kiwipete Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I am thinking of starting up again from scratch with my tank. For this I will be having my fish hosted at a friends place with 1/2 the tank water and one of the filters. I want to replace all the substrate shingle with silica sand, inserting another large piece of driftwood and replanting it all. I plan to scoop out the substrate and existing plants, but leaving 1/2 the water in there. Adding the sand and plants and topping back up with warm water. This will all be done over a period of an hour or two so I don't there will be too much of a problem with the remaining filter. The tank is 450x450x900mm. How long should I wait before I re-introduce my fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantedobe Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I have a large rubbish bin and lid (kept only for fish) for these sorts of things, I catch all fish and put them and plants and filter in there, do the tank put the water, plants filter and fish back in and all done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantedobe Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I did this when I changed my 4ft cichlid tank from shingle to sand. They were quite happy in there for a few hours. I had the heater running in there as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I am thinking maybe the sand may take some time to settle. Has anyone any advise on using silica sand, (pool filter sand)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantedobe Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 I used sand from the landscape place, cleaned it really well and it was not very cloudy at all. If you clean well, and it takes AGES, you shouldn't have very cloudy water at all. Fish won't mind anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I have silica sand, it settles immediately and so long as yout filter intake is not sitting too close to the sand you won't have a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I have silica sand, it settles immediately and so long as yout filter intake is not sitting too close to the sand you won't have a problem Cheers for the info. Did you have to prepare it in any way first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Like with any substrate, it needs to be rinsed throughly. If using second hand, you might want to boil it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 This will be brand new from the shop, but I might boil it just in case all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 You're wasting your time boiling it, just rinse it thoroughly until the fine stuff is removed, although with silica sand you might throw away more than you wash! Could also try the "white sand" from Urban Paving seems how you're in Christchurch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I was going for the silica sand as we are going to be replacing it in our pool filter, so I will get an extra bag. Yes washing it could be a tad difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 actually I didn't even bother to rinse it. I put it into the tank just to see how it would look, then when i was ready to set up the tank I couldn't be bothered taking it back out to rinse it. I had no probs at all with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Pool filter sand is quite coarse, its what I use. definitely rinse it before use, once it runs clear it will settle straight away. I have stripped my tanks down several times using the rubbish bin method and never had any losses, try to keep 50% (min 30%)of the water and you'll be sweet as. GLuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I recently set up a new tank with new substrate (also silica sand) old ornamants and an old filter which hadn't been used for a few months - used most of the water from previous tank (which filled up about a third), added fresh water, threw the fish straight in and bob's your uncle. I don't believe in mucking around with cycling and such and never had a problem. So long as you use previous water from a tank as a base, you're fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 good old uncle bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Pool filter sand is quite coarse, its what I use. definitely rinse it before use, once it runs clear it will settle straight away. I have stripped my tanks down several times using the rubbish bin method and never had any losses, try to keep 50% (min 30%)of the water and you'll be sweet as. GLuck Thanks, this will do me just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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