New Tank

[Soaup]

I got a new 30 gallon tank the other day which i have now set up with sand substrate. It was marine sand safe for fresh or salt water. I put fish in yesterday and set the tank up completely. I am running an aquaclear 50 and will eventually be putting on a aqua clear 30 powerhead and particle skimmer.. That i was told will be very helpful with the sand. I will be cleaning the sand with a syphon which i will gently stir up the sand to pick up the the waste on the surface.. My question is this a sufficient enought set up and procedure to maintain my tank.. I have never done sand before and am curious if i have the correct approach to this.

 

[Soaup]

Can anyone tell me?

 

[Iron Man]

By "particle skimmer" you mean prefilter? You do need some type of mechanical filtration on your tank, not for the sand but for cleaning up the poop that your water changes don't get.

Water changes of 20% per week while hovering the siphon over the surface of the sand just to get the poop/debris is fine. There's no need to stir the sand up into the water with this technique.

I changed mine every 3 days but then I've always overstocked my tanks.