okay sand - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

brody · 06-28-2009, 01:56 PM

i have decided to get play sand from a store for £3.00-10kg what do i need to do to add it to my third tank, the tank is 110 litres around 30 gallons i think

unwritten law · 06-28-2009, 02:16 PM

wash... it... a lot...

Matt Nace · 06-30-2009, 09:02 AM

I placed my rock work in first so that the sand was not trapped under it or behind it. In my case..the rock work was not movable.Then add it to the tank before the water and fill it up slowly. The less you disturb it the better when filling the tank up.

tom91970 · 06-30-2009, 09:34 AM

I used pool filter sand, which is not much different. I did not bother to wash it. If you pour water in carefully then give everything time to settle ( a day or two) you should have no problems.

1077 · 06-30-2009, 09:59 AM

I have play sand in three tanks. 80 gal.75 gal, and 29 gal. I used about one pound of sand per gal. Rinsed it all in a large rubbermaid tub several times to get all the dirt and loose particles out. I then placed the sand in the tank using a small plastic dustpan. I then placed a plate on top of the sand and filled the tank letting the water hit the plate. This helped tank from clouding too bad. The larger the container you use to rinse the sand, the easier it is. When it is rinsed good ,, You can pick up a handful and let it fall to the bottom of the tub you are using for rinsing it in, and there will be little clouding and it should all fall to the bottom. If suspended particles are present and do not settle immediately.. Rinse it again. This will help keep fish or tank maint from kicking up small or loose particles that could find their way to the filters internal parts. I would leave the filter or filters off for at least three hours after placing the sand in the tank and filling it with water. In this way any loose particles will have settled to the bottom of the tank. Try not to place the filter uptakes too close to the bottom of the tank. This way there is less chance of the sand winding up in your filters internal parts. Always vaccum the sand BEFORE you sift it or stir it. That way you can remove the loose stuff on the top rather than burying it in the sand. Hope some of this helps.

brody · 07-03-2009, 06:27 AM

yes this has helped very much 1077 thanks alot

tropicalcrazy · 07-03-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1077

I have play sand in three tanks. 80 gal.75 gal, and 29 gal. I used about one pound of sand per gal. Rinsed it all in a large rubbermaid tub several times to get all the dirt and loose particles out. I then placed the sand in the tank using a small plastic dustpan. I then placed a plate on top of the sand and filled the tank letting the water hit the plate. This helped tank from clouding too bad. The larger the container you use to rinse the sand, the easier it is. When it is rinsed good ,, You can pick up a handful and let it fall to the bottom of the tub you are using for rinsing it in, and there will be little clouding and it should all fall to the bottom. If suspended particles are present and do not settle immediately.. Rinse it again. This will help keep fish or tank maint from kicking up small or loose particles that could find their way to the filters internal parts. I would leave the filter or filters off for at least three hours after placing the sand in the tank and filling it with water. In this way any loose particles will have settled to the bottom of the tank. Try not to place the filter uptakes too close to the bottom of the tank. This way there is less chance of the sand winding up in your filters internal parts. Always vaccum the sand BEFORE you sift it or stir it. That way you can remove the loose stuff on the top rather than burying it in the sand. Hope some of this helps.

great explanation and ideas with the plate and then filling with water. thats a good idea. ill have to remember that when i do a sand substrate

06-28-2009, 01:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
brody Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: england Posts: 39	okay sand i have decided to get play sand from a store for £3.00-10kg what do i need to do to add it to my third tank, the tank is 110 litres around 30 gallons i think

06-28-2009, 02:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
unwritten law Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WVU Posts: 1,243	wash... it... a lot... __________________ 20 Gallon High Reef 2 orange skunk clowns, 1 yellow watchman goby, soft corals, zoas 46 Gallon Planted 6 tiger barbs, 2 yoyo loaches, 2 keyhole cichlids, 1 cherry barb, 1 blue gourami 29 Gallon Planted 11 harlequin rasboras, 3 cories, 1 betta

06-30-2009, 09:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Matt Nace Super Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,450	I placed my rock work in first so that the sand was not trapped under it or behind it. In my case..the rock work was not movable.Then add it to the tank before the water and fill it up slowly. The less you disturb it the better when filling the tank up. __________________ -=Matt=- Current tanks: 125 gallon CA cichlid tank 150 gallon African Mbuna tank 10g q-hosp-fry tank

06-30-2009, 09:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
tom91970 Super Fish Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Crockett, TX Posts: 1,128	I used pool filter sand, which is not much different. I did not bother to wash it. If you pour water in carefully then give everything time to settle ( a day or two) you should have no problems. __________________ My tanks: 10g shrimp, 10g nano reef, 14g planted, 29g, 30g, 55g native and 55g planted http://jpotx113.4t.com/index_1.html "The sun shines down on a lonely town Where the fish all smile 'cause they know us" -- Everclear

07-03-2009, 06:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
brody Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: england Posts: 39	yes this has helped very much 1077 thanks alot __________________ 50 gallon ish- rams and angelfish 30 gallon- pair of bristlenoses and fry 5 gallon- betta 3 corys (waiting to go into 30)

06-30-2009, 09:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
1077 Little Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 123	I have play sand in three tanks. 80 gal.75 gal, and 29 gal. I used about one pound of sand per gal. Rinsed it all in a large rubbermaid tub several times to get all the dirt and loose particles out. I then placed the sand in the tank using a small plastic dustpan. I then placed a plate on top of the sand and filled the tank letting the water hit the plate. This helped tank from clouding too bad. The larger the container you use to rinse the sand, the easier it is. When it is rinsed good ,, You can pick up a handful and let it fall to the bottom of the tub you are using for rinsing it in, and there will be little clouding and it should all fall to the bottom. If suspended particles are present and do not settle immediately.. Rinse it again. This will help keep fish or tank maint from kicking up small or loose particles that could find their way to the filters internal parts. I would leave the filter or filters off for at least three hours after placing the sand in the tank and filling it with water. In this way any loose particles will have settled to the bottom of the tank. Try not to place the filter uptakes too close to the bottom of the tank. This way there is less chance of the sand winding up in your filters internal parts. Always vaccum the sand BEFORE you sift it or stir it. That way you can remove the loose stuff on the top rather than burying it in the sand. Hope some of this helps.