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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

question about sand substrate

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13 Dec 2012 13:39 #1 by midnight midget (karl oreilly)
hi all im thinking about changing the gravel in my tank for sand and im just wondering is sand too much hard work in maintaning or is it more or less like the gravel :)

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13 Dec 2012 16:24 #2 by davey_c (dave clarke)
sand does take a bit more work than gravel and also depending on what sand you get some needs more care than another!
as for hard work, well everyone has their own perseption as to what defines the differences between work and too much work, some people will willingly put in the extra effort more than others would!!
some sands get too compact if the bed is deep enough and can be dangerous if not regularly turned to release any air pockets, i use silica sand which has good feedback and i'd recommend it on personal experience. depending on what fish you have, if their substrate sifters, they will love the sand but will fairly move it around for ye! some find cleaning it a pain and if you like to have your tank your way then you could possibly find ita pain also but i like a natural tank and let the fish do as they please. then there's you filter... don't let it into it!!

i'm sure you'll get more opinions and info i've forgotten

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

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13 Dec 2012 20:23 #3 by midnight midget (karl oreilly)
cheers for the reply davey c, i like to have my tank with crystal clear water so i dont mind doin bit extra work if the sand is bit messier than the gravel. i keep chiclids and also have two clown loaches in there wit them

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13 Dec 2012 22:52 #4 by newbejkjimk (damien kelly)
sand all the way for me i have 3 tanks, one has well washed play sand one has silica sand and the other has jlb black sand and its just a matter of hovering up any debris with a hose, out of the 3 i would pick play sand with good substrate under it.

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14 Dec 2012 10:29 #5 by midnight midget (karl oreilly)
dont mean to sound stupid but what kinda substrate would you put under de play sand??

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27 Dec 2012 00:51 #6 by Arron.M (Arron)
i too am looking to change to sand, tomorrow actually but not sure what sand to use...ive seen aqaurium sand or river sand and it is really expensive and to be honest not a big bag... i have cory cats and want more of them and i read they would prefer sand and well and id like them to be happy and healty

"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"

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27 Dec 2012 01:17 #7 by davey_c (dave clarke)

dont mean to sound stupid but what kinda substrate would you put under de play sand??


for plants you could put something like aquabasis or similar under sand to help them along

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

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27 Dec 2012 01:22 #8 by davey_c (dave clarke)
how deep are ye hoping to go? ye could put a thin bed of play sand in it or silica sand. i csay a thin bed because corys don't realy dig too deep so the lower end may compact wheras silica sand is my sand of choice and has good reviews because it doesn't compact.

Below tank is for sale

my plywood tank build.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/forum...k-build-diary#137768

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27 Dec 2012 01:29 #9 by Arron.M (Arron)
About an inch and a half ... Play sand is that like for sand for kids...

"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"

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27 Dec 2012 09:31 #10 by bart (Bart Korfanty)
Horticultural sand "westland" from any gardening center. After rinsing it well and getting rid of all dust and clay u will get nice kinda worm amberish colored sand. It is not as fine as play sand and won't compact to badly. Doesn't change water parameters. I have it in few tanks. Also horticultural grit from same producer.
Just remember to wash it very well
Oh and they are really cheap :)

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27 Dec 2012 12:09 #11 by Arron.M (Arron)
Thanks should of just asked on here in the first place...ill posts pics when the change is done

"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"

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28 Dec 2012 14:58 #12 by Arron.M (Arron)

"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"

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28 Dec 2012 15:20 #13 by JustinK (Justin Kelly)

Horticultural sand "westland" from any gardening center. After rinsing it well and getting rid of all dust and clay u will get nice kinda worm amberish colored sand. It is not as fine as play sand and won't compact to badly. Doesn't change water parameters. I have it in few tanks. Also horticultural grit from same producer.
Just remember to wash it very well
Oh and they are really cheap :)


I was advised not to use the Hoticultural grade as its too sharp for Corys barbels and sand sifters.
But the Paving sand grade was the better choice.
Im using this but it really needs a good cleaning first.[\u]

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28 Dec 2012 17:35 #14 by Arron.M (Arron)
i went with the play sand better colour but not sure how it is

"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"

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28 Dec 2012 18:22 - 28 Dec 2012 18:22 #15 by Orlando (Radek)
When I upgraded my fish tank I got gravel with it. After my setup tank was running maybe 1,5 month and for some reason I didn't like it gravel... some people says its more easy to clean up because all dirt's its less visible on gravel then on sand... but less visible doesn't mean that dirt is not there...
So I changed my fishes for african cichlids, they prefer coral sand then gravel and Im happy with this as well. I have external filter so mostly dirt landed in the filter anyway but Im considering to get wave maker to help move dirt to the filter side(lots of rocks in the tank).
Cheers
Last edit: 28 Dec 2012 18:22 by Orlando (Radek).

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