Siphoning the sand bed?

Mikro · 01/20/2006, 04:08 PM

Is it good to siphon the sand bed when doing water changes or is it best left undisturbed?

Rock Anemone · 01/20/2006, 05:56 PM

You never want to siphon the sandbed, that is if you're using it for filtration purposes and not just for looks (such as a 1 inch sandbed etc). You can lightly skim over the surface (holding the siphon about an inch above the sand) and go over any areas with algae etc, but you never want to disturb the sand too much or siphon it.

Rock Anemone

integlikewhoa · 01/20/2006, 06:09 PM

I have a 2-2.5 inch bed that i clean the top of it when i do water changes. I go almost 1/2 inch down and suck all the crap out. I also have 200lb of live rock tho. When i do a water chaange i like to suck as much crap out as i can. Blow off the rocks and stuff first. Its much better i think then just taking out good clean water off the top of the tank.

skireef · 01/20/2006, 07:25 PM

I see no problem with siphonong the surface to remove algae growth...if it exists. You can clean the sand and return it to the tank.....or replace with new sand. Ultimately it really doesn't matter.

coralfarmer84 · 01/20/2006, 07:42 PM

All you have to do is get yourself a Diamond Goby. I have one and he i don't think there is a single grain of sand he hasn't sifted, he really does a great job of making the sandbed look clean.

Red Serpent · 01/20/2006, 10:09 PM

I will agree whole heartedly with coralfarmer84. My Diamond Goby turned my 2.5" sand bed over in about 2 days. My sand has not looked better. A really cool fish to watch siftting the sand. If you get one be ready to change filter media and suck/blow off rock in tank for adout 3 to4 weeks or untill sand is cleaned up. Also if you go with this fish you can't be picky about sand shape or placement. This fish will stack and move the sand to its prefrences. Be careful Diamonds will dig under rock work and topple them if they are set on the sand and not on the bottem of tank.

reefD · 01/20/2006, 10:26 PM

if it is not deep then syphon it but you will remove all the desirable critters but with a shwllow sand beed you will not be disturbing much of the beneficial bacteria . never do it personally...my sand bed is onlt about an inch . what are you trying to remove? algea not a solution just a short term solution algea will grow backk the next day. if you are having algea on sand bed look for other water / tank/ flow/ issues and that will cure for good. id wouldnt touch it if everything in your tank is fine just keep leaving it alone. does it look clean?

Mikro · 01/21/2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefD
if it is not deep then syphon it but you will remove all the desirable critters but with a shwllow sand beed you will not be disturbing much of the beneficial bacteria . never do it personally...my sand bed is onlt about an inch . what are you trying to remove? algea not a solution just a short term solution algea will grow backk the next day. if you are having algea on sand bed look for other water / tank/ flow/ issues and that will cure for good. id wouldnt touch it if everything in your tank is fine just keep leaving it alone. does it look clean?

The sand (arogonite) has a dusting of brown/dark algae which I'm trying to remove. I only see this algae in the front part of the tank and only where the light hits the sand. So like under the rocks the sand is clear. The sand bed is about 2 inches deep.

coralfarmer84 · 01/21/2006, 04:05 AM

Red Serpent,

You hit the nail on the head, the first couple of weeks i thought i was gonna have to get rid of him cuz all he did was sift and cloud my water, the whole tank looked like a sand storm. Mines a monster thou, he's got to be about 5 inches long. He does exactly as you described. Cool fish.

01/20/2006, 04:08 PM	#1
Mikro Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Omaha,NE U.S.A. Posts: 1,093	Siphoning the sand bed? Is it good to siphon the sand bed when doing water changes or is it best left undisturbed? __________________ Mikro Current Tank Info: On 12/18/04 Started 75gal. reef tank

01/20/2006, 05:56 PM	#2
Rock Anemone S.C.U.B.A. :) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California Posts: 7,674	You never want to siphon the sandbed, that is if you're using it for filtration purposes and not just for looks (such as a 1 inch sandbed etc). You can lightly skim over the surface (holding the siphon about an inch above the sand) and go over any areas with algae etc, but you never want to disturb the sand too much or siphon it. Rock Anemone __________________ Johnny Love Current Tank Info: <><

01/20/2006, 06:09 PM	#3
integlikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 1,381	I have a 2-2.5 inch bed that i clean the top of it when i do water changes. I go almost 1/2 inch down and suck all the crap out. I also have 200lb of live rock tho. When i do a water chaange i like to suck as much crap out as i can. Blow off the rocks and stuff first. Its much better i think then just taking out good clean water off the top of the tank. __________________ I think of one later. Current Tank Info: 28G JBJ Nano for sale

01/20/2006, 07:25 PM	#4
skireef Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: "up the river",NY - North tower Posts: 369	I see no problem with siphonong the surface to remove algae growth...if it exists. You can clean the sand and return it to the tank.....or replace with new sand. Ultimately it really doesn't matter. __________________ I am done with lugging buckets for water changes......http://great-rates.com/reef/autochanger.htm Current Tank Info: 220g,100g,90g,30,2-40frag,20dark,all shared sump(s)-45&55 connected,90office.....I am NOT obsessed!

01/20/2006, 10:09 PM	#6
Red Serpent Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Henderson, Nevada Posts: 96	I will agree whole heartedly with coralfarmer84. My Diamond Goby turned my 2.5" sand bed over in about 2 days. My sand has not looked better. A really cool fish to watch siftting the sand. If you get one be ready to change filter media and suck/blow off rock in tank for adout 3 to4 weeks or untill sand is cleaned up. Also if you go with this fish you can't be picky about sand shape or placement. This fish will stack and move the sand to its prefrences. Be careful Diamonds will dig under rock work and topple them if they are set on the sand and not on the bottem of tank. __________________ Some times you have to pick up the pieces of someone elses failures to make some thing GREATER. Current Tank Info: 55 gal Reef Tank, 75lbs Live Rock, 50 lbs Sand, 15 gal DiY Refugium/Sump, Killer hang on overflow by Hurricanefilters, Lighting with Ordit 4x65watt power compacts

01/20/2006, 07:42 PM	#5
coralfarmer84 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,267	All you have to do is get yourself a Diamond Goby. I have one and he i don't think there is a single grain of sand he hasn't sifted, he really does a great job of making the sandbed look clean.

01/20/2006, 10:26 PM	#7
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	if it is not deep then syphon it but you will remove all the desirable critters but with a shwllow sand beed you will not be disturbing much of the beneficial bacteria . never do it personally...my sand bed is onlt about an inch . what are you trying to remove? algea not a solution just a short term solution algea will grow backk the next day. if you are having algea on sand bed look for other water / tank/ flow/ issues and that will cure for good. id wouldnt touch it if everything in your tank is fine just keep leaving it alone. does it look clean? __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

01/21/2006, 04:05 AM	#9
coralfarmer84 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,267	Red Serpent, You hit the nail on the head, the first couple of weeks i thought i was gonna have to get rid of him cuz all he did was sift and cloud my water, the whole tank looked like a sand storm. Mines a monster thou, he's got to be about 5 inches long. He does exactly as you described. Cool fish.