Cleaing Sand

[Wrams]

I'm interested to know how would i clean sand? Do i do it the same way as gravel? With a Vac?

 

[doresy]

I'm interested to know how would i clean sand? Do i do it the same way as gravel? With a Vac?

Yes but just swirl the end of the tube just above the sand to disturb the crud so you suck it up without sucking up sand. Unlike gravel with sand decaying plant and food and poo remains on the sand surface so is easy to see. Also, now and again using a stick stab down into the sand just to release gases.

 

[Wrams]

I'm interested to know how would i clean sand? Do i do it the same way as gravel? With a Vac?

Yes but just swirl the end of the tube just above the sand to disturb the crud so you suck it up without sucking up sand. Unlike gravel with sand decaying plant and food and poo remains on the sand surface so is easy to see. Also, now and again using a stick stab down into the sand just to release gases.

Thanks Doresy, will do.

 

[5teady_2012]

its a bit hard to explain this but i use a tube to syphon muck off the sand but in a unusal way, i create a whirlind to disturb the sand surface and whilst moving it along the whirlwind follows and sucks the muck up..

 

[Wrams]

its a bit hard to explain this but i use a tube to syphon muck off the sand but in a unusal way, i create a whirlind to disturb the sand surface and whilst moving it along the whirlwind follows and sucks the muck up..

I'll try that one day...

 

[Ficious]

i agree with what both of the repliers said. i use a wooden dowel rubberbanded to the end of the siphon to stir up the sand. keep the end of the dowel and the intake of the siphon about 2 inches apart. this way you wont suck up any sand (or less sand)


as for the whirlwind thing...this works too but gets less of the waste. its always good to stir your sand up so it doesnt pack hard

i dont know why hard packed sand is bad but thats what ive heard

 

[5teady_2012]

i agree with what both of the repliers said. i use a wooden dowel rubberbanded to the end of the siphon to stir up the sand. keep the end of the dowel and the intake of the siphon about 2 inches apart. this way you wont suck up any sand (or less sand)


as for the whirlwind thing...this works too but gets less of the waste. its always good to stir your sand up so it doesnt pack hard

i dont know why hard packed sand is bad but thats what ive heard

Whirlind way gets all, i mess up the sand first to disturb it all, let settle again then do it..

I have a bit of a advatage though as all my tanks with sand in are packed with trumpet snails as they turn the sand over very good and keep gasses and waste to a minimum anyways.

 

[Wrams]

i agree with what both of the repliers said. i use a wooden dowel rubberbanded to the end of the siphon to stir up the sand. keep the end of the dowel and the intake of the siphon about 2 inches apart. this way you wont suck up any sand (or less sand)


as for the whirlwind thing...this works too but gets less of the waste. its always good to stir your sand up so it doesnt pack hard

i dont know why hard packed sand is bad but thats what ive heard

When you say 2" apart do you mean 2" above the doweling or 2" side by side? I assume you mean above?