Planted tank requires frequent cleaning - how to keep it cleaner longer?

[fishorama]

I think moving your intake more toward the center would help. Also try rotating your spray bar so it is almost straight down along the tank back to get the crap into the water column. You have a lot of finer filter media that can slow the flow & need more frequent cleaning than I like to do on canisters especially.

I use 2 filters on almost all tanks, both for better flow & crap removal. I only clean filters when the flow slows. But I also use sponge prefilters on intakes to keep big stuff from clogging the filter media. Those will need cleaning every week or 2 but it's very quick. I use running tap water & squeeze the heck out of them for a couple minutes until most of the "stuff" is rinsed out.

Whitish sand shows everything. I use pool filter sand, that, with some practice, can be cleaner. I use shallow vacuuming & a swirling motion around plants to kick up debris without disturbing roots. Finer sand is harder to deal with & can compact possibly causing the anaerobic pockets mentioned. I'm used to the more speckled look of sand, lol.

 

[OrionGirl]

Another point that is seldom discussed, but all those tanks you see with pretty white sand? That's not a full time feature. It's cleaned regularly to remove settled debris, but it's also just siphoned out and replaced regularly.

 

[dougall]

Say it ain't so!

 

[the loach]

Another point that is seldom discussed, but all those tanks you see with pretty white sand? That's not a full time feature. It's cleaned regularly to remove settled debris, but it's also just siphoned out and replaced regularly.

I have had sand for years, but really advise against using it. Sooner or later you always get problems with anaerobic areas, and it doesn't have any benefits. It is all about aesthetics.

 

[dougall]

Snails or other animals that dig should keep the sand stirred up enough, or doing it manually as well.

I haven't known anyone have trouble with anaerobic gases forming in the substrate.

 

[FreshyFresh]

I don't use sand or sand-like substrates unless the livestock I'm keeping does best with it. A substrate I do like that is close to sand, is a very fine grained natural gravel sold under the Nat Geo name at Petsmart. Seems good for rooted plants, snails (what isn't), corys seem to dig it..

Like said, I think a lot of the concern is the fact you can readily see the debris against the surface of the sand. Give it some time and it will be a nice earthy green/brown. I've been down this road before with "white" substrates.

 

[SkyLight]

I fully expect the poop to show up more easily on white sand than other substrates. In my tank, it shows up much more near the spray bar end than at the intake end, and so my hypothesis was that I need to move the water around more ... i.e., additional filter or power head. I just don't know which is the better option and where to place the filter or the powerhead in the tank. Any resources to help with that will be super appreciated! I will take the advice to point the spray bar down!

 

[dougall]

put a powerhead / circulation pump at the back of the tank, around the bottom. facing inwards toward the center of the front glass

 

[FreshyFresh]

Or based on how you have your plants and hardscape positioned, try different powerhead positions until the poop disappears?

 

[enrique4jc]

I think most has been covered. Change/add to your circulation. MTS to help keep the sand bed from getting anaerobic. Do the worked needed to keep it clean. I have a tank that uses very lightly colored play sand and it can be a chore, but I like the overall look.

Apart from that, your tank sounds awesome. Have any pictures to share?