[Ianwp]

Hello,

I recently setup a 55 gallon tank with sand substrate. This is my first time using sand and i really like the look of it, until a ton of fish poop is all over it. Yesterday i cleaned the tank and got all of the waste off the sand, after about 4 hrs it looked worse, the fish pooped everywhere. Today, it actually looks a bit better, not sure if this is due to some breakdown of the poop and the filters picking it up.

I was just curious if anyone had any tips to keep sand clean. Or is this just the way sand is? i was also wondering if air stones near the sand surface help to send the poop up to the filters?

Thanks.

 

[jaysee]

I use heavy filtration from multiple filters in conjunction with bottom dwelling fish and malaysian trumpet snails to keep my tanks free of fish poop. Having multiple intake pickups means a stronger suction at multiple points. Too, I have my filters create a circular flow within the tank, which means one filters outflow pushes water to the other filters intake and vice versa. Having bottom dwelling fish help this because as they swim along the bottom it can kick waste back into the water column to move closer to the intake. Lastly, MTS. They are detrivours, which means they eat fish poop.

 

[Ianwp]

Ok, I think you suggested MTS on an older post about overfeeding. I got about 10 from CL, since then I have seen maybe 3 large ones and 2 small guys. i was warned that a few can go to tons quickly so only introduce a few. I have 3 filters. but 2 are sponge. The HOB tends to get sand it it and i have to clean it out since I can't stand the noise.

 

[jaysee]

Sponge filters aren't going to get that job done. I would look into converting your filtration over to 2 small canisters. HOBs are notorious for having problems with sand while canisters are impervious to it.

 

[Ianwp]

I was considering getting a canister filter, because when the hob gets sand in it at night it wakes me up.

What is your advice for ones that come with UV sterilizers? Never used one.

 

[jaysee]

I was considering getting a canister filter, because when the hob gets sand in it at night it wakes me up.

What is your advice for ones that come with UV sterilizers? Never used one.

Yeah, that's how I learned that the BB can live for quite a while with the filter unplugged

You'll love canisters. I know they're a little intimidating but once you get familiar it's a dream. The UV that is built into the filters is not adequate to do more than clear green water. The flow is much to fast for the bulb.

My recommendation for filters are the sunsuns available on eBay - I've got 4 I them. I would get 2 of the 302s, which each do 265 GPH. You don't have to get them both at the same time - get one, see how you like it and see if you still need more.

 

[Ianwp]

yeah that one is not bad price wise for sure, I can get the 303 for 10 bucks more though, more filter capacity might be worth it.

 

[jaysee]

The 303 will go a long way to keeping the tank clean. If you only were going to get one filter I would suggest that or the 304. If you were going to get 2 filters than the two 302s are the way to go.

 

[atwilson1972]

i agree with canister filters all the way. after getting my first one, i was hooked. now i have them on all my tanks.
you adjust the return flow to get better circulation and the sand the gets in never makes it to the pumps impeller. canisters are the only way to go with sand.

 

[Ianwp]

So I ended up buying the 304 b. I guess i wanted a little overkill. It is kind of funny since i started looking for a canister my aquaclear has been silent lol. I think it knows. I am a little worried about electric cost since the aquaclear is 6 watts and the canister is 55 watts. I guess i will see how much of a difference it will make on my next bill.

 

[atwilson1972]

you wont notice really. it may be a couple bucks or so. companies charge by kilowatt hour, simply put, that's 1000 watts use in one hour or 500 in two hours. however long it takes to reach 1000 watts.
we can round the 55 watt to 50 to make it easier. you can run that 50 watt item for 20 hours and youll have 1000 watts.once you hit 1000 watts, than it starts counting again.
after that its the charge per kilowatt hour, probably 7 to 10 cents.
so roughly 10 cents a day to run it.
did i go over board?:roll:
..
..
compare that filter to a 500 watt lighting system for plants... yikes

 

[jaysee]

Yup, lights are where you pay!

 

[Ianwp]

Yeah I went to this site Costs Calculator Which let me plug in all my numbers. i am in CA so its 13.230 cents per kilowatt then they have different tiers if you go over the allotted amount. so next tier is 15 cents then 17 cents. California is the worst for utilities. Water is 80 bucks just to be able to use it.

Anyway I figured at extreme its about $120 a year to run my 55.

 

[Ianwp]

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[Ianwp]

Ok, I just got the canister today. I was wondering how close to the sand I put the pickup tube?
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[jaysee]

I have mine about an inch off the bottom.

 

[Austin]

I think mine is practically touching the bottom. It doesn't suck enough to pick up sand. Having angelfish I feel a bit apprehensive about having too strong of filtration. I think a second filter would solve my problems, but I'm afraid to do that and it's expensive, so my tank is a mess on one side. I think cory catfish would help this... or something to push around the poop so the filter can pick it up. MTS don't do much for me. But, I have always had MTS, so I cannot say how my tank would look without them... however, with them, I still have buckets of fish poop.

 

[jaysee]

I know quite a few people with big filtration and angels. Agent has an AC110 plus an xp3 canister on her 75 (more than 10x turnover). There are two spawning pairs in there.

 

[Austin]

Wow, I have about 3.5x turnover. I had the same filtration in a 50g and the angelfish seemed to have trouble. Everything seems perfect now, albeit the angelfish have grown and are stronger swimmers... probably could use a little more... hmm when I get the money...

Not trying to hijack this thread lol

 

[jaysee]

3.5 - That sure explains why the tank is dirty.