How do you clean the sand bed during h2o changes?

tarantula · 10/03/2010, 11:04 PM

Should I use a gravel cleaner, or should I use a turkey baster and blow the top of the substrate, or use just use a airline tubing and suck the top of the sand with detritus? p.s. I have no luck with any invert actually eating (The dust) left behind so I must remove it somehow....?

AaronM · 10/04/2010, 03:40 AM

Yeah best to cyphon the sand to remove detritus, otherwise it just sits there breaking down adding to your no3 and po4.

I use a gravel/sand cleaner and cyphon sand while doing a water change - sucking up detritus while taking out the water.

JMartin104 · 10/04/2010, 06:20 AM

Won't a CUC take care of this?

oakoen · 10/04/2010, 07:38 AM

Yes, I would also like to know what you guys are doing.

To syphon or not to syphon?

intekhab · 10/04/2010, 07:48 AM

In my large tank, I used to not involve the main tank at all for the water change

.. I would always change the water fromt he Sump (leaving the Main Tank as undisturbed as possible). However, for smaller tank (especially if you don't have a Sump) that can get little difficult. So I would suggest that you change the water as carefully as you can without disturbing the sandbed, and after the change, take a 30 minutes to an hour break (Later on, simply use a Turkey Baster and blow gently where you don't want those sand settled).

jeff@zina.com · 10/04/2010, 08:34 AM

Use whatever means gets the stuff out of the tank for you.

Some use a gravel siphon. Some use a turkey baster or power head to move it into the water column. Either way works. Of course, you really shouldn't have much left on the bottom of your tank if you're feeding the right amounts.

Jeff

Palting · 10/04/2010, 08:39 AM

So as not to get confused, it depends on what kind of sandbed you have.

A deep sand bed, 4" or deeper, should never be disturbed otherwise you release toxic substances from the anaerobic layer.

A shallow sand bed can and should be vacuumed to remove the detritus that can and does break down. I use a vacuum to stir up the surface and remove the junk.

mfinn · 10/04/2010, 08:40 AM

I've always used a gravel cleaner.
You would be shocked at how dirty it can get, even with light feedings.

lordofthereef · 10/04/2010, 08:57 AM

CUC and some sifting gobies and starfish do the trick IMO

DustinB · 10/04/2010, 10:43 AM

I don't touch the sandbed at all, never had any problems. I have enough flow in my tank that nothing settles, and anything that get's trapped get's taken care of by the amphipods. Take a peek at your sandbed about 3am, you may be thoroughly surprised.

Toddrtrex · 10/04/2010, 11:16 AM

All 3 of my tanks have shallow sandbed -- about 2 inches on average -- and I gravel vac with each weekly water change, have been doing in that way since 1992. I am still shocked at the amount of detritus that is removed. In addition each of the tanks have an S. Haddoni anemone in them, since they are sandbed dwelling anemones and sand CUC doesn't last long.

And for those who will say that I am losing a lot of life by doing this....

JMartin104 · 10/04/2010, 11:19 AM

So what do you do with the gravel? Wash it and return it to the tank?

Toddrtrex · 10/04/2010, 11:29 AM

99% of it stays in the tank, so I don't return it.

I use one of these, it removes the detritus from the sandbed, but leaves the sand -- at least most of it, if I am not paying attention some of it will get sucked up.

DZs · 10/04/2010, 11:37 AM

I wish I could use a gravel vac. I have super fine sand and it just gets sucked up.

Peale · 10/04/2010, 11:41 AM

I vacuum the gravel every other change or so...so like once a month. I find there are certain spots (like the back corners) that just don't get enough flow and those spots always have a little more junk to suck up.

mfinn · 10/04/2010, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZs

I wish I could use a gravel vac. I have super fine sand and it just gets sucked up.

There are gravel vacs that are up to 24" long. That and regulating the flow through the syphon hose, you should be able to use one.

DZs · 10/04/2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfinn

There are gravel vacs that are up to 24" long. That and regulating the flow through the syphon hose, you should be able to use one.

I've tried that. All it did was create a big sand storm. Maybe I'll try a narrow tube, the 24" is pretty wide. Since you've said, regulating... I could try it again. Thanks

I was getting more water then dusty sand. So, I went a bought a diamond goby. She's doing a good job. But, at one end of my tank is the anemones with clowns, so the goby won't go clean over on that side. LOL

10/03/2010, 11:04 PM	#1
tarantula Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 50	How do you clean the sand bed during h2o changes? Should I use a gravel cleaner, or should I use a turkey baster and blow the top of the substrate, or use just use a airline tubing and suck the top of the sand with detritus? p.s. I have no luck with any invert actually eating (The dust) left behind so I must remove it somehow....?

10/04/2010, 08:39 AM	#7
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	So as not to get confused, it depends on what kind of sandbed you have. A deep sand bed, 4" or deeper, should never be disturbed otherwise you release toxic substances from the anaerobic layer. A shallow sand bed can and should be vacuumed to remove the detritus that can and does break down. I use a vacuum to stir up the surface and remove the junk. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/04/2010, 08:40 AM	#8
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I've always used a gravel cleaner. You would be shocked at how dirty it can get, even with light feedings. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

10/04/2010, 08:57 AM	#9
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	CUC and some sifting gobies and starfish do the trick IMO __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/04/2010, 11:16 AM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	All 3 of my tanks have shallow sandbed -- about 2 inches on average -- and I gravel vac with each weekly water change, have been doing in that way since 1992. I am still shocked at the amount of detritus that is removed. In addition each of the tanks have an S. Haddoni anemone in them, since they are sandbed dwelling anemones and sand CUC doesn't last long. And for those who will say that I am losing a lot of life by doing this.... __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/04/2010, 03:40 AM	#2
AaronM Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 480	Yeah best to cyphon the sand to remove detritus, otherwise it just sits there breaking down adding to your no3 and po4. I use a gravel/sand cleaner and cyphon sand while doing a water change - sucking up detritus while taking out the water.

10/04/2010, 06:20 AM	#3
JMartin104 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 309	Won't a CUC take care of this?

10/04/2010, 07:38 AM	#4
oakoen Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Trinity/New Port Richey Posts: 94	Yes, I would also like to know what you guys are doing. To syphon or not to syphon?

10/04/2010, 07:48 AM	#5
intekhab Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lilburn,Georgia Posts: 652	In my large tank, I used to not involve the main tank at all for the water change .. I would always change the water fromt he Sump (leaving the Main Tank as undisturbed as possible). However, for smaller tank (especially if you don't have a Sump) that can get little difficult. So I would suggest that you change the water as carefully as you can without disturbing the sandbed, and after the change, take a 30 minutes to an hour break (Later on, simply use a Turkey Baster and blow gently where you don't want those sand settled).

10/04/2010, 08:34 AM	#6
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	Use whatever means gets the stuff out of the tank for you. Some use a gravel siphon. Some use a turkey baster or power head to move it into the water column. Either way works. Of course, you really shouldn't have much left on the bottom of your tank if you're feeding the right amounts. Jeff

10/04/2010, 10:43 AM	#10
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	I don't touch the sandbed at all, never had any problems. I have enough flow in my tank that nothing settles, and anything that get's trapped get's taken care of by the amphipods. Take a peek at your sandbed about 3am, you may be thoroughly surprised.

10/04/2010, 11:19 AM	#12
JMartin104 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 309	So what do you do with the gravel? Wash it and return it to the tank?

10/04/2010, 11:29 AM	#13
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	99% of it stays in the tank, so I don't return it. I use one of these, it removes the detritus from the sandbed, but leaves the sand -- at least most of it, if I am not paying attention some of it will get sucked up. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/04/2010, 11:37 AM	#14
DZs Sunny D's Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: CA Posts: 642	I wish I could use a gravel vac. I have super fine sand and it just gets sucked up.

10/04/2010, 11:41 AM	#15
Peale Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 296	I vacuum the gravel every other change or so...so like once a month. I find there are certain spots (like the back corners) that just don't get enough flow and those spots always have a little more junk to suck up.

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