Sand too Fine???

[assad319]

Hi all. My tank is fully cycled after about 8 weeks and I added a small cuc last week.

When I purchased sand for the tank I was recommended some Redsea sand from the store assistant so went ahead and bought it.

I'm finding that the sand is very fine and is easily disturbed where the water flow is strong. The sand is also resting on my rocks. The picture shows what I am referring too.

Is it ok for me to continue with this sand or should I do something about it? If I need to do something should I replace it all, or only take out some and mix it with better suited sand? Would replacing it have any detrimental effects considering my tank has only recently been cycled?

 

[arturoo1977]

Im setting up a tank for a friend and he bought that same sand from Redsea. There is no way to clear the water it looks like a sand storm in there.
Right now we are debating if keep it or pull it out and replace it.
On my own tank I have Caribesea pink fiji and no problems at all. Grain is bigger but still looks like sand.

 

[assad319]

Im setting up a tank for a friend and he bought that same sand from Redsea. There is no way to clear the water it looks like a sand storm in there.
Right now we are debating if keep it or pull it out and replace it.
On my own tank I have Caribesea pink fiji and no problems at all. Grain is bigger but still looks like sand.

The water in my tank was cloudy with sand for a few days but it's crystal clear now so I'm in too minds as to if I should change it. If it's not going to impact on the fish or coral I will probably keep it. Do you think it will have any impact?

 

[Auquanut]

It looks like you have sand reaching pretty high on your rocks. If this is an ongoing problem, I would think it might irritate your corals when the time comes to start adding them. I had the same issue in my biocube 29. Mixing in some courser argonite sand would probably help but may not completely solve the problem. What I did was to slowly vacuum out the fine sand during water changes (taking a little at a time). You can't get it all without removing the rocks. Then I slowly added the courser sand (again, a little at a time). It took some time, but didn't seem to have a noticeable impact on the health of the tank.

 

[arturoo1977]

Just to give you an idea... this pic was taken a week after adding sand. Two weeks later more o less same. Pumps on, pumps off, filter running, filter off.... no way to clear water....

 

[bjc451]

YouTube diatom filter. Water bottle floss and a pump

 

[arturoo1977]

YouTube diatom filter. Water bottle floss and a pump

Will try it, thanks.

thing is, an Im not ttying to still this thread... that Redsea sand is very difficult to work with.

@assad319 you should try to re orient powerheads looking that flow do not disturb the sand bed.

 

[flsalty]

Just to give you an idea... this pic was taken a week after adding sand. Two weeks later more o less same. Pumps on, pumps off, filter running, filter off.... no way to clear water....

Wow. Did you rinse the sand first?

 

[lilgrounchuck]

I went with oolite and regret it. If I could go back to before I was stocked like you are now I would and I’d pull it all for something heavier. After almost a year I still get sand blowing all over when fish dart across the bottom and when my gobies are sitting through it. I’ve been slowly sucking it out with water changes to replace (or not and go bb) later, so that’s always an option for you if you don’t want to pull it all at once.

 

[Idoc]

I'm not a fan of that fine of sand particles due to the limitations with tank flow.

 

[Chris Villalobos]

Tropic Eden reef flakes worked in my tank. They are heavy enough not to blow around even when my MP10s are at full strength.

Tropic Eden Reeflakes Aragonite Sand - 30lb | Premium Aquatics

NOTE: Because of the heavy nature of sands. These sands will be shipped out via the most economical way, which may be UPS Ground or USPS, but will...

premiumaquatics.com

 

[codycolina707]

I don't have the red sea sand

Hi all. My tank is fully cycled after about 8 weeks and I added a small cuc last week.

When I purchased sand for the tank I was recommended some Redsea sand from the store assistant so went ahead and bought it.

I'm finding that the sand is very fine and is easily disturbed where the water flow is strong. The sand is also resting on my rocks. The picture shows what I am referring too.

Is it ok for me to continue with this sand or should I do something about it? If I need to do something should I replace it all, or only take out some and mix it with better suited sand? Would replacing it have any detrimental effects considering my tank has only recently been cycled?

I don't have the red sea sand but have very fine sand in my tank and noticed as time goes on the more fine particles end up going away like when I first got my diamond goby everytime he sifted the sand would cause a sand storm now when he does it most of the really fine dust is gone I was hating the sand too now its not too bad

 

[assad319]

Will try it, thanks.

thing is, an Im not ttying to still this thread... that Redsea sand is very difficult to work with.

@assad319 you should try to re orient powerheads looking that flow do not disturb the sand bed.

If I alter the direction of the powerheads they would be facing higher up in the tank. Is that ok to do?

 

[arturoo1977]

A pic of hole tank will help. Do you have corals in it?
If your tank has just end cycle and you have no corals, then you don't need at this point high water circulation. The one that filter provide would be enough.

 

[ahiggins]

My very first nano had fine sand and after cursing myself so many times, I used crushed coral exclusively now. I never get any sand sifting fish, so it works.

 

[jd371]

It was frustrating at first. But once you get the PH's dialed in and placement right it's not that bad, plus I'm sure my Wrasse loves the fine stuff to bury himself in.

I get some good flow as you can see from the Gorgonian without a sand storm.