Came Up With Something To Make Cleaning Sand Easier

[fishybuisness]

i recently changed to sand and i was finding it hard to clean the sand so i came up with the idea of using tie wraps to hold an orange peeler which is what i used onto a standard syphon so that it sticks down below the syphon and that way you can just sift through the sand and all the dirt rises up into the syphon without sucking up the sand,
i know that sounds kinda weird so i just took a pic of the syphon,
you could use anything suitable instead of the orange peeler thats just what i used,
i've never seen anything like this before and i'm surprised nobody else has done something similar that i've seen anyway,
its worked quite well for me so far. Just thought somebody else might find this useful

 

[Trollfest]

Great idea. I've just set up a new tank using sand. Have never used sand before so was wondering how I was goona clean it without sucking it all up. Nice one!

 

[onebto]

Nice work Fishybuisness I think ill give that a try myself thanks for sharing

 

[MHunt]

Good idea, i've been using the swirl method, but it just deposits the sand all over my wood and plants, plus you dislodge any gas bubbles trapped under there too!

 

[razer121]

i think this is "pin" worthy, ive used something else to attach to mine and it does work a charm!! i mean i still manage to suck up some sand but im sure i will master it soon! thanks man!!

 

[OneOnion]

I just bought a syphon last week and I had the same problem with it sucking up sand... This will definitely help me. I think it should be pinned too.

 

[shelaghfishface]

how posh , a tool for peeling oranges i just ask the kids if they want one, let them peel it then nick it

very good idea.. i stopped using sand as i couldnt get it clean- ever, but was always so nice when it was fresh and new

 

[MermaidMel]

What a cracking idea!

 

[snowflake311]

Good idea. I catch all the sand that gets sucked up in a bucket then wash and recycle it. It would be nice not to suck up as many.

 

[arobinson1984]

Good idea,

although I have mastered the art of cleaning my sand. I dont use the hard plastic gravel vac section, I remove that and just use the thin flexible tubing, I find you get better suction for picking up fish waste and I dont get any sand unless I actually touch the sand with it.

Andy

 

[fishybuisness]

well thats good that ye all think its good idea, as i said i've found it works really well it just takes a bit of trial and error at the start to get it sticking down the right amount at the start so as just to suck up dirt and not sand,
i should patent this or something and start selling it to pet stores lol

 

[MHunt]

Now that tool on a battery powered gravel vac. Now we're talking!

 

[loraxchick]

brilliant!
i didnt even know what an orange peeler looked like...never seen one myself. i suppose i could use a spoon in the same manor. im setting up a sandy tank this week. so THANKS! and yes, im suprised no one has thought of this either. well done!
cheers

 

[OneOnion]

I used a plastic knife with the handle part being the part sticking out and the blade part being the part zip-tied to the tube. I didn't try it out yet, though.

 

[Mr Spoon]

Very clever, will give it a whirl