Cleaning Sand

G

garyroach

AC Members
Sep 9, 2007
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Ok, I put too much sand in my tank. I admit it. There's about 4 inches in back sloping to about 3 inches in front. My question is this. How deep do you have to stir sand when cleaning? All the way to the bottom or just partially? If partially, how deep? And how often should this be done? Thanks.

Gary
 
If you feel you have too much its easy to syphon some out, with sand the dirt pretty much stays on top of it, so if you just wave a gravel vac over it during water changes the dirt will come away with the water. Its good to poke the sand so that it stays aerobic every week or so, a chopstick or something would do the job.
 
Sorab said:
If you feel you have too much its easy to syphon some out, with sand the dirt pretty much stays on top of it, so if you just wave a gravel vac over it during water changes the dirt will come away with the water. Its good to poke the sand so that it stays aerobic every week or so, a chopstick or something would do the job.
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Actually I like the amount of sand. That's why I put it in the tank. But, I read a few threads saying to not put that much sand in a tank. The question I have is how to catch any sand that might get sucked up in water changes so that it doesn't go down the drain and get deposited in the trap in the drain pipe. And how deep and how vigorously should I disturb the sand? Thanks.

Gary
 
I don't disturb the sand at all when I vacuum. Everything sits on the top and doesn't go down into the substrate like gravel. Just keep the vacuum above the sand.
 
I have slots cut in the end of the gravel vac tube, so I can poke the sand and prevent the dead spots from happening.

At the sink, have the hose drain into a fine mesh net.
 
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