sand?

[fishman1234]

Can you add sand to a tank with fish and inverts in it? I have gravel in it now but am slowly taking it out to make it a bare bottom but I have some snails that actually prefer sand to live in. I was just wondering if it was safe to add sand to the tank with the inverts and fish?

 

[AliciaP]

I just wanted to post for you that I have snails that are sand dwellers and a bare bottom tank. They rummage through the detritus and clean it out really well. I have a couple small patches that gather and I always see them going to it and stopping. I usually suck it out of the tank every week, but i feed heavily and I have a TON a mysids that I'm sure molt and add to the mess. I have had about 5 since Janurary, and they are all still there and doing fine

Hope I've helped!

And if you do add sand, I wold do it very slowly. Like a cupperware dish gently taken to the bottom of the tank and dumped in ever so gently to try and not toss the sand all over into the water column.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

The way I've done it is to put the (washed) sand in a tupperware or bucket and wet it down thoroughly with tank water. Then, put a few handfuls in a plastic bag (like, a gallon ziplock), but don't close the bag. Lower the bag into the tank, letting tank water in, and position it where you want the sand. Then turn the bag open end down and let the sand out. Doing it this way pretty much totally avoids sandstorms or other issues.

Even if some critters CAN live without sand, personally, I think it's kinda fun to watch them live in the sand. That said I don't really like full edge to edge sandbeds - my ideal setup is a mostly barebottom tank with some sand mounded around some of the rockwork. This lets you keep creatures that need or like sand, it lets you see them interact with sand, but you're getting the cleanliness advantage of a barebottom for most of the tank.

 

[EllieSuz]

Here's a terrific tip on putting your new sand in the tank. Get one of those long necked funnels like the ones used for oil changes. I got mine in the automotive department at Walmart. There's a size of vinyl hose that fits on the funnel and you'll need a length of that long enough to reach the bottom. Spoon cleaned, wet sand into the funnel and guide it wherever you need it. There will hardly be any clouding this way. I gave my sand a good soak in freshly made saltwater first to add some salinity to it after being rinsed with tap water. This really works.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

That does sound like a great method, I'll have to try it some time. Just have to remember to not use that funnel for an actual oil change. :lol:

 

[Foody]

Rinse your sand repeatedly in small batches until your run-off runs clear or no matter what you will cloud your water.