Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is anyone else keeping theyre softies on snad, I use childrens play sand washed a few times and it works great for the turtles theyre shells always look nice with mostly no nicks or bad looking spots like some of the softies I've seen. The only problem is sand is a pain, Is theyre a filter out thyre that can be used to filter the sand when it becomes dirty? Or any other system, biological microbes etc that can be used to keep from having to change it so often it is alot of work to scoop all the sand out of a 50 gallon tank
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Ricky

1.1 Samutran Bloods
1.0 Normal Ball
1.0 Amel Corn
2.1 Cal Kings
1.0 Western Hog
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa's
0.1 Columbian Raibow Boa's
1.0.2 Leapord Geckos
0.0.4 Med House Geckos
1.1 Tokay Geckos
1.1 Alligator Lizards 1 mel
0.1 Pink Toa Tarantulas
0.1 California Ebony Tarantulas
0.0.1 Costal Stripe Tail Scorpin's
0.0.3 Riverside Millipeads
2.4 Red Ear Sliders
0.1 Spiny Softshells
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
0.1 California Desert Tortoise
1.4 Felines
1.1 Canines

You shouldnt really need to replace your sand. I have a "python" water changer that I use to siphon the crap off the surface of the sand. Then I occasionly lightly stir up the sand to release any gasses that build up under the sand over time.
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Currently in the US Navy so I have sold off my collection. But over the years I have had dozens of turtles, fish, geckos, and other lizards. Cant wait to get back in the hobby once im out though!

I use silica sand (also known as white decorating sand, sand blasting sand).. I'm using it as a substrate for chinese softshells, a florida softshell and a fly river turtle.. Ive had a few people suggest that this sand can be dangerous (scratching their shells), but Ive never had any problems wih it and I find it very easy to keep clean as opposed to playsand. Ive been using the same stuff with the fly river for 2 years now (although i added a second bag as he had an enclosure upgrade) and the original sand is still clean. Im using an external fluval canister filter for him and I find that as long as the intake isn't too close to the sand, it wont suck any up.. Same thing if you're using an internal filter, just make sure it's above the substrate a little.

Matt