Sand "Waterfall"

The other half wants me to make a sand "waterfall"  in the tank.

I have tried to research making one, I have looked at youtube videos and I understand the principle and think I can do it.

I currently have play sand in part of the tank and this is where the sandfall would go.  I will have to take out my rock and the wood so I realise that will effect the bacteria for a little while.

I am intending to cycle the waterfall in a separate tank before it goes in so that might help.

I know I will have to make it secure at the sides and bottom to stop  fish or shrimp getting caught round the back, dying and fouling the water and I do not intend the sandfall to be on when I am away.

From what I can gather I need sand that is 1mm and no bigger. Bigger means heavier and it wont "liftl". Smaller means lighter and it will drift all over the place instead of landing in the catch area.

I think what I really need is pool filter sand but this only comes in 25 kilo bags and I don't need anything like that amount.

Does anyone know where I can get small bags or do you know of an alternative please?

It will be a long  term project I've told the other half.  I am not putting it in unless I am happy with it. 

I have already bought another container with sides tall enough to take the ornament we (ha ! I ) am going to adapt and this will also be useful as a QT later as it's much bigger than my current 10 litre one.

Any thoughts anyone?

If you haven't seen one check it out on youtube.  Aquarium waterfall. They are stunning. I only have a 60 cm tank so it wont be a massive one but who knows......................

If I do a good enough job and he's taken with the effect he might decide we really need to upgrade the tank to make a spectacular "fall"

Well, I can dream can't I !!!!!!

i have had a bit of play around with these over the last few months as i did plan to put one in my 60 liter at some point but i have found it to not be as simple as the you tube videos make it out to be , one thing i have came across is that the pipe diameter to size air stone is critical and height to pump volume  ratio is pretty imporatant to after playing around i have managed to get it to work useing the sand that covers my tank its just the ordinary bottom sand for fish tanks, how ever the problem i have came across is i like to run a fairly strong current in alot  of my tanks and this has caused problems with keeping the sand in the catchment area.

Thanks all.

Chris, I also wondered about the flow as my filter is quite strong.

I was going to practice in the container I bought first of all so that it was ready to in the tank eventually. If pipe size, fall etc  is that crucial that will put a damper on that idea as I was going to do a "mini" version first.

Actually I might still do the mini version. If it doesn't work I still have the ornament which is attractive and which the other half paid for so it's winwin eh.

I am working my way towards that Anne.

After 45 years I'm usually pretty well up on how to approach things, well usually I am.

He's a bit cross with me at the moment because my son in law has had to drop out of abseiling the Spinnaker Tower for the Ellen Macarthur Trust and my daughter said who do I know mad enough to take his place.  I know I'll ask mum!

I said I'd do it, other half not at all happy.

I think he feels a vertically, horizontally challenged 67 year old with arthritis shouldn't be doing it.  He may be right. We'll see!!

I showed him the new container, he's bought the ornament I'm supposed to be using and he'll just let me get on with it until I succeed or have to give up. He's good like that!!

Of course, originally I told him I had most of the things I needed, air pump, sand etc so there wouldn't  be any cost involved in experimenting so he was happy enough.
I've now told him what Chris said about the power of the pump etc.  IF, and it's a big IF I get anywhere near producing something that looks like a waterfall, no matter how tiny, I'm expecting him to say get a bigger, better pump and do it properly. !!

And then, of course, we'll progress onto a bigger tank   

Yep, slowly gathering the rest of the things I need but it will be  slow process.

Re: the Spinnaker. I did it and enjoyed it !!

Congratulations on the abseil. I look forward to hearing how you get on with the sandfall.

Those things look absolutely fantastic so good luck with it. It never ceases to amaze what these aquascaping guys come up with.