Tropical Fish Forums

[birdmanlh06]

I love the way sand looks in an aquarium but every time I tried to add sand I ended up frying the pump on my filter how do you guys keep this from happening ?

[diademhill]

Use a filter that has sponge or other media before the impellor.

[monstrosity]

Canister filters are usually not broken by sand.
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29 G

[UncleWillie]

Unless you have a rediculous amount of current in your tank, you shouldn't have this problem - unless your intake is right on the substrate, or you have fish spitting sand into it.

Sand should be heavy enough to not get sucked up if your intake is off the bottom. You aren't just dumping sand into your tanks while filters are running, are you? If you add sand, give a good rinse, drain your tank, add the sand, then add water carefully. Once full, let the heavy particles settle out for a while, then turn your filters back on.

[birdmanlh06]

no but I did have a firemouth and convict that woud constantly challenge and fight over the sand or spook fish when I turned on the lights in the morning that would send a cloud of sand into the water followed by a terrible noise in the filter and eventually leading to a ruined filter and an aggravated and broke me mustve had too fine of sand or just the wrong filter and or intake location thanks for the help

[Bruiser]

Get a large AquaClear sponge and cut a hole in it.. Slip it over you filter intake and you should be in good shape.. cheap and effective!