White Sand UPDATED 12May08

[CichlidFan]

Re: White Sand Now W/PICS

I would say add a small power head instead of lowering the intake tube, if that is practical, and I would try to place the PH in a way that it would move water over the surface of the sand if at all possible.  As Zulaab mentions above.

CF

[JStrider]

Re: White Sand Now W/PICS

thats a pretty good idea... I'll have to add it to the "things to buy when I have money again list"

[CichlidFan]

Re: White Sand Now W/PICS

Don't spend over 20 for the PH, I know Oddessey 250's go for about 15.00 around my neck of the woods, but I also heard they are going out of business too....but you should still be able to find one around NW houston somewhere. Try Tropical fish and pets on 249 south of the beltway.

CF

[CichlidFan]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

I would like to warn everyone who is using this sugar sand to the possibility that it may cause damage to Aqua Clear filters. I recently bought a AC110 and had installed it on my chimba tank for additional filtration, and after 3 weeks of running on the tank I heard it making noise last night. I took the HOB filter off the tank and into the kitchen for closer inspection. I noticed immediately that there was a significant amount of sugar sand in both the power plant and the filtration chamber. I gave the filter a good cleaning and rinsed it for a long time, the impeller appears to be stationary in the AC and unfortunately, I was not able to elminate all the noise caused by the sand inside the impeller chamber.

So if indeed you have purchased the sugar sand and are using it as a substrate in larger cichlid tanks, but advised, that it is possible that the sugar sand will damage your AC filters.

This issue will most likely NOT be a problem for those of you who do not have medium to large fish that are prone to diggin or stirring up the substrate.

If you do have larger fish who do dig up the substrate, do not use the intake  extension tubes on your Aqua Clear filter.

I have not experienced this affect with the emperor's I'm using at this time, but I'll keep you all posted.

CF

[cichlidtx]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

I just finished setting up my 75. I'm a little concerned from CF's last post now. I will be putting either Hap/Peacock mix or pseudo mix, undecided. Anyway here's a pic. I'm not sure how I feel about the holey rock. Your feedback would be appreciated on the scaping and stocking.

[CichlidFan]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

Nice, very nice,  I love the center piece of holey rock.

As far as the sand and filters go, keep the intake tube at least 6 inches from the bottom of the tank, if you do want to go lower, put a sponge over the intake tube, and again, I have only experienced this with AC or Aqua Clear filters so far, none of my emperors have been affected.

CF

[imagirlgeek]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

Maybe we're just lucky, but we haven't had any problems with our filters and our intake tubes are about 2" above the sand.  And that's in our Troph tanks where they are constantly moving sand around.  Of course, we are using Rena XP and Odyssea canister filters....maybe that's the difference.

[JStrider]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

I've noticed my filter making a bit of noise the past couple days, Its a whisper 60.  I didnt see any sand in the motor, and just a tiny bit in the filter chambers.  

I did just move the tank and the sand did get a little stirred up when refilling it...  or it could just be a coincidence.

[fshfrk]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

i got a 1/2 bag for free just come and pick it up. my fish will make a mess with this sand. i need to put some power heads low in the tank and they will blow it around. sucks right out with a python. if i was into smaller guppy or tetra type fish this sand would be perfect.

[CichlidFan]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

After using this sand for a few monhts, I have to agree with fshfrk, this sand is suitable for smaller fish and tanks with passive fish, but it is not the best substrate to use with large fish and or active swimmers that can cause a disturbance in the force.  

I removed and cleaned one of my emperor's this past weekend and found approximately a 1/4 pound of the sugar sand in the reservoir of the emperor, the same goes for a Eheim 2217 I was using on another tank with the sugar sand. Although it is very fine and the empellers do not seem to be greatly affected by the passing of this media, I would refrain from using it in larger tanks with large or agressive swimmers.

CF

[cichlidtx]

Re: White Sand UPDATED 12May08

I agree on not using in larger tanks with aggressive swimmers or tanks with alot of current. I have it in my 75 and with UGJ and have noticed my powerheads making grinding noises. I will be changing it out this weekend. However, I also have it in a nano cube with Tetra's and its working and looking great.