HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

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for HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

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Filip Mazur - 7 years ago

what type of sand shoud I use ?

All in ONE - 7 years ago

Please help me the what used the items or products name please send me the name of product

Zodina Zodina - 7 years ago

what should we use sand for making sandfall..which is best sand...

Armansaifa Saifi - 7 years ago

wow

Armansaifa Saifi - 7 years ago

tqqqq

Jordan Hix - 7 years ago

How large does the air pump need to be? I've tried constructing this but I don't think the air pump is powerful enough

DizzzyKipper - 7 years ago

You say cement ?wouldn't the lye hurt fish and plants?

Jack Sparrow - 7 years ago

can i put fish into it?

Afnan Photo - 7 years ago

sumpah lawa doh

Asian Arawana - 7 years ago

resubbed after this year's event. Great innenttion for airpumps. In wondering if a wall mount filters , can be made into a strong air pump.

10. comment for HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

papa MIRQ lbs - 7 years ago

hey dose it matter how long i make the pipe? like could i make a small oone?

Emma Smith - 7 years ago

The king of King's! I really need your help. I'm a beginner to this but watched hrs apon hrs watching ur videos before I even began. All is great but the sandfall is really testing me! I used all of what you showed with rocks aiming the sand back to the bottom of the pipe but for some reason unknown I just can't get it to work I've tried fiddling with hight of pipe to sand and air stone to sand also pressure from the pump and nothing just tinny particals falling. Nothing like the videos you see where the sand is gushing down. If you help sort this problem you'll be my hero not just just the king lol :) thanks

robert beyers - 7 years ago

Ideas for my next tank, maybe a 50 gallon plus =)

Mrmich5371 - 7 years ago

awesome effect..

RPG Gaming - 7 years ago

when the sand runs out what do you do

Rahul Dutta - 7 years ago

its cool its awesome only you can do this

sanjok crestha - 7 years ago

what type of air pump did you use... how much power can you tell me

Dai-tyme - 7 years ago

What power will I need the air pump to be to achieve this effect .. ? TIA

ExtremeZ TV - 7 years ago

666K VIEWS OMG

Ray Smith - 7 years ago

Aboat

20. comment for HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

BlackHawk - 7 years ago

Does anyone know if a 2 inch pvc would work or would it be too big ?

jack faster - 7 years ago

its a great job mannnnn

sanjok crestha - 7 years ago

what type of pump do you suggest

SUBIE4estr XT - 7 years ago

That looks unreal man good job!!!

Wes Bush - 7 years ago

wal Mart reptile sand works good with minimal clouding

lee ozzy Jones - 7 years ago

hi joey would this work in a saltwater tank

VÛ Ngô - 7 years ago

subricebe

Meben - 7 years ago

do it with blue sand :)

adrian arroyo candelario. - 7 years ago

it's a have moon fish tank.

adrian arroyo candelario. - 7 years ago

can you sale me one of the background waterfall for my fish tank.

30. comment for HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

??? ??? - 8 years ago

อะไรอะ

Petra De Bruijn - 8 years ago

I've an aquarium that is fertilized with CO2, so obviously I don't want to much oxygene pump in with a sandfall. I was wondering if it would be possible to bring the sand up with a waterbeam based on the venturi-principle.

Eden's Aquaponics - 7 years ago

Petra De Bruijn it probably is, but the best way to find out is to try it.

Mark G. - 8 years ago

good idea poor workmanship

Джейсон Хичкок - 8 years ago

Golddust would look and work the best if you could afford it.

MEX- Hybrids - 8 years ago

Great!!!!......thumbs up!
Thanks for showing how to do!!!
Greets from Germany!!!!

Gleen - - 8 years ago

I have an under water I have a water fall UHH! Under water water fall, dun dun dun dun

Michael norman - 8 years ago

what kind of pipe do I use? can you direct me to where I can buy one

Pb&J Sandwhich - 8 years ago

Michael norman a pvc pipe. just buy it on any hardware store

Joel Metran - 8 years ago

So how do you keep it submerged? Is silicone enough to keep it under the water?

jesus rodriguez - 8 years ago

how does this not cloud the water?

Strider - 7 years ago

heavier sand. pool filter or river sand should drop straight down, but play sand for example, will come out like a mist and cloud the tank.

Tim Wehrens - 7 years ago

use 1 milimeter stones

Enkii Muto - 8 years ago

it does, just look at it.

DJ 420 - 8 years ago

is it safe to have cement in a tank it contains some bad stuff for aquatics

eldsprutandedrake - 8 years ago

"cement" isn't some standardised material that always contains the same ingredients, there are aquarium safe cement just as there are kinds you should not put in your tank.

Bill W - 8 years ago

what size air pump did you use?

Gary Mcpherson - 8 years ago

Joey-
how long does one of these styrofoam backgrounds last?

shawn jensen - 8 years ago

The king of DIY
thanks

The king of DIY - 8 years ago

+Gary Mcpherson well, that's really going to come down to how well it was made and how you mixed the cement/cured it. Sometimes they will start to crumble after a couple years if too thick of a layer was put on, on top of another. Several thin layers is best. If done right, they last many years. I have seen some that were 10+ years old.

Damn Yourugly - 8 years ago

An air lift is a great cheap way to 'pump' that sand, but what about the horizontal flow? You are limited to a strict reduction in flow once the air vents behind the feature (which also causes noise and in my case a splashing issue).

I have spent the good part of a week working on 'pumping' methods for sand that still are applicable to tanks you would find in a home.. I have a working model, cheap/easy to adapt/works consistently without anywhere near the constraints exhibited here.

I would be interested in speaking in a more private forum regarding this project and others like it.

I'mHungry - 8 years ago

To contribute something useful, it might be a good idea to install your "algae scrubber" behind the styro background. :)

Pedro Jasmine gonzalez - 8 years ago

what kind of pump do you recommend? I made a sandfall but its not working how I would like it to. I'm thinking it may be my pump?

Kazz - 8 years ago

That's literally the coolest thing ever, definitely gotta get a bigger tank and try this out myself.

Relish The_Moment17 - 8 years ago

Happy 4 th

PsychedelicBabe - 8 years ago

I like this effect I could use an old egg tumbler hmmm very inspiring I'm gonna give this a try in an empty tank that I have

Ryan Murray - 8 years ago

Hi Joey, this is Ryan from Mumbai, India I've watched a lot of your videos. You're amazing! keep up the awesome work man!..I have a question I'm building a sandfall and I wanted to know if the air bubbles created by the airstone (to lift up the sand) provide oxygen to the tank? I know it probably does but can I use use that as an aerator and remove my regular airstone oxygen? or not? If the answer is yes then I think my aquarium will look awesome with the sand waterfall doing the job of aerating the aquarium as well. thanks again!

Ryan Murray - 8 years ago

+I'mHungry great. I thought it would. thanks for replying back.

I'mHungry - 8 years ago

I think it will aerate your tank. By following the laws of physics of osmosis, the oxygenated water will flow into the unoxygenated part of the tank (from higher concentration to less concentrated area).

Kemari Johnson - 8 years ago

i WOULD pay somebody to build me this

SOUL_ _REBEL_420 - 8 years ago

thank you sooooooooo much!!!! my fish are so satisfied with their new waterfall!!!!!!!

50. comment for HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

anthony pope - 8 years ago

good video how much is your book I live in the United Kingdom and we are pound sterling can I get your book on ebay or amazon cheers happy fish keeping

Scythe-Guardian Nullgel - 8 years ago

do i still need an air pump for my aquarium if i have this?

khalidman23 - 8 years ago

what if i need green sand for my purpose ?

Wallace Android World - 8 years ago

it works

Michael Adams - 8 years ago

bruh...great videos. ..everything I've thought of u just did.

Melissa Toh - 8 years ago

Itz possible to make out of driftwood waterfall?

Kevin's Bud Channel - 8 years ago

I'm curious, does the sand wear down the foam after time?

Arnav Sinha - 8 years ago

+Kevin Batchelor I don't think it would because the foam is cemented.

calderon00961 - 8 years ago

only use cement at the end or after a resin cement

Naomi ! - 8 years ago

can the sand trap/injure the fish in anyway?

Dj Nini - 8 years ago

hi very nice video.
can you please tell me the name or the power in 60 min of this pump.
I am searching a lot of time but I don't find any pump.

please help me.

Thanks and Greetz from Germany.

Nicky Turner - 8 years ago

could this be done in a salt water tank?

Cody Chamberlin - 8 years ago

would this work with light pebbles?

Hooligan xD - 8 years ago

does it matter what type of styrofoam

A S - 8 years ago

+Scythe-Guardian Nullgel yea

Scythe-Guardian Nullgel - 8 years ago

+Joseph nguyen do i still need an air pump for my aquarium if i have this?

Chigga Realms - 8 years ago

in the corner of my tank

Hooligan xD - 8 years ago

How does it look?

Chigga Realms - 8 years ago

+Clash Of Designs also tried Styrofoam from those coolers you can buy and the ones that come when you package stuff

Chigga Realms - 8 years ago

+Clash Of Designs yea no real problems, i went to hobby lobby and grabbed a sheet of Styrofoam, marked it with a sharpie , cut it out, silicone it together, sand it and paint cement on it

Hooligan xD - 8 years ago

+Joseph nguyen you've done this?

Chigga Realms - 8 years ago

Khoirul Anwaar - 8 years ago

May i ask you sir,what is that black tiny thing??
Could you tell me??

kailey homrighaus - 8 years ago

air stone

Vip Keys - 8 years ago

hi everybody....here again

Vip Keys - 8 years ago

how everybody......here again

Andrew Block - 8 years ago

this one is mad awsome

David Tuders - 9 years ago

I mean to use it to cause like a veturi effect by running the water out of the power head through a small volume tube into a larger volume tube to create a vacuum on the opposing end

Carolina Dune - 9 years ago

How much liters an hour does you pump do, cause I have 3 small air pumps, but the all don't do the job as yours.

David Tuders - 9 years ago

Have you ever used a power head to make a sand fall

XXXXARCTICXXXX - 9 years ago

Could you do a tutorial on how to make a flowing volcano, same concept but with red sand and how to make a volcano structure?

austinpetemo - 9 years ago

I love this idea. Does all of those air bubbles spewing out create a lot of noise?

Melissa Toh - 9 years ago

What sand ? how to spell LOL sorry new to Aqua :)

Melissa Toh - 9 years ago

Did you mean air pump it blows and some how been suck up? I got normal air pump and wanted to male mini structure. Itz possible?

Melissa Toh - 9 years ago

Thank you :)

kevi drresser - 9 years ago

Yes, air pump

Aquarium Hobbyist - 9 years ago

Joey, what kind of sand are you using? brand and type?

marcos Trinidad - 9 years ago

How big is tha pump?

jan ulrich - 9 years ago

what kind of sand is that?

C Los1825 - 9 years ago

Can't get my sand to continue to fall. It falls for maybe a minute or two & then it thins out until it stops.

richard knight - 9 years ago

Hi again joey, i solved my micro bubble problem.
Have a look at my last upload video it works really good.

Arpan Patel - 9 years ago

make one with the same method but rocks and drift woods.the drift woods dint go well

Benjamin Britten - 9 years ago

King of diy. Love your videos !

I am having trouble with my sandfall. I created a whole coral insert with a water fall it looks awesome but I can't get the right flow from my sandfall.

What pump do you reccomend for large suction and uplift ?

Cheers.

Mixture Aquatics - 9 years ago

Can you do a DIY hang on the back filter?

Omahaquatic - 9 years ago

Joey, curious about buoyancy of the foam. Have you had to hollow out the parts facing the back sides, or has the Quikrete been enough? I've had a carving I've been working on for a similar corner waterfall, and I found the pressure of the foam wanting to float made me extremely worried about it popping up and out, yet as a waterfall piece I really look for not adhering it to the sides with silicone. Really, I look for the best of both worlds, and if Quikrete is the way to accomplish that, no problem, but is it generally enough?

Omahaquatic - 9 years ago

+The king of DIY Thanks much. I'll have to consider it if my rock tower doesn't work out. Excellent work, Joey.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

The cement will not hold it down, the silicone does. Use lots where ever it makes contact and give it extra time to cure. Generally up to a week.

richard knight - 9 years ago

Hi again joey, ok so i tried a u in the pipe work and turned the flow right down but im still getting bubbles in my tank so im gona try and shorten the outlet pipe from above sump and gently lower to the tank via a series if bends and see if that helps, if not im getting a t piece and splitting the flow to try and slow the flow down not that its moving that fast i think its just the height of the sump tank above the display tank thats making the water turbulent.
If you get a chance i put a video on my channel that shows what im on about
Cheers rich .

lwaguespack26 - 9 years ago

This is a great video. I am working on a sandfall right now and I wanted to know what size air pump did you use in the video? It seems to have a lot more power than the one I'm using?

Frank Walls - 9 years ago

Hey King of DIY, Will Natural Zeolite pool sand work and be safe in aquarium? That's the only pool sand I can find here in my town.

Arowana - 7 years ago

Frank Walls yes

Brian's Fish Tanks - 9 years ago

Cool build Joey. The waterfall looks really cool!

Waseem Muhammed Ilyas - 9 years ago

Great video, i tried making sandfall twice, but had problems directing the sand vertically down .This video has made me wanna try it again. Also If you can make a video on natural looking, painted 3d background like ones made by " design by nature" it would be awesome.

b.a. Warman - 9 years ago

It's such a simple principle but with an awsomely creative result.
I might have to buy a new aquarium just to try making a background with na underwater waterfall.
A few months ago i bought a Marina Dragon aquarium for my kid. I am now thinking that red sand and a red led light would be the perfect addition to it as they would create the effect of a lava flow.

Kevin b - 9 years ago

I heard that The sand can sand down the gills of The fish. The result is that the fish can't breath properly anymore. Is that true?

rohit dhyani - 9 years ago

it was a really nice video ... but can you explain me how you kept the bubbles out ... i really didn't get that part

KING - 9 years ago

nice job

sbazain - 9 years ago

Incredible that looks so real it looks like water not sand nice!!!

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Well, i think it looked ok. Gave ya a good idea on the outcome. When i was done though, i had wished i spent more time on it and gave it a proper effort. However... Sunday's come fast and new projects await!

GeneralGiggleMuffin - 9 years ago

Looks amazing.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Thanks

Jarrett Phinney - 9 years ago

What pool filter sand did you use?

Jarrett Phinney - 9 years ago

Thank you Joey

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

The stuff in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8MzUYnxXJ8

More details and a look at the packaging in it.

favian williamson - 9 years ago

Once again another great video i have a question off the topic i want an aquarium that is 120Lx48wx30h if it's an acrylic aquarium or glass is 3/4 inch good enough to hold the pressure of the water some people say yes others say no

favian williamson - 9 years ago

Thanks bro

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

glass and acrylic do not have the same properties. For glass, it would be fine, for acrylic i would go 1".

Amelia Bee - 9 years ago

I never knew this was a thing, but now I AM SO GLAD TO KNOW THIS IS A THING!

Amelia Bee - 9 years ago

+The king of DIY That's what led me to find your channel, I was looking up freshwater rays and your vid came up! My husband and I want to get either a Scobina or Pearl ray and name it Chauncey. <3 We'd love to be able to dedicate a whole room to a shallow but broad tank, maybe 6 feet by 3 feet square, but we also have a pet duck, so we'd have a hell of a time keeping it out of the water and that just seems like a recipe for disaster...

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

+Amelia Bee ha! I was actually just looking at this old glass i had. It would make a 20"X5"X5" tank... I thought it could make for a really cute 2 gallon tank. Maybe make a miniature aquascape. Knowing me though... i would keep it bare and try to put stingrays in it. haha

Amelia Bee - 9 years ago

+The king of DIY That's a relief! I've already got, like, ten of your vids bookmarked for when we move into a bigger home and I can finally pick up this hobby full-time, hehe! Although I do admit the miniature tanks have their own charm. It's like fish bonsai. And it's fun to find teeny versions of popular aquatic plants!

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

+Amelia Bee Totally agree. As i built this for such a small tank... i kept worrying about how i could make it look good. Definitely need to be in a tank 3 feet or longer. Although, with some creativity im sure people can make it work and look good.

For cleaning.. I wouldnt worry too much. The ore algae the grows on the rock, the better it looks. I never touch mine when i have them. For the pump, the sand will rub on the inside, but i cant really see enough algae building up in the back to cause any real issues... thats if the light even gets back there.

Amelia Bee - 9 years ago

+The king of DIY Sadly I don't have the money or space to dedicate to a tank large enough to make it worthwhile, I live in a townhome so my current obsession is with mini planted tanks. I've got one with crystal shrimp and another with pea puffers!

I do have one question, although it's in motion is there ever an issue with algae? It'd probably be a nightmare to clean off that craggy rock or inside the air pump!

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

definitely a thing. Mine looks horrible though. But... its just how to build it, so meh. Do some search here on youtube and you'll find some amazing ones that they spetn some real time on.

ReeferGil - 9 years ago

Super cool project!

didit doank - 7 years ago

The king of DIY

ReeferGil - 9 years ago

Haha. That's as far as my diy videos go. I lack the mad skills you have.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Thanks Danny! Seen your DIY video. Awesome job!! Keep doing them. Need a partner in crime on the saltwater side! ;)

yamaha wolverine - 9 years ago

Do you have any tips for shrimp keeping

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Well, not really. I bred some for a short while about 8 years ago or so. I just tossed a few in a 30 gal tank with java moss and a sponge filter i made. (and a heater)
A few months later i had hundreds. Fed them algae wafers. Just dropped one or two in the tank and let them munch away. The java moss was probably the key to my success though. I ended up losing interest.... Was a super cool project at the time though.

Graham HALL - 9 years ago

Awesome video. Will be doing this in the future for sure.

100. comment for HOW TO: Build an underwater waterfall sandfall for a fish tank

LowTech Tank - 9 years ago

thanks joey! watched all three videos great job. defiantly will try this one in a vertical aquascape. the few i have seen running have been in cloudy water. will the sand make my water cloudy was it runs over time? will it work with courser sand

LowTech Tank - 9 years ago

thank you for that. i will try the filter sand.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

If the sand is rinsed and clean, it cant cloud the water. Over time, it would just get more clear. Not sure what ones you have seen, but i have not seen a cloudy tank with one done right. I didnt try ever sand size, i tried pool filter sand and something fine like playsand. Pool sand worked best.

jeremiemcd - 9 years ago

Great vid bro, thanks for sharing =)

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

My pleasure

richard knight - 9 years ago

Hey joey, great videos.I have a planted tank above my display tank. As well as the bottom tank ,the water goes from bottom sump to top sump and into display tank and back to bottom sump the problem is the flow is strong, on sump pump turned right down it trickles not enough flow anyway the problem is micro bubble in display tank have you any thoughts as to stop the bubbles?. Thanks rich.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Turbulence in the return causes it. Make a loop (shape of a u) in the drain that causes it. Might have to use hose if you hard plumbed. The loop will cause the bubbles to rise back up instead of into the tank.

NYCity Cichlids - 9 years ago

Looks cool.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Pretty interesting for sure.

Rich's Fishes - 9 years ago

any issues with a cloudy water column when running this for an extended period of time?

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

No. Once you rinse and clean the sand, there is nothing to cloud the aquarium.

J-C fancy as f*ck - 9 years ago

Just wanted to say thank you very much, your tutorials have inspired me to try new things and really show how creative one can be. Truly inspiring :)

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

If i had to narrow down 1 intention of my channel.. your comment would be it.

Cameron Crossley - 9 years ago

What is the air pump that you recommend (that is strong enough to do this) I've tried to do this on other projects but there is not enough power to lift the sand.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

I dont really have a preference. On my forum i talk about how to size airpumps by wattage and LPM. Search around, its on there somewhere. diyfishkeepers.com

Juan Maldonado - 9 years ago

Great video... As always. Please keep them coming. I finish making the "cheep" sump pump for my 75 gallons African cichlids and works so much better then the canister I had set up. Thank! Juan.

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Awesome! Sumps are always a top choice for me when i can do it. I'll keep the vids rolling out for sure. Every sunday... im not going anywhere.

Slim Tim - 9 years ago

Good explaination of the sand fall. Always wonder how to keep air out sight and only see the sand. Fired Up!!!

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

It was a light bulb moment for me. I havent put much thought into it until about a week before i made the video. Good thing my idea worked, or i would have just been showing a how to build a crappy background video. haha

Pantelis-Savvas Ioannou - 9 years ago

I came here before 301 views!!!

Pantelis-Savvas Ioannou - 9 years ago

Haha:)

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Me too. :)

lethalblacktalon lethal - 9 years ago

found your video's a few weeks ago, awesome, as someone that loves diy projects. just a thought here how about posting your video's on Fridays giving us the weekend to maybe try them out. anyway keep up the great work

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Great suggestion and makes sense. However, Fridays are actually the worst day for me to upload. Sundays work best for my channel based on my audience's actual viewing habits though. My channel strategy is based on how people interact with my channel VS what i want to do. If i didn't do it this way, you would never have found me.

TienDung Dang - 9 years ago

Can you show us how to make cooling aquarium fan? Im living in tropical region and the temp is 85-87. Aquarium chiller costs too much money and very high in electric consumption as well. Thank in advance!

craig hale - 9 years ago

Im pretty sure he's already showed how to do this. Look around his videos i swear the image on the front looks like ice or something. Hope it helps

I have a new youtube name I can use spaces and punctuation now too :D YAY! :DDDDDDDD - 9 years ago

+The king of DIY Yess!!! Please do this video!

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Good suggestions. I have a few ideas, but might be a few months before i can get to it. Tons of videos that being worked on now, and lots next in line. I wont forget though. :)

Mixture Aquatics - 9 years ago

Is it possible to try incorporating this with the sand filter and use it for aesthetics as well as a way to filter and clean the water. Great video.

Mixture Aquatics - 9 years ago

+The king of DIY thanks for replying

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

To an extent yes, but i wouldn't depend on it. It would offer some biological filtration, however not by much. After measuring how much sand is actually moving through, i came the conclusion that it simply isnt enough. With that said, as it matures im certain it will compliment your main filter. This is as is though, im sure you could come up with a creative way to make it your main filter. The key will be how much sand you move.

Luke Andrews - 9 years ago

First comment great video I'm going to start making one of my tank

The king of DIY - 9 years ago

Have fun!

Timm Lombardo - 9 years ago

Nice

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