Aquarium Sand Maintenance

[barrettsline]

Im still old school bro, I've been using UG's since as long as I can remember, with all different types of gravel ( pea pebble most recently). I still defend UG's as well, they are a good filter. I have done sand in the past a few times. But with the black patches and such it was just easier to go back to gravel. I really want to swap over because I the look, plus I've got fish that would enjoy it more.

[mistahoo]

Im still old school bro, I've been using UG's since as long as I can remember, with all different types of gravel ( pea pebble most recently). I still defend UG's as well, they are a good filter. I have done sand in the past a few times. But with the black patches and such it was just easier to go back to gravel. I really want to swap over because I the look, plus I've got fish that would enjoy it more.

UG's are awesome! I just don't like gravel and prefer sand.

[barrettsline]

UG's are awesome! I just don't like gravel and prefer sand.

I couldn't agree more. Sand has been something that has always been itching at me. But this go round, I'm going to have fish that help sift the sand and I'll be doing it as well to release the dead pockets. 72 gallon has a full 50lb bag in it, the 55 about 3/4". The 72 gallon sits with about an 1" in it, and the 55 sits with probably 1 3/8"-1/2". I'm sure some spot are deeper, but that's will be dealt with in due time. Decorated both the same honestly. Large, dark, round, stones. I like the contrast to the sand and the wife likes the way the look in the tanks. Happy wife=happy life. I'll post pictures probably towards the beginning of next week.

Please keep information, advice, and experience coming.

[Totenkampf]

i love the look of play sand and plants root like crazy in it, however my experience with it was not good. i used to thick of a depth and thus had anaerobic bacteria patches. i disturbed one of these that had formed a pocket of H2S gas. fish were rolling over within seconds of the bubble breaking the surface. i maintained this tank from that point out by introducing MTS to stir the soil and a school of five large clown loaches to keep the population down. a better option would be to limit the depth to 1-1.5" as sunny suggests.

[BrAin]

What are MTS? Sounds like a good food for the altifrons

[barrettsline]

You beat me to the question. I get the feeling this is a type of snail? Please let us know.

[SunnyHouTX]

Malaysian trumpet snail.

[barrettsline]

Malaysian trumpet snail.

Thanks sunny.

[barrettsline]

I'd be concerned about adding these simply because I don't want my tanks to be over run with them, and the fish I'm getting, I want them to breed. An abundance of them I'm sure would hinder that.

[Totenkampf]

its a delicate balance, they can have a population explosion which will limit available O2 in the tank for the fish. i was able to juggle the population well that one time but wouldnt even consider it without larger (5"+) clown loaches. even assassinsnails arent a permenant solution. best bet is a shallow sand bed with a minimum number of large flat rocks or DW. another thing to consider is that heavy root feeder type plants like crypts and swords will help keep the dead spots to a minimum with their root systems.

[barrettsline]

its a delicate balance, they can have a population explosion which will limit available O2 in the tank for the fish. i was able to juggle the population well that one time but wouldnt even consider it without larger (5"+) clown loaches. even assassinsnails arent a permenant solution. best bet is a shallow sand bed with a minimum number of large flat rocks or DW. another thing to consider is that heavy root feeder type plants like crypts and swords will help keep the dead spots to a minimum with their root systems.

Really not wanting to do plants, however if it were to become an issue it is something I could try. Thanks for the info. Other than giraffe cats does anyone use a certain type of catfish to aid in turning over there sand?

[armthehomeless]

I'm late to the party, but here we go:
1. Leslie's Pool Filter Sand (several others in the past)

2. Never

3. Yes. Foai, Julidochromis, Neolamprologus

4. Whenever I have to catch something out. Usually every couple of months.

5. I move decoration whenever adding/removing fish (which for me is fairly often). When I move my rocks, I move the sand out of the spot for several reasons -- the black spot that you mention AND, since I have digging fish, they could compromise structural stability of the rock structure if there was sand underneath.

6. Only in my saltwater tank. My big tank has a PVC bottom. I'm not worried about the smaller tanks.


I'd keep the sand fairly thin as others have mentioned, especially if you plan on using sugar sand or play sand. The two aforementioned types have a tendency to to compact more and will more quickly generate anerobic bacteria in my experience. Some have mentioned prefilters. Its necessity depends on the type of filter that you have and the proximity to the botoom of the tank. Eheim canisters -- for example -- have the motor on the top. If sand gets in, the sand just stays at the bottom. No big deal. The motor on a FX5 is at the bottom. The sand can destroy that impellor pretty quickly (or so I'm told). Likewise, the intake for almost all HOB filters goes to the impellor. You'll need to raise the intake or add a prefilter . . . or both.

Snails were previously mentioned to aerate the substrate. This is a popular method for those that keep planted tanks and have deep substrates. It works well. I'd add assassins -- no MTS.

[Totenkampf]

my elephant nose fish used to stir it, make sure the sand is smooth though

[barrettsline]

I'm late to the party, but here we go:
1. Leslie's Pool Filter Sand (several others in the past)

2. Never

3. Yes. Foai, Julidochromis, Neolamprologus

4. Whenever I have to catch something out. Usually every couple of months.

5. I move decoration whenever adding/removing fish (which for me is fairly often). When I move my rocks, I move the sand out of the spot for several reasons -- the black spot that you mention AND, since I have digging fish, they could compromise structural stability of the rock structure if there was sand underneath.

6. Only in my saltwater tank. My big tank has a PVC bottom. I'm not worried about the smaller tanks.


I'd keep the sand fairly thin as others have mentioned, especially if you plan on using sugar sand or play sand. The two aforementioned types have a tendency to to compact more and will more quickly generate anerobic bacteria in my experience. Some have mentioned prefilters. Its necessity depends on the type of filter that you have and the proximity to the botoom of the tank. Eheim canisters -- for example -- have the motor on the top. If sand gets in, the sand just stays at the bottom. No big deal. The motor on a FX5 is at the bottom. The sand can destroy that impellor pretty quickly (or so I'm told). Likewise, the intake for almost all HOB filters goes to the impellor. You'll need to raise the intake or add a prefilter . . . or both.

Snails were previously mentioned to aerate the substrate. This is a popular method for those that keep planted tanks and have deep substrates. It works well. I'd add assassins -- no MTS.

Thanks for your input Tim! Will they assassins be okay with out other snails to eat? Will the feed off of debris, extra food, and such? Will the hinder fish breeding?

[armthehomeless]

Will they assassins be okay with out other snails to eat? Will the feed off of debris, extra food, and such?

Yes. Yes. If they can't find enough food (shrimp pellets, etc), theyl cannibalize.

Will the hinder fish breeding?

Not in my experience (mouthbrooders). The occasionally eat shrimplets. The way I see it, I'm breeding a smarter shrimp and weeding out the weak.It all depends on what you're breeding. Egg layers and egg scatterers may not stand much of a chance. What are you breeding?