Cleaning Sand.

[kelz]

iv got a sand based substrate in my 120L tank, i clean it using a gravel cleaner, sand looks awesome as my corys also help me out! im just wondering what methods people use to clean there sand based tanks? also i used to have shrimp in my tank, but they poop so much and it looks horrible on sand as ur constantly cleaning it. has anyone else had this problem? or is it just me lol. and advice please! tah.

 

[raptorrex]

iv got a sand based substrate in my 120L tank, i clean it using a gravel cleaner, sand looks awesome as my corys also help me out! im just wondering what methods people use to clean there sand based tanks? also i used to have shrimp in my tank, but they poop so much and it looks horrible on sand as ur constantly cleaning it. has anyone else had this problem? or is it just me lol. and advice please! tah.

I got over the problem with high flow filtration. flows of 5x plus scavenge the tank much better than lower flows can.
but you do get more sand in the filter. but i found that subsided (though never vanished) as the sand settled, over time.

actually i solved the problem by going back to gravel. but higher flow reduced it considerably

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

It's probably your plec doing all the pooping lol

The flow from my filter "sweeps" the sand substrate in my tank so that it pretty much all gathers in one place. Then I just use a gravel vac to clean it up. Try testing out different locations for your filter and how you have your filter outlet located/pointed until you find a position that works the best

 

[HannahBear77]

i like my shrimps but i did notice my shrimp poop a lot so does my pleco and i notice their really annoying to have with sand substrate....once a week i suck up the first layer of sand with just using just the tube of my syphine give it a good clean which is just me turning it back n forth like a washer machine letting it settle and then draining water and dirt since i have driftwood and all the dirt likes to come off and settles

 

[kelz]

thanks for the info, was just curious as to whether there was any other way to clean sand! will leave my filter where it is as my danioes love swimming in the flow, also my plants have gone crazy since iv changed the fert. thankyou for the replies!

 

[raptorrex]

thanks for the info, was just curious as to whether there was any other way to clean sand! will leave my filter where it is as my danioes love swimming in the flow, also my plants have gone crazy since iv changed the fert. thankyou for the replies!

this might help.

I placed an air stone and air curtain, across the back of the tank.
the bubbles cause a small current of water, from front to back.
as the current flowed, rubbish was drawn to the back of the tank.
their is was sucked up, by my 2x 2224's.
but, without that kind of suction.
it is nicely placed to be sucked up, with your gravel vac.

there should be no need to move your filter.

 

[Aqua Tom]

I have a my filter outlet & an additional circulation pump blowing across the back of the tank from right to left. This causes most of the waste to gather in the back right corner of the tank.

I then use a 1" length of food-grade hose to suck the waste out into my garden drain, this is done at the same time as my weekly 50>60% water change.

Tom