vacuming the sand?

boogers · 02/08/2009, 09:10 AM

Is it good to vacumn the sand or not? My sand is dirty and my sand sifters don't do anything! I want to add some sand but I figured I would need to get all the crap off and out of the existing sand. Is that right or no?
Thanks
Sandra

shuguley · 02/08/2009, 10:10 AM

I've vaccuumed mine a few times in the 7+ months my tank has been setup, but I'm very careful just to get the very top layer and not go too deep. You don't want to release a bunch of bad junk into your system by digging around in your sand.

Also be careful, because one time I tried cleaning a brown part of my sand that was kind of hard and crusty, the next day I had a diatom explosion, so maybe it wasn't such a good idea.

fasteddie99 · 02/08/2009, 10:20 AM

I am in the same boat you are. I have a 2" sandbed and apparently 2" is not a good thing. I can either add more sand and go through another cycle to get my DSB, or I could remove it all and go with bare bottom. I prefer the look of having sand so bare bottom is out of the question for me.
I didnt know any better when I set up my tank about the benefits of having a DSB so I just bought just enough sand for aesthics, which was just enough to cover the bottom with about 2".
Now I have a problem with detritis build up on the sand and it will turn brown on the top practicaly over night. I try to keep up with it by stirring the top layer around to get the detritis suspended in the water. Plus I just purchased 10 more large nassarius snails to add to the 6 I already have. They do a good job of drudging through the sandbed and help keep it oxygenated.
I'm gonna see if the addition of these snail makes a difference in my sand turning brown, if not, my next step is to start vacuuming. Hopefuly this helps a little.

Eddie

iamwrasseman · 02/08/2009, 10:54 AM

i extensivly clean my sand right to the bottom every 2 weeks .my sand is two inches deep and deeper in areas and i really vaccume the heck out of it will no ill effects .i have many wrasses so i want the sand they burrow in to be clean . never a problem with "bad junk" i am always welcome by my fish to make thier home cleaner!

02/08/2009, 09:10 AM	#1
boogers Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 140	vacuming the sand? Is it good to vacumn the sand or not? My sand is dirty and my sand sifters don't do anything! I want to add some sand but I figured I would need to get all the crap off and out of the existing sand. Is that right or no? Thanks Sandra

02/08/2009, 10:10 AM	#2
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	I've vaccuumed mine a few times in the 7+ months my tank has been setup, but I'm very careful just to get the very top layer and not go too deep. You don't want to release a bunch of bad junk into your system by digging around in your sand. Also be careful, because one time I tried cleaning a brown part of my sand that was kind of hard and crusty, the next day I had a diatom explosion, so maybe it wasn't such a good idea. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

02/08/2009, 10:54 AM	#4
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	i extensivly clean my sand right to the bottom every 2 weeks .my sand is two inches deep and deeper in areas and i really vaccume the heck out of it will no ill effects .i have many wrasses so i want the sand they burrow in to be clean . never a problem with "bad junk" i am always welcome by my fish to make thier home cleaner! __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

02/08/2009, 10:20 AM	#3
fasteddie99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,028	I am in the same boat you are. I have a 2" sandbed and apparently 2" is not a good thing. I can either add more sand and go through another cycle to get my DSB, or I could remove it all and go with bare bottom. I prefer the look of having sand so bare bottom is out of the question for me. I didnt know any better when I set up my tank about the benefits of having a DSB so I just bought just enough sand for aesthics, which was just enough to cover the bottom with about 2". Now I have a problem with detritis build up on the sand and it will turn brown on the top practicaly over night. I try to keep up with it by stirring the top layer around to get the detritis suspended in the water. Plus I just purchased 10 more large nassarius snails to add to the 6 I already have. They do a good job of drudging through the sandbed and help keep it oxygenated. I'm gonna see if the addition of these snail makes a difference in my sand turning brown, if not, my next step is to start vacuuming. Hopefuly this helps a little. Eddie