Building new Clown Loach Aquarium

[nowey]

Hello, I'm getting back into the hobby after 20 years without an aquarium. Needless to say the equipment has changed and I need some advice. I'm getting ready to order a 120 gal tank and need some opinions on setting up the filtration. I will be setting it up for clown loaches and I know from reading posts, that a current and sand are recommended. I have also read about sand in the pump problems and I want to avoid this. This is what I have for filtration:
Fulval FX5
Fluval 405 that will be circulating through an inline heater, fluidized sand beb, and a uv sterilizer.
I was thinking of a way to avoid the sand problem by drilling a hole in the bottom and having the discharge for the FX5 at one end and a few inches off the bottom to create the current. At the other end have the FX5's suction around 15" off the bottom. THe 405 would discharge at the surface with the suction in the same area as the FX5's suction. Would this avoid the sand problem? Does this sound like it wiuld filter suffently? In the past I always tried to have suction close to the bottom and discharge near the top. THanks for any opinions.

[chefkeith]

If you get sand that is heavy then it won't get sucked in the filters as easily.

Pool filter sand is usually pretty good, but it depends on what brand you get.

My favorite Pool Filter Sand right now is from Leslies Swimming Pool Supplies. They have an inert 20-Grade Quartz Sand.
Here's a link to a map of their locations-
http://leslies.know-where.com/leslies/

When you set up the canister filters you can put the spraybars vertically so that the tank gets good flow from the top to the bottom.

[nowey]

Thanks for the info on the sand. I am concerned that having the suction high, will leave lots of solids on the bottom. I don't know if you can use a syphon to vac the sand without sucking it all up. How does everyone with sand clean the bottom?
Thanks

[butterfly01]

Since the solids and debris doesn't sink down into the samd like it does with gravel you just have to wave the vac over the top of the sand. It's much easier in my estimation than gravel.
Carol

[Martin Thoene]

Hi nowey. Here's my setup to give you some ideas:

http://www.loaches.com/articles/my-clown-loach-aquarium

Martin.

[newshound]

I run sand in all my tanks with no problems
I use a sponge on the intake but that would not stop it from sucking up sand.
Keep the intake up high enough so it sucks up very little sturred up sand.
I run an under sand sponge/piping/powerhead combo (see martins design) closest to the sand so that if any sand does get sucked into that filter it will have the least impact VS a $$$$ filter. My other filters intakes are higher up.

[Diana]

Cleaning sand is quite easy. If you do need to deep vacuum it, keep your hand wrapped around the outlet tubing, ready to pinch it off when the larger diameter part gets some sand in it. When you pinch it the flow may stop or at least slow down to the point that the sand will fall out of the tube.

[nowey]

Thanks evereyone for the information. I hope I can help someone some day.