Sand Question

[ExiledxAssassin]

Alright, i've read about sand and it seems like a lot of people are using it and i've noticed that it does make the tank look nicer.
My question though is, do you still run the filter as you do with Gravel?

 

[lauraf]

What kind of filter do you have?

 

[ExiledxAssassin]

I have a power filter that hangs on the top/outside of the tank.

 

[CoNMaN]

Yes, just wash your sand first, and make sure your intake tube isn't low enough to suck sand off the bottom. It will occasionally grind a bit of sand when your pleco freaks out and kicks up a bunch, but don't sweat it.

Enjoy your beach!

 

[ryanoh]

Would putting a sponge in the filter head solve sand getting in, or would that just decrease the rate of water intake?

 

[AndiH]

It does both. I use sponge to slow the flow on my filter until I get everything set up. It also catches all the cat hair that seems to float around here lol

 

[Mturner615]

Sad is VERY attractive imo, but I don't keep it in high-traffic tanks or tanks with a big current.

I have sand in my 20L red-claw crab tank, and I think the only reason it's been working so well is because I have a terrarium waterfall filter in it, and sand never gets in contact with the actual prop.

From previous experience, sand will slowly kill most filters. I once had sand in my turtle tank when they were just hatchlings, and within 3 months, that filter was shot bc the turtles kicked up a lot of sand that ended up jamming and ruining my motor.

But best of luck! It looks amazing if you can get the right set-up. It's really just a trial and error type of thing. If you have the time (and patience), and money to replace a filter here and there if it happens to get ruined, then I say go for it.