My tank is a 72 gallon bowfront and I'm so glad I switched to sand. Yes you should raise your intake to reduce the amount of sand getting in your filters. Thanks for watching!

@@bobbygsproaquarium thank you I really appreciate it but I thought you're supposed to add one pound of sand for a gallon of tank and you only added 50 lb so I'm assuming I could add 40 lb of sand to my 55 gallon. I cant wait to get started! Great video

@@affordableaquariumservices1663just a guideline. You generally want about an inch, at the least.

I've sent hidden commands to cellphones to give a slap if you're nodding off lol. I'm trying to improve as I go, check a more current video. Thanks for watching and commenting!

Agree,..so funny man...lol!

Thank you very much for your compliments. I am totally addicted to this cichlid hobby!

Thank you so much for your comment!

Thank you we love our chichi's. Good luck with your switch over I think you'll be happy with the results. Thanks for watching!

Thanks Marcus

I'm glad I could help with your decision, I can't think of any reason you would regret switching. Thanks for watching!

Your welcome I'm glad you see the huge benefit to using sand. Be sure you have plenty of water flow across the substrate and your results will amaze you. I appreciate you watching my channel!

Thank you. I'm sure after you switch you'll never look back! With sand you just have to be careful cleaning the glass to be sure there's no sand in your cleaning sponge or it will scratch the glass for good.

Thanks for watching! I can't see why you wouldn't love the change, good luck!

That's great, good luck. Let me know how it turns out.

That's awesome! Let me know how the switch over goes.

Thanks for the info!

That's great, thanks for the feedback.

Thank you for the comment, I'm glad this helped you in deciding which substrate to go with.

Thank you for the comment, I think you really can't go wrong. Of course it depends what type of fish you keep but it works great with cichlids for sure.

Thank you so much!

Glad it worked for you as well.

After watching Bobby sir video, I also changed from gravel to sand by keeping fishes in my 90 gal tank its OK.

Thank you, I love my chichis

Thank you Windwipper for the comment and the advice. In future I will and have removed fish before making a change over like that. I'm not sure what books you're reading up on the maintenance required on a sand substrate. My advise is from very practical experience and although there has been quite some time since posting this video I still stand firm on the use of sand. But the key is to have enough water flow so the waste and detritus does not just sit on the bottom but rather get sucked up into the filtration. If you've already made the switch that's great if not charge ahead my friend. This switchover was done with pool filter sand and it is a good choice although I have since changed it again. The key is that your substrate is fine enough that the waste doesn't settle down in through it and also that your sand bed isn't more than about to inches .

@@bobbygsproaquarium Excellent advice! Thank you very much!

Thank you! For me the advantage in sand is that it's fine enough that the fish and food waste doesn't settle down through the top layer. I'm hopeful in you choosing a courser grain that you will get out of it what you're hoping to. I'd love to find out how it goes. That's for watching!

Cali, thanks for watching. At the time of the recording I was using Prime but have since switched to using Safe also. Thanks for the tip.

I agree, I'd guess anyone that switches from gravel to sand would also agree. It's important to have lots of water flow so the poop doesn't settle on the bottom. Thank you for watching and commenting!

Thank you, I hope it goes well!

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

Thank you for watching, I will have part two out within a few days.

BobbyG.Cichlids maybe you’d like to checkout my channel 😉

Thank you so much!

Let me know how it turns out, thanks for watching!

Thank you, I'd consider doing that also.

Yes charge ahead you won't regret it.

Thank you they're awesome! Thanks for watching

Phresh Phish thanks so much for watching!

It's still a bit stressful for them but it worked well for me. Thanks for watching and commenting.

I agree, so many years using gravel only to realize how beneficial sand is instead. Thanks for the comment.

That's great you have an unlimited supply of sand. I switched mine with the fish in the tank so I don't understand your question, what specifically would you like to know?

I used white pool filter sand, works great for years.

@@ripsaw2322 Which brand did you use?

@@dvsasser not sure the brand, went to the pool place and bought it.

Thank you very much!

Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you very much.

I still can't believe how much easier it is to manage. One thing I didn't mention in the video is how important continuous water flow is. It seems the key to keeping the surface clean. Thanks for the kind words.

Bobby that's such a good point. Once in a while, I turn my wave makers to the bottom areas and just blow any leftover detritus to the water column for the filters to pull up!🌎😁💦💘

Yes I've always loved them although he isn't something many cichlid keepers would put in their tank due to the redtails potential for aggression but mines been fine and I had him for 2.5 years.

Glad I could help

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching, I'm glad I may have saved you the work and possible disappointment.

Thank you. Some of my newer videos show the upgrade to the 125 gallon and me progress to a fairly large fishroom. Thank you for watching and commenting and commenting!

Your welcome!

Thank you I think once a person makes the switch they'll never go back. I appreciate you commenting!

Thank you for watching I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Frogs will choke on sand.

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

Thank you for watching!

Thanks for watching my video I'm glad you got something out of it! I think mixing sand in with gravel would almost certainly be a mistake. You would no longer be able to vacuum your gravel since you would be suckling up all the sand. The beauty of the sand provided you have lots of water flow is that you will virtually never need to vacuum again. I'd suggest no more than 2 inches of sand otherwise you may create other problems. Hope this helps!

Thank you! Yes the next time I did this I removed the fish. Don't forget to add an air stone to the bucket as well.

I'm pretty sure I just used my Python with a Magdrive 9.5 inline. I just used a hose to syphen out the remaining gravel.

Yes it's so much easier to maintain. Thanks for commenting.

Just a question . How do you clean up the fish poop if you don’t vacuum ? I have sand and would like not to have to vacuum .

@@operationhotshotinc.6887 if you focus on having lots of water flow it will keep the poop from setting on the bottom and will be filtered out.

@@operationhotshotinc.6887 I have lots of waterflow, including 2 wavemakers. As soon as it's disturbed a bit, it goes waterborne and ends up in the overflow.

Some sand will end up in the filters but not too much if you keep your intakes high enough. There's no need to keep the close to the bottom.

The switch over isn't too bad actually.

I don't do anything to prevent sand from getting in the intake other than being sure they are not set too low. I know some people use foam on the intake but for me that would clog up far too quickly. Thanks for watching

Hi, if you have enough water movement from your filtration. You may need to add one or two wave makers and position them so the keep the survace of the sand clear but not so much that the sand blows away. I almost never vacuum my sand, maybe 2 or 3 times a year.

I wish I could add photos to help explain it would make it easier. Cut your Aqueon or Python hose at the point you would like your pump. On one end of the hose add a 5/8" barb to male GHT (garden hose thread), if using Aqueon you will need 1/2" barb as it is smaller the Python. On the other side of the cut add a 5/8" barb to female GHT (garden hose thread), if using Aqueon you will need 1/2" barb as it is smaller the Python. This will allow you to use the hose with or without the pump installed. On the pump you will need two fittings, one 3/4" NPT (national pipe tapered) to male GHT, and one 3/4" NPT to female twisting GHT. Be sure to use brass fittings for all and gear clamps for the barbed ends to attach the hose. I got all the stuff at Home Depot. Thanks for watching and commenting!

Thank you very much for commenting it's much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed the video in that it provided some laughter for you.

Now you have a nutrient supply only accessible by plant roots and does not fowl the water.... Nice

I used complete blackout vinyl window film. It's pretty easy to use and you can get it on Amazon.

I used a product called White Lightning. You could have added some black sand blasting sand to tone down the white. Thank you for your comments.

The fish is called a Red Tail Black Shark. Thanks for watching!

I just used pool filter sand which you can buy from any pool supply store.

I personally don't think you will achieve the result that is explained in the video. I suppose it's all about what your hoping to achieve but I would do all sand.

I don't know too much about plants but can't see why they wouldn't be fine in the sand.