Substrate help, please...

[Yiderlier]

Hi all

Ive only posted on here once, but I have a quick question infact I may put two questions on here.

I have a 3ft tank set up with a small rocky area in one corner and some java fern on the bottom, plus some cabomba and aelodea on the surface. And a vase in the middle. The bottom is bare and I was thinking I should get some sand, now I know playsand is the best and cheapest, now would I be able to put this in with the water already in the tank or am I going to have to remove my two inch axies and water and then put the sand in?

Thank you for your help

CHris

 

[ianclick]

Hi Chris,

You will definately need to remove your axolotls befor you change to sand. There will be some clouding whether you add the sand to an existing tank or empty the tank and then add the sand. If you are going to empty the tank it will help to keep the water you remove and return this to the tank once the sand is added.

Also place the sand in a pillow case and rinse it until the water runs clear, this can take sometime. It will reduce the amount of clouding and speed up the time before you can return your axolotls. It could take upto a full day for the sand to settle and the water to clear.

Good Luck

 

[Yucca Patrol]

Pillowcase! What a great idea. I've always rinsed my play sand in a 5 gallon bucket with the hose until the water ran clean.

 

[Yiderlier]

Thanks for that. Just thought, ive brought one of these battery powered vacuums for the bottom of my tank, when I hoover up the rubbish off the sand, sure it will suck up sand and cause clouding again or is the sand compacted enough not to be sucked up?

Cheers again,

Chris

 

[Greatwtehunter]

The water will only be cloudy for a few minutes after cleaning it, then it will settle back down.

 

[Yiderlier]

So it wont suck up too much sand then? My axies seem to be fine on a bare bottom, they have a rocky patch in the corner of the tank and I might get a few more large rock for them to chill out on rather than the sand!

Cheers

Chris