How To Maintain Sand Substrate?

[black jack1]

I have never used sand as a substrate and want to use it in my new tank. I have a gravel cleaner but i think that would probably end up sucking up sand so i'm not sure. I know the dirt usually stays on top of the sand but what is the best way to remove it?

Thanks

 

[mark.w.jones]

I have never used sand as a substrate and want to use it in my new tank. I have a gravel cleaner but i think that would probably end up sucking up sand so i'm not sure. I know the dirt usually stays on top of the sand but what is the best way to remove it?

Thanks

Read someone else say that they hold the gravel vac just above surface of sand and swish it round in circles to make any debris move up from the surface. You'll lose some sand everytime but that's one of the perksof sand substrate.

 

[BigIan]

get a very narrow gravel vac, and hover it just above the surface and up goes the crud, (along with a little sand but nothing much..

you can also swirl the gravel vac to make the crap float up and suck it in that way but i find it just ends up all over the water

 

[Sheridanp]

I have a big vacuum. Don't swirl it though, it is powerful enough to pick up the waste. If you swirl it, the sand picks up quite a bit, and get's stirred up.

 

[Torrean]

you should also stir the sand every couple months or introduce sand stirring organisms such as MT snails

 

[black jack1]

Thanks for the suggestions, i'll use the vac. Will develop a technique!

 

[chrismr]

MT Snails?

 

[Squid]

MT might be malasian trumpet snails. but im not sure.

 

[black jack1]

MT might be malasian trumpet snails. but im not sure.

Yeh thats most likely it. Not a big fan of snails though

 

[nmonks]

Well, if you're keeping a sandy substrate, you'll learn to love Malayan livebearing snails. They do your work for you. I'd consider them essential (see my pinned topic on sandy substrates in the Beginners Questions forum).

Malayan snails don't eat plants or harm fishes. They only multiply wildly if you are overfeeding. If you feed no more than the fish need, you're fine. You can easily remove any excess snails periodically if you want to.

Cheers,

Neale

MT might be malasian trumpet snails. but im not sure.

Yeh thats most likely it. Not a big fan of snails though

 

[black jack1]

Just wondering what kind of gravel vacs people use to clean their sand? As in hand/battery or mains operated?