Planning a new aqua scape. Adding sand

[garrettkei]

I have a 100gallon Milawi tank with mostly juvenile mbunas. I know they enjoy sand so I've bought pool filter sand for the tank. How do I go about changing from gravel to sand? Should I do partial changes or all at once. I know the water will get cloudy no matter how much I rinse before. Is it safe to have fish in the tank during the settling phase? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[SonicsDC25]

If your siphon is big enough, use that. Otherwise you can just get a plastic cup and scoop it out. As for the sand, if you get a cup and slowly pour it into the tank near the bottom, then it shouldn't be that cloudy if you've cleaned it thoroughly for 10-15 minutes. I've never had any cloudy water when adding sand this way.

 

[garrettkei]

I'll try that method. Thanks

 

[VioletGoby]

There are a lot of helpful youtube vids. I just typed in gravel to sand. I hope to make the change soon as well.

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[garrettkei]

100 gallon Before

 

[garrettkei]

After. Painted black background and pool filter sand.

 

[garrettkei]

Very happy with the results.


My plecos are the only ones staying still enough for a photo op so far.

 

[earlysteven]

Love it looks great only bad thing is the plecos poop is gonna drive you nuts in the sand

 

[garrettkei]

I have had that big fish for 4 years now so I'm sure I'll learn to live and clean my new dirty sand. I love that guy.

 

[earlysteven]

Lol o i understand I had my pleco for two and a half years and when I switched to sand just something that bothered me .

 

[garrettkei]

I see lots of siphon vacuuming in my future.

 

[garrettkei]

I'll need a better/faster camera to catch these guys.

 

[SonicsDC25]

New tank looks great, like the black background as well. You'll get used to taking pics with your phone, I take like 100 and only about 10 are useable lol.

 

[Cichlid ism]

After. Painted black background and pool filter sand. View attachment 226532

Looks great and Definitely much better than the gravel

 

[garrettkei]

Yeah I'm really liking the black background too. I did a charcoal grey on my 30 gallon but I like the black better. Those Mbuna sure do love the sand. It's wonderful watching how happy they are. My 1" red zebra has been digging and piling up the sand for 2 days now.

 

[garrettkei]

Black air tubing and new ultra sun bulb.

 

[Ulrichsd]

I really like the white sand with black background, that's what i was thinking with my new tank.

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