I do not, but I do not use the sand you are using. I use BDBS and pool filter sand. If the sand you are using is very find and prone to dusting up then yes I would shut down the filtration. Sand can do mean things to the impellers in filters.handsome said:im new to sand, havent had an aquarium since the early 90s and back then i used gravel only, should i be turning off the filters every time i disturb the sand?
Even though aquarium sand is cleaned and dried before packaging, it usually contains a lot of dust and shoud be rinced several times before being poured into an empty tank. And the company that processes the sand could have left in small pieces of wood or sticks that will never sink. My best suggestion would be to use something rigid that won't scratch the bottom glass like a fish net handle and stir the heck out of all the sand with filtration off to remove all trapped air bubbles from the sand so there will be no air pockets in the bottom. Wait one minute only and then use the same net to remove anytking and everything that is still suspended in the water and discard it and rince the net. Then turn the filter back on and remove anything else that the filter current cause to float around. If you have any problems with sand getting into the filter in the future. I recommend that you buy a small black sponge prefilter to slip over the filters intake tube.handsome said:i added a bunch of bags to my new aquarium, a lot of the sand stayed at the top floating for the past 2 days, also my 2 fluval c4 filters keep sucking it up and getting clogged, any recommendations would be appreciated
finnipper59 said:Even though aquarium sand is cleaned and dried before packaging, it usually contains a lot of dust and shoud be rinced several times before being poured into an empty tank. And the company that processes the sand could have left in small pieces of wood or sticks that will never sink. My best suggestion would be to use something rigid that won't scratch the bottom glass like a fish net handle and stir the heck out of all the sand with filtration off to remove all trapped air bubbles from the sand so there will be no air pockets in the bottom. Wait one minute only and then use the same net to remove anytking and everything that is still suspended in the water and discard it and rince the net. Then turn the filter back on and remove anything else that the filter current cause to float around. If you have any problems with sand getting into the filter in the future. I recommend that you buy a small black sponge prefilter to slip over the filters intake tube.
handsome said:where can i get or what slip on filter would you recommend?
I know that chewy.com ships within 1 to 2 days. If you need something before the prefilter arrives...rubber band a knee high ladies stocking over it. I think you can still get the for about a buck or less at a dollar store or pharmacy.finnipper59 said:There are black foam filters at your local pet shop that you hook up to air pumps to use as stand alone filters. But the same black sponges are available as frefilters that keep newborn fry from getting sucked up. Fluval makes a prefilter that you can get online for $2.99 at chewy.com I don't know the shipping cost.
Just keep a watch on it. You don't still have bits of sand floating around now do you.handsome said:the c4 filters are off, but the fx6 is still running, wonder if ill have the same problem with fx6?
handsome said:i havent checked the tank since friday, when i add plants or move things around in the tank is this always going to be a problem? should i wrap the suction side of fx6 with a prefilter?
