PlanetCatfish.com

Posted: **02 Nov 2003, 06:56**

So heres the deal. I am planning on getting rid of the gravel in my South American tank and putting in sand. I just added an Eheim ecco 2233. If I keep all the water and run my little whisper together with the new canistor will things stay in cycle? I haven't decided on sand yet so I have some time to let the canister grow. I have some sand I am testing in another tank, which I plan to put the fish and water in when I change the substrate. I want to do it before I fix the test tank. It sprang a leek a week or so ago. So I would like to do it as soon as possible. Only one corner went bad so I am holding it together with clamps. The sand in the test tank has clouded the water but seems to be clearing. I have no idea when it will be all clear though. I dumped the sand into the water but am planning on putting the sand in the other tank and then adding the water. I heard this will cut down on the clouding. Any info would be appreciated.

Posted: **02 Nov 2003, 17:50**

2 weeks should be long enough to develop a culture of bacteria in your new canister filter, IME. Just make sure you transfer the tank water like you suggested when you transfer the filtration. Bacteria doesn't reside in the tank water, but the waste it digests DOES!

When I'm using sand, I first rinse it very well, in small quantities in a bucket. I use my hose from the python water changer, and keep swishing the sand around and letting the water run off the top of the bucket. This picks up most of the loose sediment in the water and rinses it away. Then I put the sand in the tank, and set a plate on the substrate, and clamp the hose so that it runs slowly onto that plate. If you use that method, (being sure to rinse the plate well beforehand), you'll find you have very little cloudiness to deal with at all. Hope that helps

Barbie

PlanetCatfish.com

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