Caper Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 Hi all, Just posted in the cichlid section because hoping to put cichlids in it. Long story short, not set up and will be awhile so taking the opportunity to read and ask about cichlids and tank set up. I've been looking at pics of tanks already set up and trying to get ideas. I've spent hours already just looking at tanks First thing first, thought maybe trying sand. Now this is not a definite, as nothing is with this tank. 1)So, how do you gravel vac sand without it all getting sucked up and out of tank! 2)Would you say it is easy, difficult, around the same in comparison to gravel as far as cleaning/maintenance goes? 3)When necessary now with my tanks, I have to move the gravel away from the glass to clean will be able to do that if I have sand? 4) Does algae grow on sand?? Anybody Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Anyone??? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananalobster Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 I have sand in my malawi tank atm, i find when im syphoning i may suck about a teaspoon of sand up each time, but when you pour the water out its left in the bottom anyway so if you were that worried you could just scoop it back into the tank . Also is a good ph buffer if you were thinking about africans rift lake cichlids. :Edit: Oh also I havnt seen any algae growing on it and has been set up for about a year, i think the fishies probably disturb it quite alot they like their digging so it could just be because of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Thanks Found a website with a short video on cleaning sand. The guy also ran his fingers through the sand, oh darn, I forget why...anyway, do you? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Would have run his fingers through the sand so no anaerobic pockets formed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 That shouldn't happen anyway if you've only got a thin layer and you regularly syphon it. I just use my right hand to slightly squeeze/kink the hose to reduce the flow so it doesnt suck the sand up, you could probably experiment and find the right sized pipe which would flow less water and not suck up the sand. I'd rate it about as easy to clean as gravel, its good with large fish as the big poos just sit on top, making them easy to suck out. Another thing to watch out for is filters. Make sure it cant get sucked into your filters by using a sponge over the intake and/or having it as high as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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