Just a crazy thought

[sooner4real]

Hi , I'm new to this forum and I had a crazy idea to maybe try on a new build.

I want to build out a 60 gallon cube tank and I'm going to use black diamond
blasting sand as the substrate, Well in order to get about 2" of depth in need about 80lbs of sand, that's a lot of rinsing- what Iwas wondering if it would work was just put the sand down and fill the tank and use a flocculent and the filter to clear the water, would that work? Just wondering and thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Fishfur]

Hi , I'm new to this forum and I had a crazy idea to maybe try on a new build.

I want to build out a 60 gallon cube tank and I'm going to use black diamond
blasting sand as the substrate, Well in order to get about 2" of depth in need about 80lbs of sand, that's a lot of rinsing- what Iwas wondering if it would work was just put the sand down and fill the tank and use a flocculent and the filter to clear the water, would that work? Just wondering and thanks for any suggestions.

Welcome to Fishlore.

A flocculant should work on silt & fines from the substrate but the agglomerated particles will have to be vacuumed ( siphoned) out as they will settle on the surface of the sand.

It may not stay agglomerated if left sitting in the surface because the forces binding the particles together aren’t particularly strong.

I’m not sure how much work siphoning out the accumulated material might take. Might save you a lot of effort. But there is only one way to find out .

Though I haven’t actually tried it, I have repeatedly read that rinsing sand (or gravel for that matter) by putting it in a pillow case & running water through is very effective. Maybe a bit time consuming but less work than rinsing in a bucket.

 

[sooner4real]

I forgot about trying to get that particulate out, I don't know how much would come out of 80+ lbs of black diamond blasting sand and I hate to ruin a new filter because I was lazy.
But the pillow case idea is doable. Just how do I get a pillow case from the sheet set without my wife finding out. That will be the true challenge.

 

[Fishfur]

I forgot about trying to get that particulate out, I don't know how much would come out of 80+ lbs of black diamond blasting sand and I hate to ruin a new filter because I was lazy.
But the pillow case idea is doable. Just how do I get a pillow case from the sheet set without my wife finding out. That will be the true challenge.

Possibly you might obtain a random pillow case from a thrift store rather than try to sneak one by your wife !

 

[Redshark1]

I've bought pre-washed silver sand before and it was as described, I didn't need to wash it even though I didn't believe it and tried to wash it.

 

[sooner4real]

Possibly you might obtain a random pillow case from a thrift store rather than try to sneak one by your wife !

I'll stop by the thrift store on the way home and see what I can find