How To Clean Fresh Water Sand!

[ILuvMyMidasCichlid]

Hi Again,
First of all I would like to thank the ppl that helped me with my cloudy water problem. lol
I was getting really agerrivated with it. Now a new question, How do you clean sand? I put white sand in my 20 gallon community tank. It houses 3 mystry snails, 3 Rasboras, 3 zibra danios, 2 dyed tetras, and 1 red eyed puffer. There isnt a problem with my tank its up and running great. Clear water lol and get lvls. Its actully cycled quite well, like real pretty. Nicely planted too. I just need to know what is the best why to clean the sand. I have little green poo all over the sand due to the snails lol. I have a siphin but it sucks up all the sand, How would be the best way?

 

[waterdrop]

I've seen people recommend that you put your own hand down there and stir up the sand, thus sending all the lighter debris up into the water. Then you can hold the gravel vac end of your siphon much higher away from the sand and move it around getting a lot of the debris. Its common to only get the substrate partially clean on any given water change - another reason why frequent changes are a good habit.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[murphyk32]

or just dont put the vac quite as close to the sand, just enough to get the debris.. just fool around with it and ull get it..

Murph

 

[ILuvMyMidasCichlid]

Thanks! I wasnt sure if there was something else I could do differently. I do the hand thing, You actully have to mix up the sand every once in awhile if not there are gases that build up and if the gases arint released regulrery then if it gets out all at once it could harm the fishies... So I do that alot, Its just my snails poo alot. Its kinda grose lol... Thanks for the suggestions, I thank you alot. How ever I already do that, I would really like to know if there is something we can do to kinda strain the sand or something of that nature? Thanks again for all the help so far, It means alot.