Replacing gravel with Sand.

[Edarion]

Hey people
I've decided to strip my tank and replace the gravel with sand.
as I'm getting a bunch of multies
Anything I should know about how to do this and how to maintain the tank afterwards... Obviously I won't need a gravel siphon anymore lol. So some questions

1. Right now, I am running an Aquaball 2212. Do I need to change to a HOB Filter for the sand tank?

2. Water changes should be easy right? No Mulm all I do is scoop up some water form the top and replace it.

3. This is a sand argonite mix. leading to a higher PH. Will this harm any of the current inhabitants: Pleco, Red Claw Cray, Convict Cichlid, guppies and tetras, BNP,

Any other tips and pointers about keeping multies or how to manage a sand tank is much appreciated

[gklaw]

Edarion, before this turns into a troll thread again.

Think through you questions and please take people's suggestions seriously.

1. Sand does not make any difference to your filter arrangement. If it can get into your Aquaball, it can get into your HOB. You either have to raise your Aquaball or the intake of the HOB if you think the sand could be stirred up.

2. You may still want to vacuum fish poop up occasionally especially if you still want to keep your pleco.

3. Most likely your pH won't go higher than 7 and that should be fine for your current inhabitant.

[Edarion]

So when when setting up. How do prevent the sand from going into my Aquaball

[Sprucegruve]

turn off the filter for a hour or two,turn up your airstone for the time being.
slowly add your sand then when it settles to the bottom,turn your filter on again.

[gklaw]

I would get two 5g bucket to keep the livestock temporarily. Empty the tank of the gravel. Good chance to give the tank a good clean, clean the filter, and do a 30% WC at the same time.

Not sure where you are getting the sand mix. Give it a good rinse in a bucket in your bath tub to take out the fines. Aragonite could have a bit of fine. Put sand in tank and shape it to what you like. Place a small piece of glass or slate or a dinner plate on top of the sand where you can slowly pour water to minimize disturbance to the sand.

If the turbidity is not too bad, you can pretty well add the fish back in the tank.

You can wait for it to settle or add some Tetrafin QuikClear. Put some filter fool in the filter and dispose when the water is clear. There will be instructions on the bottle. Remember to stick an airstone in the bucket where livestock is if you think it will take more than 4 hours.

If you are still concern of the possibility of sand getting in your filter, you can continue to use filter floss. That requires a little bit more maintenance.

Hope this help.

[Edarion]

The way I have it set up right now. the bottom of my filter is covered with gravel. If I was to do the same with sand? would it cause problems.

[gklaw]

Not recommended. You probably know already sand in your filter will destroy it. Turn it sideway if you could. If I remember right from your other thread, your filter is way over-sized ? Another consideration is to store this and get something like a AC50 for now -$35 new.

Posting pictures with your thread will help us trouble shoot for you much faster.

Since you have $200 budget, why not consider getting a larger tank. If footprint is an issue, you could consider a 25g tall so you could keep your filter higher. New is only about $45 after tax. Roger should have that. KE also has a very interesting 20g tall - make sure you check the lighting you need, I think that may be a 20" wide tank.

[Edarion]

Yes my filter is oversized. So I should sit my filter on top of the sand instead? That's easy enough i'll just take out one
compartment. I don't trust AC anymore. They flooded on me twice in a month.
This tank I started out using the AC20. Flooded on me twice. So I traded it with rsxed for the aquaball.

Havn't done the switch over yet because the member has yet to bring me the fish and the sand. So I have some time to figure this out. Don't have a camera that takes pictures underwater lol

Can't get a larger tank because of the space issue. Right now my tank is 13” high x 18” long x 12” deep

[gklaw]

Don't be silly We don't need underwater pictures. Just a tank shot.

I think yours is a 10g, not 15g? Really too small to do much. Filter is way too big. No, don't sit filter on sand.

Take a bus ride to KE. It is nice out Check out KE's 20g tall. Footprint should not much bigger. If you want to stay with the small tank, get a U2 while you are there.

[Edarion]

where is KE?
Speaking if the U2. I got one from pet Habitat before the AC it didn't work and they owner would not give me credit for it...
Altho i'm curious why would the U2 be a more suitable filter in a sand tank