sand warning?

First topic message reminder :

Ive never had sand yet in an aquarium but thats fixing to change real soon ..Is there any tips or anything i should be warned about? I do have a canister filter so what can i do to prevent the sand from getting sucked up in it?

Want a great idea to keep from sucking up sand while vacuuming?? I had a problem with loosing sand during water changes/vacs... Now, I siphon the water into a bucket out side, through a window (although, a bucket in the sink with a Python works, too). Let the water siphon into the bucket and over flow. When you're done... Wala! The sand is all in the bottom of the bucket and you just put it back in the tank!

Hope that helps someone!

snoskiur wrote:

Want a great idea to keep from sucking up sand while vacuuming?? I had a problem with loosing sand during water changes/vacs... Now, I siphon the water into a bucket out side, through a window (although, a bucket in the sink with a Python works, too). Let the water siphon into the bucket and over flow. When you're done... Wala! The sand is all in the bottom of the bucket and you just put it back in the tank!

Hope that helps someone!

I read on a website when i was researching types of sands. you use your siphon or vaccum about 1/2-1 inch from the sand... it still sucks up the debris without picking up the sand jsut kind of stirs it up a little.

Not sure if this works yet because i dont have sand YET but it seemed kind of logical :)

I have used Pool filter sand since well always that i can remember, and I have gotten it at Leslie's Pool place or what ever its called its cheap! and looks good, I just clean it super good and give it time to settle, also turn off the filter when churning it up. I have no lines in the substrate by the glass, as i keep it stirred, However I have never had a sand bed smaller then two inches, may be a little more as i like to be able to see the bottom and give the tenants the option to move it around where they like, I have also grown plants in this, Like Java Fern and Anubias Nana, and Anacharis, and all of them seem to grow fine, I layer a little natural gravel into the sand, kind of like a pocket for the roots, and never bury the tuber, like on a Anubias. No fert. and No CO2, and they grow like crazy. have to give stuff away. Just My 2 Cents.

The sand I put a pic of you can vacuum just like gravel and lose very very little!

Also, the longer you have sand in your tank the heavier it gets, being coated with a biofilm, or whatever you want to call it, so it is less likely to get stirred up. In my mature tanks I don't have a problem with vacuuming it up, even with play sand.