cleaning the sand?

tireur · 02/05/2008, 04:00 PM

I have 3 fresh water tanks that I do weekly water changes on and to make it short all I do is use a gravel vaccuum suck a bunch of the waste up and then refill. I just read a thread about UGF (not getting one) and it hit me, wouldn't a vacuum sort of thing just suck up the sand? I'm sure to most people this will be an easy maintenance question. I'm also planning on getting a 2 spot goby probably, don't know if it sifting through the sand will count for much....

papagimp · 02/05/2008, 04:07 PM

You typically don't want to mess with the sandbed at all, but if you are one of those "gotta clean the sand" people, a vac would work...just use it with caution and don't vac the entire sandbed at any one given time. And yes, a gravel vac will remove some of the sand in the process, but very little if you're careful/skillful with it.

tireur · 02/05/2008, 04:12 PM

thanks, I just noticed the other post a little down from mine, don't know how i missed it. My tank is almost done cycling from my point of view and my LFS, and there's a brownish yellow algae growing on tthe top of the rocks and some on the sand, that bad? I'm always bad with remember what algae is what and if any is dangerous. I just started this thread so I figured I'd toss it here instead of loading up the forumn with little questions.

papagimp · 02/05/2008, 04:17 PM

that brown dusting of algae is called Diatoms. It's typical and normal in a new setup. How much total flow is in the tank right now? It's not bad...it's actually good since it's a tad lower on the food chain and can even be beneficial BUT it's highly unsightly and usually an indication of poor water quality/low flow in the tank.

tireur · 02/05/2008, 04:43 PM

right now i have a UV sterilizer that circulates like 130 or so gph, and then a "back pack" filter.

erichatesmice · 02/05/2008, 06:27 PM

I was in the same boat as you not long ago. I opted for the fine (sugar-sized) Caribsea sand. For the first month or two, it looked downright nasty. There was lots of brown growth that would clump together if I messed with it. There was also lots of poo and detritus quite glaring against the white backdrop. What was worse, I couldnt really siphon it out because the sand was so fine it would be sucked up as well. I had good flow (any more and the sand blows everywhere!), a decent sized cleanup crew, used RO/DI water, protein skimmer. I almost got to the point where I wanted to get rid of the sand altogether.

Instead I waited and after 2 months, the sand cleared out on its own. The brown disappeared and the CUC/microfauna was finally doing its job. At nights, I see my sand populated by hermits and ceriths picking the sand clean and turning it over. They all disappear by morning and the sand's MUCH better than before.

My solution is to wait it out. You'll be surprised.

tireur · 02/05/2008, 09:56 PM

Thanks, I'm not realy worried about the look, I just want it to be safe for the soon to be inhabitants. When I have my new pets healthy and happy I'll start to worry about making it pretty.

compulsivebasta · 02/06/2008, 11:59 AM

increasing the flow in my tank made a big difference in how the sand looked. You may want to give that a try

02/05/2008, 04:00 PM	#1
tireur Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 31	cleaning the sand? I have 3 fresh water tanks that I do weekly water changes on and to make it short all I do is use a gravel vaccuum suck a bunch of the waste up and then refill. I just read a thread about UGF (not getting one) and it hit me, wouldn't a vacuum sort of thing just suck up the sand? I'm sure to most people this will be an easy maintenance question. I'm also planning on getting a 2 spot goby probably, don't know if it sifting through the sand will count for much....

02/05/2008, 04:07 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	You typically don't want to mess with the sandbed at all, but if you are one of those "gotta clean the sand" people, a vac would work...just use it with caution and don't vac the entire sandbed at any one given time. And yes, a gravel vac will remove some of the sand in the process, but very little if you're careful/skillful with it. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

02/05/2008, 04:17 PM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	that brown dusting of algae is called Diatoms. It's typical and normal in a new setup. How much total flow is in the tank right now? It's not bad...it's actually good since it's a tad lower on the food chain and can even be beneficial BUT it's highly unsightly and usually an indication of poor water quality/low flow in the tank. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

02/05/2008, 06:27 PM	#6
erichatesmice Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 325	I was in the same boat as you not long ago. I opted for the fine (sugar-sized) Caribsea sand. For the first month or two, it looked downright nasty. There was lots of brown growth that would clump together if I messed with it. There was also lots of poo and detritus quite glaring against the white backdrop. What was worse, I couldnt really siphon it out because the sand was so fine it would be sucked up as well. I had good flow (any more and the sand blows everywhere!), a decent sized cleanup crew, used RO/DI water, protein skimmer. I almost got to the point where I wanted to get rid of the sand altogether. Instead I waited and after 2 months, the sand cleared out on its own. The brown disappeared and the CUC/microfauna was finally doing its job. At nights, I see my sand populated by hermits and ceriths picking the sand clean and turning it over. They all disappear by morning and the sand's MUCH better than before. My solution is to wait it out. You'll be surprised. __________________ mint wuv wubabio!

02/05/2008, 04:12 PM	#3
tireur Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 31	thanks, I just noticed the other post a little down from mine, don't know how i missed it. My tank is almost done cycling from my point of view and my LFS, and there's a brownish yellow algae growing on tthe top of the rocks and some on the sand, that bad? I'm always bad with remember what algae is what and if any is dangerous. I just started this thread so I figured I'd toss it here instead of loading up the forumn with little questions.

02/05/2008, 04:43 PM	#5
tireur Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 31	right now i have a UV sterilizer that circulates like 130 or so gph, and then a "back pack" filter.

02/05/2008, 09:56 PM	#7
tireur Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 31	Thanks, I'm not realy worried about the look, I just want it to be safe for the soon to be inhabitants. When I have my new pets healthy and happy I'll start to worry about making it pretty.

02/06/2008, 11:59 AM	#8
compulsivebasta Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 50	increasing the flow in my tank made a big difference in how the sand looked. You may want to give that a try