Question about live sand getting into filtration and burning it up?

[gosupaintballe]

I was told by my LFS owner that the problem with live sand is when your cleaning around the bottom of the tank and/or moving stuff around, the LS gets up into the water and some will get sucked up into the filtration unit and would burn up the motors in it. So he says he does crush corel in all his aquiriums for that reason. Does this happen often with sand getting sucked into filtration units and burning them up, or not? ? ? I'm wanting to do live sand in my 90 gallon, but scared i might start burning up stuff in my filtration units? Any help or suggestions? ? ?

 

[nicetry]

Actually, once the sand is well coated with bacteria, it tends to stay put on the bottom of the tank. Your lfs' argument is weak, and, because he doesn't use sand substrates is more a matter of him being a bit behind the times. Go with the sand. I doubt you'll lose any equipment. Even in the event of some disturbance and with some suspended sand, you shouldn't have problems. I'm running the same powerheads and return pump for the past few years and have not experienced any sand related mechanical trouble.

 

[f14peter]

My sand (Combination of mostly dead sand with some LS) sank and settled rather quickly to the bottom so it would take some serious agitation to get enough up into the water column to be sucked into your pumps.
Besides, odds are that your main pump is going to be recieving water from the top of the tank . . . little chance of sand getting into your pump and "burning it up". As far as I know, most basic pumps turn an impeller, and with fairly loose tolerances so I don't believe there's many spots for sand to get in and grind things up.
Lastly, it's my understanding that one shouldn't be stirring up their LS, lest they risk screwing up the tank's balance.