How do you vacuum sand?

[babyduke]

I'm in the process of setting up a tank with sand as substrate. What do I use and how do I vacuum the bottom?

 

[wrs]

skim the top of the sand w/the gravel; vacum.

 

[CathyG]

Use a normal gravel cleaner, but don't bury it in the sand. Instead, use a circular motion about an inch or so above the sand which will create a small eddy, enough to lift the lighter debris, but not enough to lift the sand.

 

[freddyk]

I don't. Clever filter and powerhead placement keeps the sand free of debris - all of it is collected by filters so I only need to clean it from one place.

 

[C.j]

I worried about this aswell when i got my sand tank. I just clean my sand like i clean my gravel, and none gets sucked up at all. just find the right height to put the outgoing end of the vacuum hose so there isnt too much pressure. if this doesnt help, you could always kink the hose

 

[WILDER]

Don't you turn your filter off so no sands gets pulled into the filter.

 

[LoachLover]

Just us a regular syphon, just skim the top.

 

[reddeerhobbiest]

i have a sand bottom tank 20g that i just vacum above the surface of sand. but ever once in awhile i stick my vac into the sand and pinch it off just before the sand gets to the end of the tube, then let the sand fall back down the tube till it is almost empty then start to vac again to get the crap out of sand. seems to work for me.

55g
4 balla
3 cory
2 dojo loaches
1 african butterfly
1 mystery snail

20g
10 cloud minnows
3 neon tetras
4 dwarf frogs
6 ghost shrimp
3 baby kuhli loaches
1 mystery snail

5g
3 cloud minnows
1 betta
1 unidentified snail ( hijacker from plant purches)