Switching gravel to sand

[Cold Canadian]

Ok I am wanting to change my cycled aquarium substrate to sand I am still rated new to the hobby and need some help

1 what kind of sand should I use. I've heard about pool filter sand and river sand I should be able to get those easily.

2 how should I put the sand in without harming fish and live plants (my theory is to put them in 5 gallon buckets and and put the sand in dry than put the water back in plants then fish)

3 will I need MTS to stir sand to keep out the gas bubbles. or would my four Cory cats be good to stir up 1 1/4'' to 2'' of sand and if I need MTS what about assassin snails would they also eat small fry and pond snails.

4 how do I clean sand before I put it in and while in the tank?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Cold Canadian]

I am planing to do this during summer vacation and I would have to double check with my dad before I start...

 

[Puckhog429]

Use pool filter sand. As far as everything else put it in buckets with bubblers and heater. Go and buy some api quick start or stress zyme to prevent swings in parameters which could kill your fish.

 

[Baddog671]

I recently switched mine from black Walmart aquarium gravel to Black Diamond blasting sand. This is marketed as abrasive material for sand-blasting, but can be used in tanks. Check out some Google images of it.

I pulled all my plants, heater, filter, fish and put them in a 5 gallon bucket. I removed as much water from the tank as I could and then removed about 1/2 the gravel. I was going to do a gravel bottom with sand cap, but since then I have stirred it up a little so it is more a gravel-sand mix, but more-so sand.

Dumped the sand in the tank, and then the frustration started, lol. Sand has a tendency to float because tiny air bubbles will cling to the grains and pull them upwards. It takes MANY hours for all the air to be removed and for the sand to finally settle. I think I left my fish out for at least a day before reintroducing them. I also put the canister filter back in and turned it on to help get some of the floaters out. I wasn't too fond of sucking sand in the filter, but it sped it up quickly and I cleaned it afterwards.

 

[Cold Canadian]

Ok thanks for the info for the sand. I will look into the sandblasting sand
And do I need MTS to stir the sand all the Internet research says toxic bulbs will form in the sand ant that you need MTS to stir it. ( I have pond snails and rams horn snails and have had outbreaks before would the MTS be better or worse) if needed I can get assassin snails to keep them in check. Thanks again for the responses. (-:

 

[Puckhog429]

I wouldnt reccomend the sandblasting sand as it is very fine and light.

 

[Cold Canadian]

Ok tanks so you think pool filter sand is the best optioning also don't want sharp sand to cut my corycats barbels

 

[Puckhog429]

Yes, i like it alot because it isnt very fine so it doesnt move around or get waterborne. It also doesnt trap gases and debris below the substrate.

 

[Cold Canadian]

So I would not need MTS

 

[Puckhog429]

What is mts?

 

[Cold Canadian]

malaysian trumpet snail

 

[Puckhog429]

No but they wouldnt do any harm. I have nerite snails and thay are great. They dont multiply and destroy the algae. If your getting pool filter sand look into dirting your tank. I have all of my tanks dirted with pool filter sand as a cap.

 

[Puckhog429]

What kind of plants do you have?

 

[Cold Canadian]

I have java fern and red ludwigia

 

[Puckhog429]

What size tank? And what lighting?

 

[Cold Canadian]

I have a 10 gallon tank with high lighting

 

[Puckhog429]

Id seriously consider looking into dirting your tank and getting more plants then. I mean your already buying pfs so it would only be like 10 bucks more for the dirt. If you would like i could give you instructions on how to do it.

 

[Cold Canadian]

I would not like to have layers I did that with my gravel and I don't like how it looks

I might get more plants thou they are reproducing them self

 

[Puckhog429]

I dig a little trench in the front. Here is a pic of my 30 gallon. I also have a dirted 2.5 and the growth is just amazing with dirt.

 

[Cold Canadian]

I don't know if the picture worked but to all the green gravel mixed to the top of the blue and it looks not nice