How do you clean sand? Gravel vs sand

[thewarning]

I was debating whether to use sand or gravel in my new tank. I've been told sand looks better but gravel is easier to maintain. My python cleaner just seems to suck up all the sand when I try to clean. Is there an easier way to clean sand tanks?

Which do you prefer, sand or gravel?

 

[chadly831]

you will always suck up a little sand, to clean sand you just go over it with the vac just high enough not to suck up much sand. i switched to sand and within 2 months i switched back to gravel . it looked good but was just to much of a pain in the but. good luck. i like black gravel gives the tank a nice look

 

[mightymax860]

I like the sand for my geo's. But it is a pain also make sure there are no big divits under rocks or you'll find alot of waste under there. As far as cleaning chadly is right hover over and try not to startle your fish because they can kick alot of sand up good luck

 

[jeninok]

I use a small powerhead and sort of sweep all the poo to one side of the tank so that I can suck it up with the python. It takes a little practice but it is way easier than trying to use the vacuum on the hole tank.

 

[sorberj]

I just hover in the one tank I have that's sand, but it's a 10 gal with inverts and a betta. I do like the look, and the heavier sand (construction) seems to not suck up too much, but I do notice that uneaten food tends to gather sand grains when I go to suck it up.

 

[ponderingky]

It depends on the the type of sand you use. If you used play sand it will be sucked out by the python. I have 27 tanks, all w/sand bottoms and my python is in almost daily use cleaning. I used pool filter sand which is really crushed quartz, it is heavier than play sand and unless I have really high water pressure on the python it all stays in the tank. If it is already in the tank I realize it is too late. I would get some MTS to keep it stirred and as another poster suggested - hover the python over the sand carefully to minimize loss.

HTH,

 

[DLV082]

I use sand and find it easier than gravel but I do have Geo's they love sifting through it and cleaning it up. I find that the muck seem to gravitate to the corners of the tank and I just vacumn it up from their. Occassionally I will stir up the sand to prevent air pockets.

 

[katana1200]

You know, I started doing something way easy. Every few days, I'll stick my arm down in the tank and sort of swoosh all the junk up into the water. The sand falls back down, the filter picks up the rest and the fish look at me kinda funny. Then, every month or so I break down my canister filter and clean it up. Sometimes I'll do the same while I vac. I "waft" all the debris up towards the vac. You never get them all that way, but really, 2 mins after you're done you haven't gotten them ALL anyway. Gravel is easier to clean, but also easier to not notice how much poo is still there.

 

[ponderingky]

easier to not notice how much poo is still there.

That is what I like about sand - it is similar to bare bottom because most of the gunk stays on top and it is easy to see and easy to get it out of the tank.

 

[Chrisk-K]

I use an Eheim Cleaner. It only sucks up unwanted stuff, not sand.