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I'm planning on converting my only tank (10g) to sand for my corydoras. It's currently running an UGF and I've already seen their barbels disappearing, although I was planning on switching to sand anyway. I think it will look a lot nicer (no matter what sand I end up with: black, natural or white), I'm sick of the colored gravel look. And I think my fish will be much happier.

But obviously I can't use an UGF with sand. I'm planning on buying a hand on the back filter and running it in the tank a while before I change anything else. Then I plan on slowly removing the gravel- by handful over weeks if needed - and once I get the UGF out adding the sand. I'm hoping this will cause the least stress as I'll be able to do it a little at a time for the most part.


But what I want to know is if any commonly available 10g filters have problems with sand tanks.

As a college student, I can't afford to buy a filter and have the sand ruin it, so if there are any filters to avoid (or ones to seek out specifically) I'd like to know.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

-Zeb
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It really depends on the grade of sand you use. I have a rather course grade of silica aquarium sand in a 20 gallon long, filtered with an aquaclear 200 filter and have never had a problem. However, I used a very fine play-sand in my 125 with 2 aquaclear 500's and ruined both filters in short order, even tho I kept sponges on the intakes. It also depends on your fish, my P pardalis likes to dig furiously in sand with his tail, sending it floating around all over, and I also have some Jurupari's that liked to spit sand into the intakes...
If you stay away from really fine sands I think you would be fine with just about any hob filter. I have heard that the Marineland emperors handle sand in them a little better, but have not tried them with sand. HTH!

If you can find a brand called redflint it comes in many sizes and go with the smallest you can use with your UGF. It's very good for biological filtration. Put it in 2-3 inches deep. It has a great look to it, very natural.