Gravel to sand, pls help!

[maia]

Hi,
after finding out how harmful gravel can be for axies I quickly removed the gravel from the tank (a few days ago). Now, I want to replace the gravel with sand, I just dont know how to go about it?

Is the aquarium sand you can buy from the pet shop safe for axolotls?

After washing sand thoroughly, should I remove my axie from the tank before adding the sand or could i add the sand gently to the tank without stressing/harming my axolotl?

Thanks

 

[MelanieK]

I have read here that people have good results with the sand used in pool filters ( it is a course sand ) or play sand ( a finer sand ). If I remember correctly they advise to rinse the sand very, very well to remove dust and other particals that might cloud the water. Hopefully someone else will soon confirm this information and also advise you on the need to remove your pet while adding the sand.

 

[Daniel]

Hi,

I have no experience with sand from pool filters (less common here) but I know from my own experience that play sand is by far not the best choice (a mingling of different diameters of sand that may result in a really compact and finally anaerobic substrate) - additionally it is not sterilized.

The aquarium sand from the pet shop should be safe if it has the right dimensions (1-3 milimeters would be the best choice for me), but you should rinse it thorougly to remove any dust.
And I would always remove the axolotls before making such serious changes in their tank because it may be very stressful to the animals - why not just carefully catch them and place them in a quarantine-tank or even bucket?

Greetings,

Daniel

 

[maia]

Thanks, I will definately go for a course sand instead of such fine sand as it could be cloudy and a hastle to clean. I do have a smaller tank that I will place the axie in (with water from the big tank) while I add the sand and wait for it to settle. And I will wash it thoroughly before adding it in.

Also, what is the best method of spot cleaning the tank of poo and left over food?

Thankyou for your quick helpful responses, Maia

 

[kapo]

Maia, don't go for the marine sand from the petshop. If you check out one of the hardware stores/garden centres (like Bunnings or Mitre 10 or similar) you should be able to get a big bag of playsand cheaper than in the petshop.

Spot clean the tank using a turkey baster.

 

[maia]

Yes, thats a good idea will the hardware sand be clean and safe enough? I thought pet shop sand would be safer because it is treated or something?
a turkey baster! excellent. Thankyou for your advice once again, Maia

 

[kapo]

The pet shop sand, if it is marine sand, is usually for marine tanks (salt), rather than freshwater tanks. It can also raise the hardness in your tankwater.

Using hardware playsand is fine. Like most substrates, even from the petshop, it has to be rinsed well. Just make sure it is the playsand.

 

[ianclick]

Hi Maia, have you thought of no substrate? I have three axies in two tanks with no substrate its really easy to clean and my axies don't have any issues with movement.

 

[kapo]

Yes we also have one tank with no sand, it's very easy to clean and feed, but my husband spent so much time and effort cleaning/rinsing the sand for all our other tanks, that I don't think he'd appreciate me removing it all after his hard work!

 

[Saspotato]

Yeah I bought sand for about 10 bucks from a hardware store on the advice of a friend who has a couple of big aquariums. I washed it in buckets til the water went clear and all has been good with my axolotl

I think it raised the PH level slightly (as my tap water is about 6 and my tank PH is about 7)... and that was the only effect.