel and the fish seem to love it.

craftyflalady · 02-17-2006, 06:34 AM

I kinda swirl the gravel vac over the sand, it gets the poop and stuff up off the sand and sucks it up right fine! Never even have to touch the sand with the vac tube.

Mary Pa is also correct in advising to get some MTS. They do a great job of keeping gas pockets from forming. She is also correct in that the fish seem to perfer the sand bottoms too!

**TheOldSalt** · 02-17-2006, 08:29 AM

Gotta concur with those last two; it takes a bit of finesse, but with practice you can suck up the stuff ON the sand without sucking up the sand itself.

leveldrummer · 02-17-2006, 11:22 AM

the good thing about sand is it doesnt let as much poop sink down into it like gravel does.

jclaudii · 02-17-2006, 12:35 PM

I had sand forever It was a pain! anyawy easiest way (for me) was to have a extra filter (old one or one on clearence) and I would put it on. I would take everything out(even the fish) and stir it up real good with my hand. once it is a good cloud of sand, fecis, and other mater, I would let the filter do it's work. It also helps if you have a spare powerhead that will keep a strong current flowing around while tyring to do this. That usually did it for me. it's easy if you have the extra stuff, but if you have to buy it, it is easier for very fine gravel.

Good luck with it!

fishfreaks · 02-17-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craftyflalady

I kinda swirl the gravel vac over the sand, it gets the poop and stuff up off the sand and sucks it up right fine! Never even have to touch the sand with the vac tube.

Mary Pa is also correct in advising to get some MTS. They do a great job of keeping gas pockets from forming. She is also correct in that the fish seem to perfer the sand bottoms too!

I agree 100%, we find that the "swirling" helps bring up all the nasty stuff without sucking up the sand. IMO The sand is much easier to keep clean, and looks 20xs better

Fishy Lee · 02-18-2006, 12:22 AM

Nothing looks as good as sand in my opinion. Struggle with it for awhile. It takes some time to get the hang of it like everyone has said above, but once you get it down, it's the easiest.

[*][ShelBy][*] · 02-18-2006, 04:16 PM

Sorry I know this is your thread but for when I move my fish into the 10 G how much is a gravel vacumm?

Thanks

**TheOldSalt** · 02-19-2006, 07:21 AM

I dunno..6 bucks or so?

fishfreaks · 02-19-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

I dunno..6 bucks or so?

Yeah it shouldnt be much more since you only need one for a ten gallon

02-16-2006, 11:41 PM	#1
RockabillyChick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 298 User Feedback: (0)	sand how do you clean or vaccume sand? i recently filled up my 20 gallon and put my gourami and glowlights in it, and i just used play sand i had left over from my hermit crabs (baked and cleaned) rather than buying a bunch of gravel. i just don't know how to clean it? __________________ She does nothing to deserve it He only wants to observe it We sit back like they taught us We keep quiet like they taught us He just wants, he wants to prove it She does nothing to remove it We don't want anyone to mind us So we play the roles that they assigned us She does nothing to conceal it He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it We blame her for being there But we are all guilty http://rockabillychick.deviantart.com/

02-17-2006, 12:02 AM	#2
stealth Interested fishman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Central Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 123 User Feedback: (0)	vacuum works __________________ 10 Gallon: 1 Blue Dwarf Gourami 1 Mickey Mouse Platy 2 Tequila Guppies 3 Guppy/endler crosses too many dang snails Last edited by stealth; 02-17-2006 at 11:39 AM.

02-17-2006, 03:11 AM	#4
MaryPa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenville,Pa. Age: 58 Posts: 272 User Feedback: (0)	If I were you i`d remove the old sand and spend a couple dollars for new to be sure it`s "Clean ". Get some MTS so they`ll keep all the gassy pockets out of the sand or you can slowly rake your fingers thru the sand after you vacuum it to remove any pockets of air. I have sand in all of my tanks ( sandblasters extra fine sand ) and I love it. Sand is very easy to clean, just skim the vac over the sand picking up any visible waste. It`s much easier to clean than gravel and the fish seem to love it. __________________ 125 gal. 5 Clown Loaches 4 Phantom Tetras 8 Hyphessobrycon vilmae tetras 1 SAE 1 ABN Pleco 5 Bronze Cory 9 Gold barbs 55gal 1 Angelicus 1 Clown Pleco 1 ABN Pleco 12 cories 2 Discus 55 gal Severum, Blood Parrot 55 1 Threadfin Rainbow 4 cherry Barbs CT Betta 2 Bumble Bee Catfish1 Swordtail Guppy Male 29 gal Platies 29gal Cories 29gal Endlers and RCS 10 Swordtail guppy females and fry

02-18-2006, 04:16 PM	#11
[][ShelBy][] O_o Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario Canada Age: 17 Posts: 45 User Feedback: (0)	Sorry I know this is your thread but for when I move my fish into the 10 G how much is a gravel vacumm? Thanks __________________ "The best way to cheer yourself up: Cheer everybody else up." o0o0o o0o0o I Love Jorge!!

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02-17-2006, 01:53 AM	#3
Tim Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dee Why, Sydney, Australia Posts: 50 User Feedback: (0)	hey RockabillyChick, Well for a start sand is not the best option for an aquarium because because the gravel vacuum will just suck the sand straight up with the yucky stuff. I would really advise you to get some gravel. It is not too expensive but make sure that it is suitable for aquariums. If you really want to keep the sand the only way i know to clean it is to get the net that you catch the fish with and sorta sift the sand to get out the big bits of poop and stuff but i dont know any other way. Hope this helped RockabillyChick!

02-17-2006, 06:34 AM	#5
craftyflalady Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 50 Posts: 397 User Feedback: (7)	I kinda swirl the gravel vac over the sand, it gets the poop and stuff up off the sand and sucks it up right fine! Never even have to touch the sand with the vac tube. Mary Pa is also correct in advising to get some MTS. They do a great job of keeping gas pockets from forming. She is also correct in that the fish seem to perfer the sand bottoms too!

02-17-2006, 08:29 AM	#6
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,234 User Feedback: (6)	Gotta concur with those last two; it takes a bit of finesse, but with practice you can suck up the stuff ON the sand without sucking up the sand itself.

02-17-2006, 11:22 AM	#7
leveldrummer something like a pimp Join Date: May 2005 Location: atlanta Age: 29 Posts: 1,933 User Feedback: (1)	the good thing about sand is it doesnt let as much poop sink down into it like gravel does.

02-17-2006, 12:35 PM	#8
jclaudii Fishy Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Russellville Age: 25 Posts: 19 User Feedback: (0)	I had sand forever It was a pain! anyawy easiest way (for me) was to have a extra filter (old one or one on clearence) and I would put it on. I would take everything out(even the fish) and stir it up real good with my hand. once it is a good cloud of sand, fecis, and other mater, I would let the filter do it's work. It also helps if you have a spare powerhead that will keep a strong current flowing around while tyring to do this. That usually did it for me. it's easy if you have the extra stuff, but if you have to buy it, it is easier for very fine gravel. Good luck with it!

02-18-2006, 12:22 AM	#10
Fishy Lee Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 27 Posts: 86 User Feedback: (0)	Nothing looks as good as sand in my opinion. Struggle with it for awhile. It takes some time to get the hang of it like everyone has said above, but once you get it down, it's the easiest.

02-19-2006, 07:21 AM	#12
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,234 User Feedback: (6)	I dunno..6 bucks or so?

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