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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

tips fpr cleaning sand

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16 Apr 2007 13:56 #1 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
anyone got some tips for cleaning sand before putting it in the aquarium ?

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  • ChrisM (ChrisM)
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16 Apr 2007 14:10 #2 by ChrisM (ChrisM)
Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
Empty the sand into a large bin.Put the bin over a drain or in some place where dirty water isnt an issue.Place a hose into the bottom of the bin (tilt bin if possible) and leave running for a few hours and all the dirt will run off.Stir it with a shovel if possible every hour or so.After a few hours leave it to settle and repeat hosing for an hour or so until water runs clear.It is worth overdointg it on the cleaning of the sand,because it is a bitch once it is in your tank and still dirty!
Best of luck!

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16 Apr 2007 14:19 #3 by Acara (Dave Walters)
If you have a lawn,or large patio,as Chris said "where dirty water isnt an issue",try to do it there.You will find that some sand will spill over,if this goes down the drain,you may find that a plumber is needed to unblock the drain.(Plumbers aint cheap,and you can't get them any cheaper online!)

always on the lookout for interesting corys.pm me if you know off any!

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16 Apr 2007 15:01 #4 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
how can i tell that the sand is "clean" ?

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16 Apr 2007 15:03 #5 by tanks_alot (Denis Coghlan)
the water being rinsed through it should run clear

Lead me not into temptation, For I can find it myself!

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17 Apr 2007 10:19 #6 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
I just clean it in small quantities in buckets under the tap.
The dirt usually rises to the top.

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17 Apr 2007 11:22 #7 by S180de (S180de)
Replied by S180de (S180de) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
depending on how fine the sand is you can put it into a pillowcase and rinse it without sand clogging the drain.

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17 Apr 2007 11:48 #8 by scorphonic (Kieran Crosbie Staunton)
I like that idea...pillow case will definately work and make cleaning it much easier!! :D

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20 Apr 2007 17:32 #9 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
had used the bucket technique and it failed for me...
now got a dirty tank. Have spent about 6 hours putting more water in and rinsing it out and still not clear... will go at it again tomorrow....
I still have another bag of sand to get through.. Is the tights the best approach ?

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21 Apr 2007 02:31 #10 by zale (Mark carroll)
I use a 10 litre bucket half filled with sand, a constant flow of water & keep running my hand through it.

It's slow but much easier to handle.


Mark

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21 Apr 2007 02:36 #11 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: damn sand

had used the bucket technique and it failed for me...
now got a dirty tank. Have spent about 6 hours putting more water in and rinsing it out and still not clear... will go at it again tomorrow....
I still have another bag of sand to get through.. Is the tights the best approach ?


Did you buy that cheap playsand. Too light for an Aquarium if you ask me.

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21 Apr 2007 04:10 #12 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
i bought B&Q sand. was recommended by a few people here.
think i am gonna just go with gravel again...
have a pain in my ass with the sand

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21 Apr 2007 10:01 #13 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
Can`t say I did not tell you. Its pure muck and not worth the hassle.
I have silver aquarium sand if you want it.

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21 Apr 2007 10:15 #14 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
@ DAmian
your sand will settle eventually. What you can do to clear your watr is to get some API water cleaner that will clear your water in a couple of hours. Just make sure you have filter wool in your filter. After the water has cleared just throw away the filter wool. You might have to repeat that once but there is plenty in the bottle.

Holger

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26 Apr 2007 02:35 #15 by Tetra (Tetra)
does argonite sand have to be washed. also when putting the arognite sand into the tank is it better to add the sand with the water in or out. to prevent airlocks my guess is in.
Sorry for hi jacking the thread by the way

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26 Apr 2007 05:03 #16 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
I have gone from sand to gravel to sand again.
1. B&Q sand. Was complete muck.
2. Calstone Gravel. Looked great but upped pH too much.
3. Anto Sand. A big thank you to Anto who gave me some sand which is super. The difference between it and B&Q stuff cannot be understated.

Tank is now almost setup, got 1 or 2 cosmetic issues to sort out and then will post some pics over the next few days.

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26 Apr 2007 05:48 #17 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
Damian,
I have an awful feeling that you bought B&Q building rather than the playsand. The building sand isn't prewashed and is as you say pure muck. I found the playsand very easy to clean. Maybe they have several suppliers and the stuff you got was different from mine.
I couldn't get quarzsand in Cork which would have been my first choice

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26 Apr 2007 05:53 #18 by JohnH (John)
Oh dear...
I went to Woodies yesterday and bought two bags of their play sand - sounds like I've got it wrong...again! :(
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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26 Apr 2007 06:10 #19 by ChrisM (ChrisM)
Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re: tips fpr cleaning sand
I have playsand in my Tanganyikan tank and although it is not ideal it does the job.My advice is to absolutely go overboard cleaning it external to the tank.Three days just to be sure.Make sure all filters are off for the first few days while the minute particles settle because they will damage impellars etc.After the sand settlles it tends to compact and isnt easily disrupted,when it is it quickly settles to the bottom.Also it doesnt seem to trap much gases but I rake mine 3 times a week when I can.

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26 Apr 2007 07:42 #20 by russell (russell)
Replied by russell (russell) on topic Sand
Any Idea where Anto got his sand ??????????

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26 Apr 2007 08:12 #21 by Peter OB (Peter O'Brien)

Oh dear...
I went to Woodies yesterday and bought two bags of their play sand - sounds like I've got it wrong...again! :(
John


I've got Woodies sand in my main tank, no problems with it at all, very easy to keep clean.

Smoke me a Kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast.

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26 Apr 2007 08:44 #22 by Damian_Ireland (Damian_Ireland)
i defo got the B&Q playsand . It says it on the bag. Anto got his sand from Kinsealy pet shop. The difference is unreal. It is dearer i believe , but well worth it

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