Sand

[sparky_555]

Hi, i'm in the process of cleaning up a new tank that i bought off ebay, and i'm thinking of having sand instead of gravel (which i had in my old 6 gallon tank). I've been wondering, how do you clean the sand? Wouldn't the syphon suck it up?

Thanks for the help

 

[drango91]

this is a hard one, but try keeping the siphon inches above the sand so the waiste get sucked not the sand

 

[Spader]

just hold it 1 inch above the sand, works a charm. if it doesnt go well, stirr the tank up so the poo goes in the water and u can suck it out then and your filter will too

 

[catastrophi]

If you plan no using sand; I suggest using pool filter sand. It's a larger grain then if you plan on using play sand. I've had very bad experiences with playsand.

 

[Nick Sw]

If you plan no using sand; I suggest using pool filter sand. It's a larger grain then if you plan on using play sand. I've had very bad experiences with playsand.

Can I ask what bad experiences ? I`ve just got some fine playsand and I`ve got some slime algae which could be Cyanobacteria which I`m worried about.

I found for cleaning get a smaller nozzle on your syphon and hold it a bit further away.

 

[fishRfriends]

In my experience if you take the nozel off the siphon (so its just a piece of tubing) the power is more concentrated and picks up the "gunk" alot better. Its really easy to get a siphon started with just tubing and if you hold it above the sand a bit it works like a charm.