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N. Multifasciatus - sand

beastije

New Member
Messages
8
Hi guys.
I am planning to move my 4 multies to a different tank, but the thing is. In their current tank there is a river sand with the usual granularity. In the other (already running) tank there is a black sand with 1-2 mm granularity. Will that be a problem for multies? The sand has no edges, it is smooth but larger than they have. All the literature says "use sand" but the black one is also marketed and called as "sand"
So now I am not sure. Anyone can advice? Thanks
 

beastije

New Member
Messages
8
Oki, i think I reached the same conclusion. Now on how to get the sand out :) I did a cleanup and boiled the sand not too long ago and even then didn't manage to get everything out. Oh the joys of fishkeeping :)
 

MacZ

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,958
Location
Germany
Oki, i think I reached the same conclusion. Now on how to get the sand out :) I did a cleanup and boiled the sand not too long ago and even then didn't manage to get everything out. Oh the joys of fishkeeping :)
Suck it out with the hose into a bucket or into a bucket in the bathtub, it can overflow, but the sand stays in the bucket. You might have to add new water to the tank at one point but the technique never failed me.
 

yukondog

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
664
Location
N.W. Fl.
I use a length of garden hose, it will suck up any sand, small rocks. And like Mac said you may have to add more water to finish, I normally do.
 

beastije

New Member
Messages
8
Guys, since you are so kind in answers, I need some help brainstorming a correct approach.
I have a 360l with the 4 multies and 11 rasboras. I already removed 90% of the shells and 90% of the stones from this fishtank, added more frequent water changes because of some plant issues and cleaned the filter and added filter substrate. This tank is almost ready for the next step in the change process.
However, I have two other and I need to figure out a best approach.

I have a running 54l with the black sand, some vallisneria that is btw also dying and algae (figured out thanks to too low fish and too high wattage of light, I am running way low on the nutrients for the plants). I ordered some fertilizer, new filter (atman head), new plant ( Microsorium pteropus, which I believe will grow slower and wont need that much fertilizer, plus it unlike vallisneria I believe it will survive multies).

I have an empty 40l that will soon have finished place where to be put. In here I want to place the black sand, maybe the vallisneria (will decide later) and the same bioakvacit that was in the 54l. This will house the betta fish that is currently in the 54l, basically most of the content except the anubias will be moved to this smaller fishtank.

Now, what is the best way how to tackle this to not get into a point where I would have two basically fresh fishtanks with its issues.

Do I:
Put the new filter in the 54l and wait few weeks before more changes?
Put the new filter but keep the old sponge, take out the substrate and plants and move them to the 40l? this way I would have old filter with its bacteria in one, and old substrate with its bacteria in other.
Put the new sponge in the largest fishtank to obtain bacteria and if yes, for how long?
Set up the 40l with half old water from 54l and fresh water or half from 54l, half from 360l and no fresh water?
Put the betta in the 40l with the substrate move or keep it in the 54l if I remove the substrate from there?

Not sure why is it so hard for me to figure out the best approach but it is.

Thanks
 

MacZ

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,958
Location
Germany
Set up the 40l with half old water from 54l and fresh water or half from 54l, half from 360l and no fresh water?

I have no idea what exactly you want from us and I have the suspicion you are overcomplicating things (hence I can't really follow), but I can tell you: The water itself generally has a very low bacteria count, as they live predominantly in the substrate, filtermedia and on surfaces. So at least the bit I quoted is not worth the question.
 

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