Cleaning Sand?

Keiths_Reefs · 11/02/2006, 03:15 PM

I was just wondering how those with sandbeds typically clean them/clean stuff off of them. Cleanup crews don't do too well in my tank and even with them you still get some detrius buildup. My question is, how do you clean it up without siphoning off the sand itself?

deepblueat2814 · 11/02/2006, 03:35 PM

I don't clean mine at all. Just leave it to the clean up crew

jjmatti · 11/02/2006, 03:39 PM

I have tried "raking" the top portion of the sand while doing a water change. It usually kicks some detrius up that can be sucked out with a hose or gravel cleaner.. I only do 1/3 of the tank each time so not to disturb the tank too much..

AquaReeferMan · 11/02/2006, 04:19 PM

I dont need to clean mine either. I have enough flow and enough nass snails to keep everything cleared up.

blusporttrac · 11/02/2006, 04:38 PM

diamond head goby will give you white sand in 24 hours of sticking him in your tank. Make sure its a diamond head!

RudyCDX1 · 11/02/2006, 04:41 PM

Flow and turn-over are the key. Alternating flow vs. laminate flow will really help. Get the detritus in the water column where it can be drawn away by your normal filtration. Sandbed creatures will also help preserve the health of the below the surface sand bed.

RudyCDX1 · 11/02/2006, 04:42 PM

More info on the Diamond Head Goby please!!!

tprize · 11/02/2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blusporttrac
diamond head goby will give you white sand in 24 hours of sticking him in your tank. Make sure its a diamond head!

Well it depends, I have one in my 29 gallon and it goes in cycles, one day he is lazy and I see a build up the next it's clean so it's an on off kinda thing.

pony_killer · 11/02/2006, 05:26 PM

I JUST PURCHASHED A DIAMOND GOBY TODAY...BUT WHEN I PUT HIM IN MY TANK I GUESS HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS SO HE JUST HID BUT THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE I WENT TO WORK.

11/02/2006, 03:15 PM	#1
Keiths_Reefs Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Winnebago, IL Posts: 396	Cleaning Sand? I was just wondering how those with sandbeds typically clean them/clean stuff off of them. Cleanup crews don't do too well in my tank and even with them you still get some detrius buildup. My question is, how do you clean it up without siphoning off the sand itself?

11/02/2006, 04:19 PM	#4
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I dont need to clean mine either. I have enough flow and enough nass snails to keep everything cleared up. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

11/02/2006, 04:41 PM	#6
RudyCDX1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oakton, VA Posts: 61	Flow and turn-over are the key. Alternating flow vs. laminate flow will really help. Get the detritus in the water column where it can be drawn away by your normal filtration. Sandbed creatures will also help preserve the health of the below the surface sand bed. __________________ Rudy Current Tank Info: 156gal Reef, ASM-G4x Skimmer, Oceans Motions 4Way, Barracuda Pump, MRC Ca Reactor, Kangaroo Doser

11/02/2006, 04:42 PM	#7
RudyCDX1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oakton, VA Posts: 61	More info on the Diamond Head Goby please!!! __________________ Rudy Current Tank Info: 156gal Reef, ASM-G4x Skimmer, Oceans Motions 4Way, Barracuda Pump, MRC Ca Reactor, Kangaroo Doser

11/02/2006, 03:35 PM	#2
deepblueat2814 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago, IL Posts: 52	I don't clean mine at all. Just leave it to the clean up crew

11/02/2006, 03:39 PM	#3
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	I have tried "raking" the top portion of the sand while doing a water change. It usually kicks some detrius up that can be sucked out with a hose or gravel cleaner.. I only do 1/3 of the tank each time so not to disturb the tank too much..

11/02/2006, 04:38 PM	#5
blusporttrac Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 104	diamond head goby will give you white sand in 24 hours of sticking him in your tank. Make sure its a diamond head!

11/02/2006, 05:26 PM	#9
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	I JUST PURCHASHED A DIAMOND GOBY TODAY...BUT WHEN I PUT HIM IN MY TANK I GUESS HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS SO HE JUST HID BUT THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE I WENT TO WORK.