Sand Cleaning

[Elricsfate]

I am still in the process of preparing my tank, so it is currently completely empty and dry. My question pertains to the future.

I have read and seen discussion of sand cleaning during water changes. But if I am keeping sand sifting fish (at some point) or Mandarins, would siphoning the sand not remove the critters living in the sand that provide a food source for these fish?

[scooter31707]

Are you during a Deep Sand Bed (DSB)? If so, then no do not mess with it. Some say if you have a shallow sand bed then, you should clean it. I cleans mines a little. I just skim the top of the sand, not pushing the tube in the sand. I have a 6ft tank, so I break it up in 3rds, so every water change, I do one section (2ft part of the tank).

[Elricsfate]

I intend to have 2-3 inches of sand. Not doing the DSB for anaerobic denitrification, just providing a place for sand dwellers, and because I like the look.

I like your process. I think that's what I will adopt.

[unclepastor]

Originally Posted by scooter31707

Are you during a Deep Sand Bed (DSB)? If so, then no do not mess with it. Some say if you have a shallow sand bed then, you should clean it. I cleans mines a little. I just skim the top of the sand, not pushing the tube in the sand. I have a 6ft tank, so I break it up in 3rds, so every water change, I do one section (2ft part of the tank).

agreed, for the most part i would leave the bed alone. Cleaning patches of sand from here to there wont hurt.

[AlSimmons]

Instead of vacuuming the sand bed you could just stir it up with a stick or a small power head right before a water change. This will get a lot of the detritus up into the water column where it can be siphoned out or removed with some sort of mechanical filter. As far as the micro fauna goes they might go on a little roller coaster ride for a few seconds or so, but they'll remain in your substrate unscathed.

[eder10986]

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Instead of vacuuming the sand bed you could just stir it up with a stick or a small power head right before a water change. This will get a lot of the detritus up into the water column where it can be siphoned out or removed with some sort of mechanical filter. As far as the micro fauna goes they might go on a little roller coaster ride for a few seconds or so, but they'll remain in your substrate unscathed.

Yup. We use cheapo turkey basters


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[UTCReefer]

There are lots of opinions on this. I had a sand sifting goby that kept my sand spotless but eventually (after about 4 years) it was full of gunk and i had to remove it all in order to keep my phosphates from exploding and turning my tank into a hair algae farm. Now i'm bare bottom and while i do miss the sand sometimes it has been worth it to just go without it.

[EdgeN]

I agree there are lots of opinions on this subject, but a large majority of these people just don't want to do the work IMO. Plain & simple.

[vikinglord13]

If you vacuum one portion at a time you'll be fine. Just switch locations every time you do it. Unless you have an aMAZing sand-cleaning crew gunk will build up over time.

If you just don't want to run the risk of sucking out pods then just inject some water into the sand bed with your baster and all the stuff will get into the water column - as AlSimmons said. It's a good idea to baster all the stuff off your rocks once it has all settled, that way the corals and stuff aren't covered in gunk.

[JMorris271]

One sea star works great if you have the room