FishProfiles.com Message Forums

	Playground sand
Graphite Fingerling Posts: 45 Kudos: 34 Votes: 0 Registered: 20-Jul-2004	hey im getting a new 55gallon tank tommorow and im wondering I got 100lbs of playground sand for all my tanks in the house and some extra and wonder whast the best way to clean it. I got some in my 10gal and its "kinda" cloudy, The sand maybe needs to settle for a couple of days?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Dr. Bonke Moderator Posts: 367 Kudos: 215 Votes: 36 Registered: 15-Apr-2004	Hello Graphite, The settling might take a very long time and the stuff that needs to settle is easily unsettled as well. I'd suggest that you first wash the sand before adding it into any tank. Just put some in a bucket, then add water until the bucket is half full and start mixing it with your hands. You'll instantly have some idea how dirty the sand actually is. After thouroughly mixing it, gently pour off the water, then repeat this procedure until the water stays nice and clear (usually 3-4 washes). I know it's a pain, but your tank won't be cloudy if you do this. good luck
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Graphite Fingerling Posts: 45 Kudos: 34 Votes: 0 Registered: 20-Jul-2004	Thanks for the tip.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	A very important step too, not just for the visual aspect! I did rinse my sand (and very well too) but like bonke said, anything you miss rinsing off before adding it to the tank, will unsettle very easily. I've managed to ruin a filter in just a few months due to (yes I'll admit it) slightly careless maintence, and possibly not rinsing as much as I should have. ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
JTF Enthusiast Posts: 245 Registered: 16-May-2004	If you do go with playground sand it would be a good idea to get some fish that like to dig, as this will prevent pockets of waste from building up throughout the sand.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Graphite Fingerling Posts: 45 Kudos: 34 Votes: 0 Registered: 20-Jul-2004	What kinda fish like digging in sand?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
lil-fishy Enthusiast Posts: 167 Kudos: 176 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Feb-2004	Any of the Geophagus species which are a very colorful and peaceful new world cichlid.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Graphite Fingerling Posts: 45 Kudos: 34 Votes: 0 Registered: 20-Jul-2004	Alright thanks for the recommendation which one would be best fitted for a tank with 8 tiger barbs 5 cardinal tetras 2 blue gouramis 1 bristlenose pleco 6 ornate cory cat
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
lil-fishy Enthusiast Posts: 167 Kudos: 176 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Feb-2004	I'm not really sure you could keep them in a tank with those smaller fish... Maybe if you got the geophagus species as juveniles they would get along fine. Generally the geophagus species are more aggressive towards each other.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
xxmrbui3blesxx Fish Master Posts: 1760 Kudos: 905 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Nov-2001	Rinsing playsand is nothing compared to rinsing fluorite. Ten thorough rinsings would never be enough for fluorite!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Crazygar Mega Fish "Wheel of Mortality..turn turn turn..." Posts: 1230 Kudos: 1087 Votes: 1 Registered: 30-Jun-2003	Add some Malaysian Trumpet Snails! They DO NOT: eat plants or take over a tank. They DO turn over the soil (they burrow into it and move around) and you can follow their progress by looking at the "tracks" they make under the sand. Kuhli Loaches and Corydoras also like to move around sand. Gary
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Graphite Fingerling Posts: 45 Kudos: 34 Votes: 0 Registered: 20-Jul-2004	thanks Ill take a look around.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26


	Jump to:

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies