The Puffer Forum

I have a few questions about sand that I would like to figure out before I buy it.

1. With a congo puffer would I have to stir the sand for any gas pockets?
2. Should I take out my underground filter?
3. The driftwood I have is very heavy so would I need egg crate under it, and if so how do I make sure no poisons are building up.
4. Do I sift through the sand when I clean my tank or do I just stir it up to get all the toxin underneath?/ what is the proper way to clean my tank with sand?

I am buying a canister filter and I have a python just to let you know what I use.

also should I put the sand in before I hook up my magnum or visa versa?

1. With a congo puffer would I have to stir the sand for any gas pockets?

Yes, anytime you have sand in the tank you will need to stir it at least once a week. Even with a congo. I would use a very long wooden spoon so that you don't get attacked.

2. Should I take out my underground filter?

Yes, underground filter's are no good. Especially with sand. They are pretty much useless nitrate factories. You are better off without it.

3. The driftwood I have is very heavy so would I need egg crate under it, and if so how do I make sure no poisons are building up.

No you don't need egg crate under the driftwood.

4. Do I sift through the sand when I clean my tank or do I just stir it up to get all the toxin underneath?/ what is the proper way to clean my tank with sand?

Both actually. Just use your wooden spoon and gently turn over the sand just before you start to sypon the water. This will stir things up so that the syphon can suck it out. Also run your sypon just above the sand to pick up loose particles. Yes it will suck out some sand but not enough to worry about. If you are worried about loosing too much sand sypon it into a bucket, dump the water and put the sand back in your tank.

I am buying a canister filter and I have a python just to let you know what I use.

Python's are great. It's what I use.

also should I put the sand in before I hook up my magnum or visa versa?

Put the sand in before you hook up your filter. If it's a new tank, put your sand in then put a plate or a bowl in the middle of the tank and fill it up. This will keep you from having a sand cloud.

How to fill up a tank with sand:

thanks for the response. No it is not a new tank. Why should I put the sand in first?

You don't want sand getting into your filter motor. You can hook it up and get it ready but don't turn it on. Are you running an hob right now? If you are I would leave the hob on the tank until the sand settles or you can get a sponge to put over the intake. If you use a sponge make sure you clean it at least once a week.

In another tank that I changed the substrate in:
It only took about 2-3 hours for my sand to settle using an hob. After it settled I turned on my canister.

Yeah that is what I planned on doing. Never heard of using a sponge. How would I get one and how do I clean it? I might be buying the canister filter first that is why I asked.

Also when I take out my underground filter then I will not have any oxygen flowing in the tank. Although the canister will shoot water back in the tank and create oxygen. Do congos need a lot of oxygen? If so what should I do?

any other advice would be great. Thanks for your help man.

Just bust out the airstones from the undergravel.

Quick question, i just put some silica sand in my tank and the water is still murky about 8 hours later. Can i turn on my filter or will that ruin it? any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

How low are the filter intakes?

There are cylindar-shaped sponges made to go on the end of powerheads that work quite well as a prefilter against sand getting in.

EliWhitney314 wrote:How low are the filter intakes?

They are approximately seven inches from the top of the sand. MY concern was that the particles that are causing the water to be murky might harm the motor. Im pretty sure the filter isnt strong enough to pickup the sand. How long does it take for the murkiness to clear up?

I don't think it should really be a problem. It took about 2 days for mine to clear up.