Sand.

[Fullmoonnight]

I really want sand for my tanks ( All of my tanks are currently bare bottom, Goldfish, Ropefish, Parrot Cichilds, Snowflake eel,turtles. ALL OF THEM) so with the addition of an Axie (well 4 actually lol) I'm considering sand. How would I go about the sand? How do you clean it? Is it a complete mess? Would I be better off without it? What about the filters? Is my filter going to end up sucking it all up? I heard about doing a fully planted bottom but I imagine that wouldn't work well without any light? I did try some floating plants before and I had them floating in a bucket by a window but they all died. I got some other type of plant and it seems to be doing well in my tiny unlighted Kulhi Loach tank but it's not something I could use as carpet :/ I believe it's a fern of some sort. I'm very OCD about my tanks, if the water isn't crystal clear...then it needs a good scrub down, like I mean a 100% water change and I'm going to take out everything from the tank to wash it throughly. How can I do that with sand? I can't really shake it and rinse it out like gravel....and I can't just throw it all away ( because I'm not rich enough to afford that much sand weekly haha)

 

[FX1C]

Are you planning on the axies sharing a tank with your fish? Please read about mixing species before putting them all together.

Also importantly please spend some time ready about healthy 'tank cycles' & how essential good bacteria is for a happy healthy tank. Every surface in the tank begins to be coated in good bacteria... Doing a 100% water change + scrubbing everything clean is not the ideal at all (as you are starting the cycle from scratch every time - unless you don't scrub your filter too) in fact it's more likely good luck that has kept your fish alive through such drastic "clean ups!"

I have learned so much about the cycling process on this site & I was just like you a mad clean em up / scrub em down type of fish keeper I now have 4 very happy cycled tanks & they are much easier to maintain now I've managed to balance 'cycle' them.

As for sand, I have a superfine white sand in one tank & Playsand in another, neither get sucked up by filters & they are easily maintained with a light pass over of a standard gravel vac it's fun to follow the footprints around that are in the sand I have plants in both axie tanks & have led & fluoro lights on the tanks & the axies don't mind it at all, if they want they'll go nap under a log but mostly happy cruising around in a reasonably well light tank.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Fullmoonnight]

Are you planning on the axies sharing a tank with your fish? Please read about mixing species before putting them all together.

Also importantly please spend some time ready about healthy 'tank cycles' & how essential good bacteria is for a happy healthy tank. Every surface in the tank begins to be coated in good bacteria... Doing a 100% water change + scrubbing everything clean is not the ideal at all (as you are starting the cycle from scratch every time - unless you don't scrub your filter too) in fact it's more likely good luck that has kept your fish alive through such drastic "clean ups!"

I have learned so much about the cycling process on this site & I was just like you a mad clean em up / scrub em down type of fish keeper I now have 4 very happy cycled tanks & they are much easier to maintain now I've managed to balance 'cycle' them.

As for sand, I have a superfine white sand in one tank & Playsand in another, neither get sucked up by filters & they are easily maintained with a light pass over of a standard gravel vac it's fun to follow the footprints around that are in the sand I have plants in both axie tanks & have led & fluoro lights on the tanks & the axies don't mind it at all, if they want they'll go nap under a log but mostly happy cruising around in a reasonably well light tank.



<3 >o_o< <3

NO NO not at all haha. The axies get their very own tank. Just for them. I did my research

I've had my goldfish for over 3 years now....LOl sorry I say 100% but I don't actually mean 100% lol There's always water and stuff left over whether I like it or not haha. I will scrub the sides when Algae's growing on it though. As for the filters I just give them a quick hose down to get the fish poop off and hose the tubes out because they get clogged up. I have to do this weekly for my goldfish because omg they should name those things "poop fish." and a monthly filter hose down for my other fish.

Most plants can grow under a flouro light right? Does your axies stir up the sand alot? Like does it kick up clouds of dust and it mixes the poop in? ( I plan to use a feeding jar to control where food goes but for poop....well I can't control that) That's great to know I like the look of sand and all my tanks just look so miserable at the moment. I really want to spend some time decorating them so that all the fish can be happier and it won't be such an eye sore to me. My pets are gorgeous....their set ups are not

 

[DeCypher]

Sand is the best axolotl substrate, in my opinion. I clean it quickly and efficiently with a siphon, just hover it above the sand. You'll get better at this with experience.
Be careful what sand you buy...make sure it's not made out of coral or that calcium sand for reptiles. Also, I don't like sand with dyes or artifical coloration. Chemicals are never good. Playsand from a home & garden store is perfect [and cheap]. I understand the OCD of tanks, I like a perfectly clean tank.

 

[Fullmoonnight]

I think I'll give it a go in one of my smaller tanks to see how I like it. I tried going to Petsmart today to look for a small 5lb bag of sand but all they had was a 20 lb bag! I didn't want to go that big yet! Not to mention sand is vastly expensive. I wish there was a deal going on right now :angry:

 

[Olivia97]

Really? Is there no way to get some kids play sand from a garden store or similar? That's usually cheap

 

[layna]

This may be a stupid question but is play sand just literally the sand childeren use in sand pits? as in 'safe for children to use' ect? do you need to wash it first?

I have two tanks set up at the moment (one of my axies is 3 month, the other 15 are 3 weeks) but eventually i hope to move the ones im keeping to the 3 foot tank ive got.

However as people say cycling takes a long time i was planning on starting soon and moving them in maybe 1 to 2 months (with a divider for my biggie) then they can all be happy!

But like i say im a little unsure on what 'play sand' is

thanks for any answers i get :wacko:

 

[Kaysie]

Keep in mind you can (and need to) use different types of sand in different tanks. Cichlid sand is not appropriate for axolotls. Turtles can use much coarser sand than axolotls. I've never bought sand from a pet store.

Play sand is... children's play sand. Yes, you need to wash it. A lot. Until you feel like your arms will fall off. And then keep washing. And then wash it some more.

 

[FX1C]

Play sand is... children's play sand. Yes, you need to wash it. A lot. Until you feel like your arms will fall off. And then keep washing. And then wash it some more.

Oh & when you're ready to put it in your tank...... Rinse it some more!!!

I rushed the rinsing process & it took a lot longer to settle (not to mention filter nightmare! ) so be patient & spend the time rinsing - it'll be worth it





<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Fullmoonnight]

Actually, I heard from someone saying that Play sand in Canada has something sharp in it's sand? That's why I haven't tried it. I think I might give it a go but I'll sift through it first to check?

 

[Fullmoonnight]

Keep in mind you can (and need to) use different types of sand in different tanks. Cichlid sand is not appropriate for axolotls. Turtles can use much coarser sand than axolotls. I've never bought sand from a pet store.

Play sand is... children's play sand. Yes, you need to wash it. A lot. Until you feel like your arms will fall off. And then keep washing. And then wash it some more.

I'm not planning to use sand with my turtles lol the mess they would make would be insane. Cichild sand raises the PH so what I was looking at is called " Super naturals" sand and it's a very fine sand that won't change the water. Plus, it looks really good.