How To Clean Sand?
- Thread starter ashcroft7
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mrvillicus
Fishaholic
sift through it using a gravel vacuum being careful not to suck it all up
Its not generally cleaning my sand but removing Malaysian Trumpet snails, but I used a normal fish net and drag it through my sand. Then all I have to do is sift the sand and the snails and any large detris I have collected in the net gets dumped.
With the gravel underneath the sand it would just mean the you need to not go as deep and only scoop from the first cm of sand.
My Cory's also do a fantastic job of cleaning my sand and keeping particles of whatever moving towards the filter.
With the gravel underneath the sand it would just mean the you need to not go as deep and only scoop from the first cm of sand.
My Cory's also do a fantastic job of cleaning my sand and keeping particles of whatever moving towards the filter.
Electric Warrior
Fishaholic
I just use the plastic tubing from my gravel vac. Just take the big nozzle bit off and swirl the end of the tubing around in a circular motion about an inch above the sand, and all of the bits and poop, etc come right up and out. Any plastic tubing that is long enough and has enough diameter will work really.
Baccus you mentioned your corys do a fantastic job
I have 2 clown loaches (sadly one died) who don't really seem to be to good a house keeping, and sand does seem to have a bit of muck on the top,
would it be wise/possible to purchase 1 cory to help Hoover up?
I only have space for 1 possibly 2 more fish in my tank?
I have 2 clown loaches (sadly one died) who don't really seem to be to good a house keeping, and sand does seem to have a bit of muck on the top,
would it be wise/possible to purchase 1 cory to help Hoover up?
I only have space for 1 possibly 2 more fish in my tank?
No, corydoras catfish are very social, and it's not really fair to keep one or two on their own. If you just want the sand turned over, you could look at adding some Malaysian trumpet snails.
There really aren't any fish that will 'hoover' the substrate; that has to be your job, I'm afraid!
Of course, it's not going to be long until your tank has a couple of cms of sand on the bottom with a cm of gravel on top; the sand will sink through the gaps in the gravel. You won't be able to keep the sand on top if you have a mix of the two substrates.
There really aren't any fish that will 'hoover' the substrate; that has to be your job, I'm afraid!
Of course, it's not going to be long until your tank has a couple of cms of sand on the bottom with a cm of gravel on top; the sand will sink through the gaps in the gravel. You won't be able to keep the sand on top if you have a mix of the two substrates.
Thanks flutter moth 
Ok that makes sense!
Would an assassin snail or any sort of snail do the job the same as a the Malaysian trumpet snail? And are snails something that can be kept on there own?
Yes I have noticed that with the sand/gravel. What a pain. In future would just sand on its own be on? I do have live plants
Ok that makes sense!
Would an assassin snail or any sort of snail do the job the same as a the Malaysian trumpet snail? And are snails something that can be kept on there own?
Yes I have noticed that with the sand/gravel. What a pain. In future would just sand on its own be on? I do have live plants
MTS are probably the best for keeping sand turned over, though assassins would do the job as well. I've never had any problems with MTS in sand tanks; it seems to be only in gravel tanks they get out of control.
Snails can be kept on their own, although most of them will be already carrying eggs and/or sperm when you get them!
Just sand is fine for plants, although you do sometimes need to pile a few pebbles around them for a couple of weeks, until they've rooted in. You could try sieving the gravel out, in the tank, with a cheap plastic sieve.
Personally, I don't think sand really needs turning over at all; it's just that you can see the dirt on sand and are compelled to keep it clean , whereas with gravel it's all hidden.
Snails can be kept on their own, although most of them will be already carrying eggs and/or sperm when you get them!
Just sand is fine for plants, although you do sometimes need to pile a few pebbles around them for a couple of weeks, until they've rooted in. You could try sieving the gravel out, in the tank, with a cheap plastic sieve.
Personally, I don't think sand really needs turning over at all; it's just that you can see the dirt on sand and are compelled to keep it clean , whereas with gravel it's all hidden.
Yeah, I should have made it clearer, the cory's always bustling and snuffling through the sand generally keep getting any particles of gunk moving towards the filter. They aren't actually eating it just helping to keep it moving towards where the filter can more easily pick it up.
There are snails from Sulawasi that are cone shaped like MTS that would also be good sand burrowers. I got some great black/ blue snails from North Queensland that are currently around 6-8cm but will get as big as 15cm
. So far as far as I can tell these guys have not bred in my tank so here is hoping they will make a great ulternative to MTS.
And these other spiny shelled guys are also always in the substrate
There are snails from Sulawasi that are cone shaped like MTS that would also be good sand burrowers. I got some great black/ blue snails from North Queensland that are currently around 6-8cm but will get as big as 15cm
And these other spiny shelled guys are also always in the substrate
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