Problems With Sand In Filter

Good evening! I have a 10 gallon tank that I house my snails and shrimp in and I decided to put sand on the bottom instead of gravel (my main tank has gravel and my frog tank is bare bottom) and I keep having problems with sand getting in the filter and stop it from running. I tried putting panty hose on the intake but it just clogged it and I constantly had to un clog it. Does anyone have a solution they use for this same problem?

 

What kind of sand is it? I use pool filter sand, and this doesn't happen

 

Nylon stocking as you have found get clogged very easy. Put a pre-filter sponge on it. Fluval makes one for the edge aquarium that will usually fit on the intake tube of most filters regardless of the brand,

 

Get a pre-filter made for the intake. I have mine on all of my intakes and don't have a problem with sand in the filter or slow intake. I think pantyhose is just to thin and lets too much water being sucked up which is why your sand sticks to it.

 

What kind of sand is it? I use pool filter sand, and this doesn't happen

It's aquarium sand from Petco. Is it possible to get a bag of pool sand in a small bag? For some reason I have a feeling they come in big bags.

 

It's aquarium sand from Petco. Is it possible to get a bag of pool sand in a small bag? For some reason I have a feeling they come in big bags.

I've never seen a tiny bag of pool filter sand. I just bought a 50 pound bag and was able to use it all for 2 ten gallons and a 6.5.

 

I've never seen a tiny bag of pool filter sand. I just bought a 50 pound bag and was able to use it all for 2 ten gallons and a 6.5.

Oh okay. Now that I think about it a big bag wouldn't be bad. Thank you soooo much!! I dearly appreciate it!

 

So pool filter sand will not get sucked into an HOB?

 

So pool filter sand will not get sucked into an HOB?

Not if it's settled

 

Not if it's settled

What do you mean by settled? Just wait till all the silt settles before turning the HOB on or is it more complicated than that?

 

What do you mean by settled? Just wait till all the silt settles before turning the HOB on or is it more complicated than that?

By settled, I mean there isn't any sand floating around. Once it's on the bottom, it's not going to get sucked into a hob filter

 

By settled, I mean there isn't any sand floating around. Once it's on the bottom, it's not going to get sucked into a hob filter

I thought so I was just making sure. Communicating by text some things get lost. I'd rather double clarify & seem obtuse than assume and well, Y'know what they say about assuming. Lol! Thanks for taking the time to reply!

 

Pool filter sand is heavy which is why when you stir the sand it quickly sinks back. The sand you have must be really fine grain. I thought a 50 pound bag would be big but it actually isn't. Itis easy to store the bag. It is a bit smaller than the size of a regular backpack. However to avoid the sand from floating aroumd I suggest washing the sand a couple of times. This way any dirt or tiny sand particles will be washed away. Trust me you don't want to just add it to you aquarium otherwise your tank will be cloudy.

 

Pool filter sand is heavy which is why when you stir the sand it quickly sinks back. The sand you have must be really fine grain. I thought a 50 pound bag would be big but it actually isn't. Itis easy to store the bag. It is a bit smaller than the size of a regular backpack. However to avoid the sand from floating aroumd I suggest washing the sand a couple of times. This way any dirt or tiny sand particles will be washed away. Trust me you don't want to just add it to you aquarium otherwise your tank will be cloudy.

Do you just wash it in a bucket and pour off whatever floats up or use something like cheesecloth to strain it? I would think the cheesecloth would take a long, long time!

 

My experience with sand is to sift it like your panning for gold. Do it in a 5 gal bucket but only about 5-8lbs at a time and pan it like you would gold, so the really light stuff gets washed away. With this method, you can stir up the sand as much as you want and it instantly falls to the bottom.
Just placing a hose in a bucket of sand won't do a good enough job cleaning it in my opinion.

 

Do you just wash it in a bucket and pour off whatever floats up or use something like cheesecloth to strain it? I would think the cheesecloth would take a long, long time!

No need for cheese cloth. All you do is get a 2 5 gallon buckets pour some sand, I'd say do about 1/5 of the bag. Fill the bucket with water until there is like 3-4 inches of water above the sand. If you use a garden hose it will quickly stir the sand. However if you are using the sink I suggest you stir the sand around and then pour the water. The water will be brown since that is all the small particles that are light enough that it won't sink for a few seconds. Do this several of times till when you pour the water the water is clear. Then using the other 5 gallon bucket repeat. After your done pour the sand in one of the 5 gallons into the other. That bucket will be your clean sand. Use the other bucket to wash the rest of the sand. However, I suggest not washing all of it just washing what you need, but if you are just using sand for your aquarium then the whole bag will be needed.

 

Thanks for taking the time to explain the process. That is a big help! I'll bet I could do the dirt the same way well. The build is coming along and I hope to have it up and running by the end of October or middle of November.

 

No problem! Take it nice and slow. When it comes to builds patience and research is key. Also I like to rinse it a couple of times till the water is clear since it saves the headache of when you pour it into your tank and then fill it with water. People who don't rinse have to wait days for there tank to be less cloudy also all those particles will get sucked into your filter. Better plan before hand then deal with it later on!!!

 

No problem! Take it nice and slow. When it comes to builds patience and research is key. Also I like to rinse it a couple of times till the water is clear since it saves the headache of when you pour it into your tank and then fill it with water. People who don't rinse have to wait days for there tank to be less cloudy also all those particles will get sucked into your filter. Better plan before hand then deal with it later on!!!

That's my goal and am trying to learn as much ahead of time as u can as this will be the first tank I've ever done that doesn't have gravel in it. It'll also be my first completely planted tank with no artificials in it too! I sure appreciate all the advice!

 

Love it! For my 40 breeder it took me 3-4 months of planning for equipment, building the stand, finding the right stock and the collecting plants and driftwood from different pet stores!

 

Love it! For my 40 breeder it took me 3-4 months of planning for equipment, building the stand, finding the right stock and the collecting plants and driftwood from different pet stores!

& I have to rebuild the tank too...

 

I do the stir and pour method when rinsing ... the smaller amounts are easier to wash at a time. I'd pour maybe 5 inches in a bucket and run the hose in while stirring it all around with your hand. Once you see stuff floating pour it off and add more water. Keep doing this until that batch is clear and then do the next batch. The more you do at a time the harder it will be to stir it well and get it rinsed efficiently. And it sucks having a super cloudy tank! When we set up our first tank we believed the bag of floramax that said "pre rinsed ... minimal rinsing necessary" and barely rinsed at all and then poured it in. It was so cloudy we ended up removing it and rinsing then putting it back ... it was still cloudy for a good day or two.

 

That is why its good to have 2 buckets if you can!

 

I do the stir and pour method when rinsing ... the smaller amounts are easier to wash at a time. I'd pour maybe 5 inches in a bucket and run the hose in while stirring it all around with your hand. Once you see stuff floating pour it off and add more water. Keep doing this until that batch is clear and then do the next batch. The more you do at a time the harder it will be to stir it well and get it rinsed efficiently. And it sucks having a super cloudy tank! When we set up our first tank we believed the bag of floramax that said "pre rinsed ... minimal rinsing necessary" and barely rinsed at all and then poured it in. It was so cloudy we ended up removing it and rinsing then putting it back ... it was still cloudy for a good day or two.

I was thinking of getting a dedicated paint storer for a 5 gallon bucket that goes on the drill to do the stirring so I don't have to. If I did a few inches at a time it should make it go much faster I would think...

 

It really isn't that hard though. I find using a hose is the best way. Just point the gone shooting at the sides so that it causes the water and sand to swirl around. Then count 3 secs for the actual sand to sink and then dump the water. However I guess if your doing it indoors it will be harder.

 

Yeah ... not really hard to stir. I doubt you'll need a paint stirrer and a drill.

 

Or use your hand!

 

It really isn't that hard though. I find using a hose is the best way. Just point the gone shooting at the sides so that it causes the water and sand to swirl around. Then count 3 secs for the actual sand to sink and then dump the water. However I guess if your doing it indoors it will be harder.

Oh no I'll be doing it outside for sure!