freshwater tanks with sand

[hckycoz]

How do you clean the detrius out of a tank with sand as a substrate?

[flamingo]

You can actually use a gravel vac depending on the type of sand you have. Start the suction on the sand, and if it reaches the top, hold your thumb over the end of the tube. When you do this the suction stops (but siphoning isn't broken) and the sand drops th the bottom, but all the waste floats slower then the sand. You just start it back up and it'll suck it up without taking a chunk out of your sand.

Also, just stir up your sand once a week (do one half one week, and the other half the other week, just switch off).

lol HTH!

[Damon]

Sand usually doesn't get much gunk under or even in it. Just slowly siphon off whats on the top. Adding MTS will help keep the sand stirred also.

[Araxen]

I've always just siphoned off whats on top of the sand. Cory's and other burrowing fish will bury some of it but as long as you stir the sand every once in awhile it won't matter.

[Corydoryoryouse]

You do need to desturb the sand so it does not compact.Trumpet snails do this job 4 u.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by Corydoryoryouse You do need to desturb the sand so it does not compact.Trumpet snails do this job 4 u.

Yes it does compact, you need to use a spoon or something, and go through the sand so it doesent compact, more important if you have burrowing catfish (cories, banjos, etc.)

I have sand in my tank, and love it! and its very easy to siphon off, where no junk gets into the sand, just rests on top.
The only drawback with sand is if you don't keep up on your vacuums, it can get, and look very dirty. but is simply avoided if you siphon once a week

[MaryPa]

I found the Playsand packs down easy but the Sandblasters sand doesn`t pac down. I too use MTS to keep it stirred up so all I do is just skim over the top with the vac to pick up the visible poo. I love sand substrate and so do my bottom dwellers ( yeah they told me they do ).

[Gump]

this question seems to be covered, i do what most others here do. Just skim the top and lungfish and earth eaters take care of the mixing.

[joe kool]

I use the hose pinch method. Just like when washing your car and you want to stop or slow down the water flow so you don't have to turn it on/off every few seconds. I use the caribsea agralive sand made for african's and done show any signs of packing ... even under rocks or structure where the fish can't dig.

a couple of you use MTS ... ??? I think I missed something somewhere