Rubble sifting question

Thorndunes · 01/22/2012, 09:46 AM

I have an established tank and I would like to take out most of my "rubble" and relocate it to my sump. My plan is to have sand only in my display tank. Does anyone have any ideas of how to do this with minimal disruption to the tank? I have snails,crabs and fish in my tank currently. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

L_Spec · 01/22/2012, 11:10 AM

I've had to do this because I wanted a "clean sand" look. What I did, was I bought some plastic mesh from Micheals for 99 cents.. or any craft store, really. I cut the plastic sheet to a more manageable size. I dug into the sand and lifted it about an inch or so off of the sand bed so that dust wouldn't be blown everywhere while it sifted through.

It worked well for me, and it's obviously impossible to not get dust into the water column, but my tank is established enough that it only takes an hour or two for everything to settle again.

Thorndunes · 01/22/2012, 12:45 PM

That's a good idea! I was going to use my wife's colander, but decided against it. I'll have to do some digging around town and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the idea

01/22/2012, 09:46 AM	#1
Thorndunes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eau Claire ,Wisconsin Posts: 202	Rubble sifting question I have an established tank and I would like to take out most of my "rubble" and relocate it to my sump. My plan is to have sand only in my display tank. Does anyone have any ideas of how to do this with minimal disruption to the tank? I have snails,crabs and fish in my tank currently. Thanks in advance for any suggestions! __________________ " Moderatio Est Figmentum" Current Tank Info: 75 g reef tank with 55g fuge/sump

01/22/2012, 12:45 PM	#3
Thorndunes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eau Claire ,Wisconsin Posts: 202	That's a good idea! I was going to use my wife's colander, but decided against it. I'll have to do some digging around town and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the idea __________________ " Moderatio Est Figmentum" Current Tank Info: 75 g reef tank with 55g fuge/sump

01/22/2012, 11:10 AM	#2
L_Spec Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Regina Posts: 133	I've had to do this because I wanted a "clean sand" look. What I did, was I bought some plastic mesh from Micheals for 99 cents.. or any craft store, really. I cut the plastic sheet to a more manageable size. I dug into the sand and lifted it about an inch or so off of the sand bed so that dust wouldn't be blown everywhere while it sifted through. It worked well for me, and it's obviously impossible to not get dust into the water column, but my tank is established enough that it only takes an hour or two for everything to settle again.