Aquarium Sand Maintenance

[barrettsline]

Thanks for the information. Do you shift or move your rocks every so often to avoid the dead spaces?

[mistahoo]

I am not the biggest sand advocate, however more and more I am drawn to how beautiful it makes an aquarium look. Please answer the following questions and give you opinions.

1. What type of sand do you use?

Originally I used Seachem Onyx (Horrible for fish keeping, great for planted)
Using Black Diamond Sand now

2. How often if ever do you change it?

Had the Seachem Onyx for a few months and that thing needed to be changed
Recently got the Black Diamond sand, but it's similar to LPFS except it's black and obviously not PFS.

3. Do you have fish that sift through the sand to help turn it over? If so, what kind?

If you count a flowerhorn that occasionally acts like a Geo, then sure!

4. How often do you turn your sand and what do you use to do it?

I stir up the sand each time I do a water change and I just use my hand. It's a lot faster.

5. Do you move any of your decorations when you stir your sand? I havent in the past and have ended up with black patches under the rocks and such. this happens, what should be done?

I move some of them just to get the waste and food that is gets trapped underneath, but to stir the sand, I don't move anything. Black patches under rocks goes away eventually if you remove it from the water or you can leave it in a bucket of water and the color will return to the rock.

6. Do you use eggcrate?

If you have a good layer of sand it's not really needed. I've seen tanks with large boulders with a good layer of sand (1.5-2.5") and they've never shifted or fallen over. Just make sure when you place the rocks to place them well enough so they won't fall over.

Please feel free to offer up any other USEFUL* information.

Try to avoid sand that is too fine, otherwise, you will have sand all over the place and it may clog up your filters. The black diamond sand I bought came in two textures. One was a lot finer than the other, but I picked up the finer one. It doesn't get all over the place as I thought it would.

Thanks. :o

Answers in red

[black_knight]

When I had that tank I had just a few medium sized rocks. I never shifted them and they sat on the bottom. Nothing built up under them. It was an open concept for these fish. Tanks where I have lots of rocks, I either used no sand or just the thinest layer.

[barrettsline]

Thanks for your input mistahoo.

[barrettsline]

When I had that tank I had just a few medium sized rocks. I never shifted them and they sat on the bottom. Nothing built up under them. It was an open concept for these fish. Tanks where I have lots of rocks, I either used no sand or just the thinest layer.

Thanks for the response.

[barrettsline]

I really appreciate every bodies input.

One thing that is getting some mixed results as far as I'm concerned is the black patches that build up under rocks. However is seems to be that if when I'm doing water change that it's a good idea every other time or so, pick them up, stir the sand by hand or other means to spread it out evenly, and I should be good. Like I said I really appreciate everybody's input. If I've missed anything or misunderstood something please correct it/me.

[black_knight]

One way to avoid the black patches under big rocks is to place a piece of styrofome under the large rocks, and cut around it to get a perfect fit. The weight of the rock will seal any spaces between the rock and the glass. And again use only a thin layer of sand. You won't have to pick up the heavy pieces that form the base of your hardscape. In-fact you won't want to, because your foam will float to the top.

[barrettsline]

I won't lie the styrofoam idea is very interesting, but not for me. Im currently using eggcrate with about 1-1/2" of LPS on top of it.

For me I believe the bet thing to do is during water changes to stir the sand and every other water change to lift the rocks and stir that as well. For my tanks the rocks would probably be considered large to medium.

Thanks everyone! Feel free to keep info coming please. The more the merrier.

[Timber317]

Enantiopius, Furcifers, Opthalmotilapia and Xenotilapia are some killer sand sifters building unique nests out of sand. The colors on the Enan's and Xeno's look like they are plugged into the wall. Kinda pricy but really beautiful. Furcifers and the Optha's otherwise known as featherfins have beautiful colors too but not as plugged in as the others I mentioned. I have had sand in my 210 for about 11 years now. Yes it does get into my filters but not to the point that I'm having impellar problems and I would have had them by now for sure. Someone else told me I would have that problem too but I let them know I had enough money to fix impellars if that was a problem and this to date has not occured.

Good Luck on this!

[barrettsline]

Thanks for your info.

[mistahoo]

Just curious but, does it really matter if the rock is black on the bottom or not? Unless you're planning to re-scape your tank, the rock is just going to sit in the same spot and shouldn't be visible.

[barrettsline]

Just curious but, does it really matter if the rock is black on the bottom or not? Unless you're planning to re-scape your tank, the rock is just going to sit in the same spot and shouldn't be visible.

My concern is the sand turning black due to bad bacteria. If I'm wrong somebody speak up.

[mistahoo]

My concern is the sand turning black due to bad bacteria. If I'm wrong somebody speak up.

Read up a bit and yes it does turn black from BB. I never noticed it because Seachem Onyx is greyish black and Black diamond... well... it's black

If that's the case, you can just stir it around. It will only turn black if the BB build up in one area. Stirring the sand and avoiding overfeeding will prevent it.

[barrettsline]

Read up a bit and yes it does turn black from BB. I never noticed it because Seachem Onyx is greyish black and Black diamond... well... it's black

If that's the case, you can just stir it around. It will only turn black if the BB build up in one area. Stirring the sand and avoiding overfeeding will prevent it.

Hate to ask but BB can have many different terms. What are you using it to abriviate?

This I what I'm planning to do, bi-monthly water changes(50-75%). monthly stir underneath the rocks. Both my 55 gallon and now my 72 gallon hbe been swapped over to sand. Hopefully this works out for the best.

[mistahoo]

Hate to ask but BB can have many different terms. What are you using it to abriviate?

This I what I'm planning to do, bi-monthly water changes(50-75%). monthly stir underneath the rocks. Both my 55 gallon and now my 72 gallon hbe been swapped over to sand. Hopefully this works out for the best.

BB meaning bad bacteria. Good switch! What did you have at first?