pool filter sand help

Hi I have a 3 ft malawi tank or may I say had a 3ft tank my malawis made my tank leak coz of taking out the gravel from under the rocks and rocks falling on the glass I'm getting another tank for them I did safe all of them with the old water I wanted to find out if I can use pool filtter sand at the bottom of the tank. How can I clean the crap out of the sand when dirty and what lite rocks can I use thanks

 

Hi @yas.shark

Malawi's will always dig under your rocks and undermine your structures. I use rubber netting/mesh at the bottom of my malawi tank to help prevent the rocks from eventually laying directly on the glass. The weight of a rock laying on a single piece of gravel can put alot of pressure on the glass and cause it to crack.

Yes, you can use pool filter sand. You just have to rinse it really well. It takes a bit longer than aqurium gravel and you will end up with really clean hands.

I use sand stone which I have collected off the beach. They are light in colour and some have awsome shape to them.

You can use a normal syphon to clean the gravel.

 

Thanks where can I get this rubber mesh coz I'm going to builders today to get the sand do u get black pool filter sand

 

Hi;

A bag of pool filter sand goes for about R 85 at builders.

For a 3 foot you will use about half. You can rinse it in a bucket until the water coming out is reasonably clear.

Great thing about pool filter sand is, it settles almost immediately after you dump it in water and it doesn't clog the siphon pipe as easy as gravel.

 

Never seen black pool filter sand except when it is terribly dirty. On the rubber mesh, you should be able to get some from Builders

 

will using womans stocking under large rocks which is directly put on the glass help?

 

Eggcrate is available at Plasticworld - just bought a sheet of it yesterday as a matter of fact.

 

I been using a thin sheet of polystyrene foam before putting the sand in. I've had it for over 2 years and had no problem.

 

Had the same problem with a tank that cracked because of a rock fall but stupid me had no sand at the bottom,now i always make sure this is done first thing