How Do I Clean My Sand

[A&C]

I have just changed from gravel to sand as i thought it looked better. Now i have come to clean my tank and thought how do i clean my sand. Please help any information would be gratefully received.

I have a normal manual syphon and a hover which i connect to my air line can i use these.

Thanks in advance

 

[Dragonslair]

Yes.
Sand looks attractive, but sometimes not practical. I'm sure your big catfish will disturb the sand quite a bit. The nitrogen cycle also will have problems with sand as it is so compact that airation and decomposition may be a problem. Depending on the type of sand used, the water chemistry will also have changed. Fish don't like sudden changes in chemistry.
Good luck.

 

[yhbae]

If you are using a regular syphon (or python), all you need to do is to keep the bottom of the syphon about 1/2 an inch above the sand layer - that is uaually enough to suck up the debree at the bottom.

I used to have large grained substrate, and I changed it to pool filter sand. My other tank has sand. Personally, PFS is a little easier to maintain, but I'd take sand over large grained substrate any day... Large grains are real pain to maintain...

 

[DeepSeaFishin]

Sand = Difficult to clean...that simple

 

[heresmike]

Sand = Difficult to clean...that simple

Not in my experience! My sandy bottom tank is SO much easier to clean than the gravel bottom tanks. The poo in the sandy bottom tank has less of a chance to get lodged somewhere, so it gets sucked up into the filter.

 

[yhbae]

Sand == second easiest to clean. Pool Filter Sand == easiest to clean! Regular gravel == don't even think about it! Go for either sand or pfs.

 

[heresmike]

Another tip ... while vacuuming a sandy bottom tank, swish the vac back and forth lightly to stir up the poo, and it will get sucked up into the vac!

 

[yhbae]

Actually, just to extend that - I steer up the whole tank whenever I do the cleaning. All little debree that got stuck at different places will get freed up, and will eventually get sucked into the filter. It works for me...

 

[AmberC]

I LOVE my sand!!! I just got regular black sand when I set up my 55. Not ONLY is is prettier, its easier IMO. I just use my python and keep it right above the sand to suck stuff up. I also do the little 'swish' thing to stir it up and sometimes I even stick the python INTO the sand for spots that need a good cleaning, but you have to be careful cause it WILL suck up the sand lol. (I normally stick it in and let it swirl up the sand in the tube then bring it halfway out of the water and the sand falls back out ) I'll never use gravel again!!!!!