Cleaning A Sand Tank

[Apolloefc]

Which is the best way?

I have a gravel tank and the vacuum works perfectly well. In my sand tank I find is much more difficult to get the poo and other undesirable bits up.

Tips would be nice

Thanks!

 

[rabbut]

I just ensure there is plenty of flow over the substrate. This gets all the mank into the water column, and from there the filters can remove it If this isn't working for you, you can use a gravel vac, but place your finger over the outlet end to slow the flow such that the dirt comes out, but the sand doesn't. It will take a while to clean like this, but it works. You can also just hover the open end of the gravel vas about 1/3 an inch above the substrate, and this will work well also

The good flow over the substrate is my preferance, as though it means more often cleaning of the filters, the dirt removes itself to a place where I can remove it more easily

HTH
Rabbut

 

[iankent]

i found that just using a plain old pipe and hovering the end of it near the surface of the sand worked the best - pulls in the dirt nearby but the sand is too heavy (though if you get too close by mistake you'll lose some sand!)

 

[dthoffsett]

i found that just using a plain old pipe and hovering the end of it near the surface of the sand worked the best - pulls in the dirt nearby but the sand is too heavy (though if you get too close by mistake you'll lose some sand!)

That's basically what I do, I pull the large vaccum part off, then just use the smaller hose for better suction.