Best Sand ever!!

[Fishflyer]

Thanks...I'm an artist but work for the gubbmit...gotta eat! And yeah, those super long extensions are a PITA...I figured the 30 would at least keep the bottom of my hands dry. But no...damn hose is too short for a bucket drain and a long extension hose kills the gravity in the siphon. Worse, if I bend the tube too far it crimps the hose. That's why I ended up getting the electric vaccum. Now if I'm doing a partial water change and wait for the level to be lower, the siphon is workable. But at full tank? No way, I don't care what those UTubers show.

Hi---Here is a suggestion. Go to the hardware store and find the vinyl tubing. Ace Hardware and most hardware stores have rolls of clear vinyl/rubber tubing different sizes. Bring your siphon and tubing along. Match tube end with something that is very close to your tubing , buy more than you need
(Premeasure at home). It's cheap, less than a dollar a foot here. Then go a size or so up that will squeeze over your tubing. Buy a foot of that. Be sure it fits over your new tubing too. At home make sure ends of same size tubing is even. Slip the larger tube, (sleeve) over one tube end. Butt the same size tubes together and pull the sleeve over the second tube so it covers both smaller tubes equal distance. I found it makes a tight seal. Then gradually cut the longer new tube to where it works proper.

Or if possible pull the nipple of the vaccum chamber off from the tubing and buy some tubing that fits the vaccum chamber, and have it cut to the length (longer) you need. Make sure your other attachments can be made to fit.

What type of art?

 

[FINWIN]

Hi---Here is a suggestion. Go to the hardware store and find the vinyl tubing. Ace Hardware and most hardware stores have rolls of clear vinyl/rubber tubing different sizes. Bring your siphon and tubing along. Match tube end with something that is very close to your tubing , buy more than you need
(Premeasure at home). It's cheap, less than a dollar a foot here. Then go a size or so up that will squeeze over your tubing. Buy a foot of that. Be sure it fits over your new tubing too. At home make sure ends of same size tubing is even. Slip the larger tube, (sleeve) over one tube end. Butt the same size tubes together and pull the sleeve over the second tube so it covers both smaller tubes equal distance. I found it makes a tight seal. Then gradually cut the longer new tube to where it works proper.

Or if possible pull the nipple of the vaccum chamber off from the tubing and buy some tubing that fits the vaccum chamber, and have it cut to the length (longer) you need. Make sure your other attachments can be made to fit.

What type of art?

I will try that...when I removed the endpieces off the python hose there was no way to "join" them, plus it's a nuisance putting the endcaps back over the hose. Only prob is that no one seems to have the hose with the softness and pliability of the python system...I'd gotten some tubing that would have worked but it was too stiff / heavy and refused to uncurl...more trouble than it was worth, I ended up getting rid of it. My adaptor drain is about 65 - 70 ft from the tank although I can drain the water into the tub as an option (much closer).

 

[Fishflyer]

I will try that...when I removed the endpieces off the python hose there was no way to "join" them, plus it's a nuisance putting the endcaps back over the hose. Only prob is that no one seems to have the hose with the softness and pliability of the python system...I'd gotten some tubing that would have worked but it was too stiff / heavy and refused to uncurl...more trouble than it was worth, I ended up getting rid of it. My adaptor drain is about 65 - 70 ft from the tank although I can drain the water into the tub as an option (much closer).

The clear vinyl/rubber tubing is real pliable just step up in size maybe to fit over your fittings maybe. It has never leaked on me. I just use mine for drainage. I would proceed with caution and low water pressure if you are filling with a pressurized water system. With any kind of pressure I would use have a short piece of PVC pipe inside between the two pieces of tubing and hose clamps over the tubing ( not so tight you crack your tubing or the PVC pipe.). Or you could find a ridged two ended adapter and heat your more ridged tubing with a hair dryer or in super hot water. I don't if a ridged adapter would seal with more ridged tubing. It would with soft tubing.
If you can't find soft tubing at first, hunt around. It's common here.

 

[FINWIN]

For Twenty Leagues: Zeolite in substrate? Granular Ferric Oxide? For Ultra Low Nutrient System.

One thing leads to another. (Decent song by the Fix also) as far as subject matter. If Finwin ( seems very good natured) or anyone else objects could switch to personal or my thread To Sand Or Not To Sand. New hobbiest may learn something new. I say we are always learning and teaching--students and teachers.

You know it is important to maintain aerobic and anaerobic beneficial bacteria. I learned to maintain anerobic b. bacteria by having low water flow nooks and overhang areas. Deeper substrate in some areas, with sand 2 inches. Gravel I think one can go a little deeper in places -Having a sand sifting/shifting fish that maintains some oxygen exposure. I have a couple particular cichlids that like to do that. I'm thinking you may have salt water fish that do the same.

Finwin do you mind if we had that little aside? The liquor lead to carbon dosing to nitrate reduction alternatives. We can start a separate thread under that heading Nitrates Reduction--co authored/sponsored by all of three of us or whomever. Generally most threads have large member participation and become (or are?) public forums--that is--everyone hangouts or drop bys. No it's MY thread. Sign in. Ruff Rrrrrrufff! RRRRR. Down boy.

I'm a bit out of my depth with the alcohol angle aspect. I usually stick with the biochemistry / physical stuff. The reason I chose floral as opposed to play sand involved compaction and grain size...floral sand is made for oxygenation of plant root systems with "space" between grains...eliminates the gas pocket issue play sand can cause. My fish dig and pile it up...no issues even with mounds of sand. I also don't have that "green algae line" that always shows up in thicker layers of finer grained sand at some point.

 

[Fishflyer]

I'm a bit out of my depth with the alcohol angle aspect. I usually stick with the biochemistry / physical stuff. The reason I chose floral as opposed to play sand involved compaction and grain size...floral sand is made for oxygenation of plant root systems with "space" between grains...eliminates the gas pocket issue play sand can cause. My fish dig and pile it up...no issues even with mounds of sand. I also don't have that "green algae line" that always shows up in thicker layers of finer grained sand at some point.

Hello, It's good to hear from you again. What species of fish do you have? My Electric (zzzt) Yellow Lab cichlid does that rearranging of the sand (and) piling up of what ever substrate. It likes to pile up some drifts of sand in a tank with aquarium sand. Another yellow lab in a different tank with Torpedo Beach Sand doesn't do the massive rearranging. My Albino catfish like to move the substrate around in their foraging. (They look so nicely creepy like ghost fish.)
I got the CaribSea Torpedo Beach Sand for the reasons that it has different size sand granules and that no gas pockets were supposed to accumulate. Also it's makers' claim little or no maintenance (cleaning) is required, and so far, about 2 months in it has lived up to that claim.
I also got T.Beach sand because if of it's natural and attractive appearance, (like a tropical beach--and I want to go there.( it's safety for fish, (rounded, smooth edges), and because another member was seriously curious about it. And so was I (Sand or not to Sand thread).

I intend to get Sandtastik for a fairly good sized betta tank. I did find out that the dye (organic nontoxic) is resin encapsulated. This process is like the paper weights you see with flowers or shells encased in clear resin. There are several processes-- injection molded, auto clave baked...more.

Sandtastik has a lasting durability and safety rating seal. (I did some investigation).

>> I like the wide colors range available for Sandtastik. About 50 shades I am going for a muted tone because those don't "put stress on Bettas", as they derive from rice paddies and puddles with leaves and decaying leave matter. I almost went with your teal, but decided on green. This betta (have several) is an iridescent blue. The green should set off it's colors and give it and unstressful background. (No, no not fire engine red. Please my anxiety level is going through the roof I need some Xanax) Oh gosh I have to medicate my fish now.

I have been investigating for local distributors so I can avoid shipping charges. Still investigating. I will apprise you of my findings.

 

[FINWIN]

Hello, It's good to hear from you again. What species of fish do you have? My Electric (zzzt) Yellow Lab cichlid does that rearranging of the sand (and) piling up of what ever substrate. It likes to pile up some drifts of sand in a tank with aquarium sand. Another yellow lab in a different tank with Torpedo Beach Sand doesn't do the massive rearranging. My Albino catfish like to move the substrate around in their foraging. (They look so nicely creepy like ghost fish.)
I got the CaribSea Torpedo Beach Sand for the reasons that it has different size sand granules and that no gas pockets were supposed to accumulate. Also it's makers' claim little or no maintenance (cleaning) is required, and so far, about 2 months in it has lived up to that claim.
I also got T.Beach sand because if of it's natural and attractive appearance, (like a tropical beach--and I want to go there.( it's safety for fish, (rounded, smooth edges), and because another member was seriously curious about it. And so was I (Sand or not to Sand thread).

I intend to get Sandtastik for a fairly good sized betta tank. I did find out that the dye (organic nontoxic) is resin encapsulated. This process is like the paper weights you see with flowers or shells encased in clear resin. There are several processes-- injection molded, auto clave baked...more.

Sandtastik has a lasting durability and safety rating seal. (I did some investigation).

>> I like the wide colors range available for Sandtastik. About 50 shades I am going for a muted tone because those don't "put stress on Bettas", as they derive from rice paddies and puddles with leaves and decaying leave matter. I almost went with your teal, but decided on green. This betta (have several) is an iridescent blue. The green should set off it's colors and give it and unstressful background. (No, no not fire engine red. Please my anxiety level is going through the roof I need some Xanax) Oh gosh I have to medicate my fish now.

I have been investigating for local distributors so I can avoid shipping charges. Still investigating. I will apprise you of my findings.

May I suggest these colors?

Kiwi, beige, brick, coffee, avocado, sour apple, woodbine, espresso, dark red, baltic brown, mocha latte. These are muted colors sure to work for the look you want.
I think you will be extremely pleased at this product. I never rinsed mine either, just put it in and kept gettin' up. I have jumbo parrot cichlids and one growing-as-we-speak "Riger" baby Oscar. More on him in another thread. My powerheads force some sand to the front and my fish pile it up around rocks.

The sand grains will stick on water bubbles at first but you can knock it loose easily with your fingers. NO cloudiness!
Good luck with the shipping charge deal...I got a 10 percent discount for bulk purchase.

 

[Fishflyer]

May I suggest these colors?

Kiwi, beige, brick, coffee, avocado, sour apple, woodbine, espresso, dark red, baltic brown, mocha latte. These are muted colors sure to work for the look you want.
I think you will be extremely pleased at this product. I never rinsed mine either, just put it in and kept gettin' up. I have jumbo parrot cichlids and one growing-as-we-speak "Riger" baby Oscar. More on him in another thread. My powerheads force some sand to the front and my fish pile it up around rocks.

The sand grains will stick on water bubbles at first but you can knock it loose easily with your fingers. NO cloudiness!
Good luck with the shipping charge deal...I got a 10 percent discount for bulk purchase.

Thanks for the Sandtastik color suggestions I will take a look at them. I am not doing a bulk purchase so it doesn't make sense for me to pay multiple times more for shipping than what the product cost. I know sand weighs a lot. Thanks for mentioning it though in case. Maybe another reader can take advantage of that. >> >What qualifies as a bulk purchase? What I am trying to do is find someone who stocks Sandtastik locally, so I can avoid high shipping rates and just pick it up.
I know it is a good product but if I like the product, color or don't, I won't be committed to it. My other tanks are set up as is the one I am buying the sand for. But I want a colored sand for this tank. I will move the new sand in, putting a lot of the present exsisting medium (and beneficial bacteria) in a appropriately sized plastic tray in the tank. Eventually moving the old substrate out once the B.bacteria has moved into the Santas

 

[Fishflyer]

Thanks for the Sandtastik color suggestions I will take a look at them. I am not doing a bulk purchase so it doesn't make sense for me to pay multiple times more for shipping than what the product cost. I know sand weighs a lot. Thanks for mentioning it though in case. Maybe another reader can take advantage of that. >> >What qualifies as a bulk purchase? What I am trying to do is find someone who stocks Sandtastik locally, so I can avoid high shipping rates and just pick it up.
I know it is a good product but if I like the product, color or don't, I won't be committed to it. My other tanks are set up as is the one I am buying the sand for. But I want a colored sand for this tank. I will move the new sand in, putting a lot of the present exsisting medium (and beneficial bacteria) in a appropriately sized plastic tray in the tank. Eventually edmoving the old substrate out once the B.bacteria has moved into the Santas

Some kind of a hiccup in the device or format. Once the Sandtastik sand is sufficiently infused with beneficial bacteria, I'll move the old media out. I might get other colors of Sandtastik for conversion or partial conversion (gravel to sand) of some of my other tanks. Some of each of my tanks have different themes. Different colors of sand would enhance this more, and this product has a lot of color choices.

 

[Fishflyer]

May I suggest these colors?

Kiwi, beige, brick, coffee, avocado, sour apple, woodbine, espresso, dark red, baltic brown, mocha latte. These are muted colors sure to work for the look you want.
I think you will be extremely pleased at this product. I never rinsed mine either, just put it in and kept gettin' up. I have jumbo parrot cichlids and one growing-as-we-speak "Riger" baby Oscar. More on him in another thread. My powerheads force some sand to the front and my fish pile it up around rocks.

The sand grains will stick on water bubbles at first but you can knock it loose easily with your fingers. NO cloudiness!
Good luck with the shipping charge deal...I got a 10 percent discount for bulk purchase.

You have beautiful species of fish.

 

[FINWIN]

Thanks for the Sandtastik color suggestions I will take a look at them. I am not doing a bulk purchase so it doesn't make sense for me to pay multiple times more for shipping than what the product cost. I know sand weighs a lot. Thanks for mentioning it though in case. Maybe another reader can take advantage of that. >> >What qualifies as a bulk purchase? What I am trying to do is find someone who stocks Sandtastik locally, so I can avoid high shipping rates and just pick it up.
I know it is a good product but if I like the product, color or don't, I won't be committed to it. My other tanks are set up as is the one I am buying the sand for. But I want a colored sand for this tank. I will move the new sand in, putting a lot of the present exsisting medium (and beneficial bacteria) in a appropriately sized plastic tray in the tank. Eventually moving the old substrate out once the B.bacteria has moved into the Santas

I did a test on the site for my area / zip code
100 lbs 121.92
standard shipping 38.91
sign up newsletter option gives 10 percent discount
the other mailing options are obviously too expensive (and kind of unecessary, really since its a 3 day ship for standard)
based on zip code, maybe your area is higher I dunno. Also, you will not need the amount stated on the sand calculator! Go between 50 -70 percent. It's your decision in any case I don't know the size of your tank.
Later I will post pics of all my fish once Patch and Boss are in their 40 gallon setups. I'm waitng on the stands. Good luck.

It's kinda weird... if you're in Washington state you're a lot closer to Canada than I am! You'd think the shipping would be less.