Struggling With My Aquarium: Has Anyone Else Felt This Way?

[neutrino]

Okay, regarding drain and fills (like Python) being wasteful... First of all I have a well that never runs out, but even at that I don't drain using the Python-- forgot to mention this. Instead I have my tanks placed near enough to windows that I simply run an extra length of tubing out a window, start the siphon with a standard gravel cleaner, then connect the two, siphon as normal, and use the Python for filling.

No buckets! I'm 70, now, and if I had to use buckets for anything but smaller tanks I'd be rethinking things at this point...

 

[professorjimjam]

Thank you guys!
I have now changed the fine gravel to sand. This is the sand I chose. I put some simples few fishes, such as pleco and guppies and one guarami and some shrimps wiht elephant snail. I will see how it goes. I won’t stress about it. I ordered a python from Amazon. Hopefully it would become easier.

I never had aand so I don’t have experience with sand. Any tips? I heard that it would create anaerobic pockets. Will this sand create as such? How can I avoid this anaerobic pockets?

 

[neutrino]

Thank you guys!
I have now changed the fine gravel to sand. This is the sand I chose. I put some simples few fishes, such as pleco and guppies and one guarami and some shrimps wiht elephant snail. I will see how it goes. I won’t stress about it. I ordered a python from Amazon. Hopefully it would become easier.

I never had aand so I don’t have experience with sand. Any tips? I heard that it would create anaerobic pockets. Will this sand create as such? How can I avoid this anaerobic pockets?

I've never had the least bit of issue with that. I keep my sand to about 2" thick and even it back out every so often if my fish have moved it into piles. You can also stir it around now and then if you're not keeping any sand sifting/moving fish. Ime you're more likely to get anaerobic pockets inside certain bulb type plants where the bulb is buried, but I haven't kept those in quite a while.

 

[professorjimjam]

thank you

 

[Cal Amari]

Looks great! I like the natural color choice. The only real tip is whatever filtration your using I usually raise the intake tube a couple inches off the top of the sand to reduce the chance of drawing any into your filter. I've been fishkeeping for about 20 years now, always only 1 tank at a time but have been through 4 or 5 tanks now, all of them had sand. Used HOBs on some and canisters on others. Never actually had an issue with sand getting in them, but have read that it can damage impellers, get stuck in moving parts etc.

I've also never had an issue with gas pockets or anaerobic pockets. Mine is maybe 1-1/2 inches deep. Probably once a month during one of my weekly water changes I'll run my fingers through the top of the sand shuffle it around a bit to stir up any debris or algae growing on it, and go a bit deeper around the glass where a bit of algae likes to grow. Maybe once every six months I'll run my fingers even deeper into the sand and shuffle them a bit just in case anything has settled that deep.

I also have a turkey baster dedicated to the tank that i use underwater to blast little jets of water around decor or driftwood to remove sand that has been deposited on it over time, and on the fake plants to blow out debris and sand.

 

[professorjimjam]

thank you Cal Amari