How to Put Sand in My Freshwater Aquarium

Freshwater fish make relaxing pets that most everyone can enjoy. Make your freshwater aquarium a more natural habitat by using sand in the base. Some fish and most plants prefer sand in a freshwater tank. Sand offers an attractive, light color to the aquarium and does not require a lot of maintenance. Just a few simple steps will have you on your way to placing sand in your own freshwater aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon bucket
  • Water hose with sprayer
  • Trowel
  • Cup or jug
  • Filter
  • Aquarium vacuum
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose which aquarium sand is best for your freshwater fish tank and budget. Talk to a specialist at your local pet store. Different kinds of fish require different kinds of sand. Options include aquarium sand, already-washed Quikrete Medium Sand, pool filter sand and cheaper playground sand found at your local home improvement store. Choose a kind of sand that will not change pH or hardness in your water. While you're at the pet store, talk to the specialist about a filter, too. Choose a filter that is two or three times the tank capacity into the aquarium.

    • 2

      Calculate how much sand your aquarium needs. Use a sand bed calculator --- such as the one at garf.org/calculators/SandBedCalculator.asp --- to help determine how much sand you need.

    • 3

      Prepare and clean the sand before putting it into your tank. Place two gallons of sand in a five-gallon bucket and fill the bucket using a water hose. Attach a sprayer to the hose, and squirt that in the bucket to better stir up the sand and debris in the water. Remove the dirt film that forms on top of the water by slightly tilting the bucket and dumping the film layer. Spray water and remove dirt until the water is clear.

    • 4

      Transfer the desired amount of sand from the bucket to your aquarium using a garden trowel or any other scooping device.

    • 5

      Use a cup or jug to fill your fish tank with tap water or filtered water. Allow the sand to settle in the aquarium.

    • 6

      Install the filter into the aquarium. For aquariums with sand, most filters will hang on the side of the tank. Check your filter's instructions before installing.

    • 7

      Vacuum the surface of the sand every two to four weeks. Hold the vacuum a half-inch above the sand to avoid vacuuming the sand itself.