aquarium sand; how to clean - Aquarium Advice

sanweaver · 01-21-2006, 11:39 PM

I need some quick advice on how to clean the sand before I put it into my tank. I'm changing the current gravel out.

Lonewolfblue · 01-21-2006, 11:41 PM

Put in a small bucket with a hose. Let the water overflow the bucket and swish the gravel around with your hand. With gravel you can swish around faster, but with something like pool filter sand, if you swich too hard, the sand will overflow out of the bucket.

**Fishyfanatic** · 01-22-2006, 02:18 AM

Let the water overflow until it comes out clear. If it is cloudy, you'll just be dumping dust into the tank.

Lonewolfblue · 01-22-2006, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishyfanatic

Let the water overflow until it comes out clear. If it is cloudy, you'll just be dumping dust into the tank.

I forgot that, yes, let it run til it's clear. Thanks for catching that....

7Enigma · 01-22-2006, 02:10 PM

Do as recommended above, then clean it again. Trust me on this one. I cleaned it until I thought it was great (about 45minutes of straight agitation and water changes for 45lbs), then dumped it in the tank and the next couple of days I was having to [acronym:ad310e2845="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:ad310e2845] because it was still cloudy. I don't know if I got a bad batch of PFS (it did have a bit of water at the bottom since the pool shop had it stored outdoors), or what, but an extra 10minutes of cleaning now, might just save you hours of frustration later!

DeFeKt · 01-22-2006, 09:16 PM

once you've got it in your tank, I also run the hose into the tank while draining it at the same time. provided you have no fish of course. and it's a fine line to get the right flow so you can leave it sit for a few hours.

magnaflow · 01-22-2006, 09:42 PM

I just change my sand on the weekand I used number 2 silica sand looks good and is easy to clean becuase its very coarse

01-21-2006, 11:39 PM	#1
sanweaver Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 4	aquarium sand; how to clean I need some quick advice on how to clean the sand before I put it into my tank. I'm changing the current gravel out.

01-21-2006, 11:41 PM	#2
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Put in a small bucket with a hose. Let the water overflow the bucket and swish the gravel around with your hand. With gravel you can swish around faster, but with something like pool filter sand, if you swich too hard, the sand will overflow out of the bucket. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

01-22-2006, 02:18 AM	#3
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	Let the water overflow until it comes out clear. If it is cloudy, you'll just be dumping dust into the tank. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

01-22-2006, 02:10 PM	#5
7Enigma Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Havertown, PA Posts: 2,624 Images: 5	Do as recommended above, then clean it again. Trust me on this one. I cleaned it until I thought it was great (about 45minutes of straight agitation and water changes for 45lbs), then dumped it in the tank and the next couple of days I was having to [acronym:ad310e2845="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:ad310e2845] because it was still cloudy. I don't know if I got a bad batch of PFS (it did have a bit of water at the bottom since the pool shop had it stored outdoors), or what, but an extra 10minutes of cleaning now, might just save you hours of frustration later! __________________ 20G High -Currently in tank: 1 checkered barb, 1 cory, 1 BN pleco, MTS, variety of platy (fry, juvi, adult), lots of plants. http://www.photolocker.net/images/7Enigma/milfoil2.jpg

01-22-2006, 09:16 PM	#6
DeFeKt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth australia Posts: 1,435 Images: 18	once you've got it in your tank, I also run the hose into the tank while draining it at the same time. provided you have no fish of course. and it's a fine line to get the right flow so you can leave it sit for a few hours. __________________ Dimidiochromis compressiceps, Astatotilapia latifasciata Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Labidochromis caeruleus Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue' Pseudotropheus acei 'Msuli Point' Aulunocara stuartgranti 'chipoka' Labidochromis freibergi Oreochromis mossambicus Etroplus suratensis

01-22-2006, 09:42 PM	#7
magnaflow Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada, Nova Scotia Posts: 95 Images: 4	I just change my sand on the weekand I used number 2 silica sand looks good and is easy to clean becuase its very coarse __________________ Sig will come

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