Sand Woes

[Zoe]

Hello,

I have an 8 gallon tank with sand substrate, and I've been having some trouble keeping the sand surface clean. With gravel I normally get right in there with the syphon but with sand I cannot as it will get sucked up. I stir up the sand frequently to keep gas from accumulating, and to inhibit algae growth in the surface, but ya know, it's never sparkly clean

Is there any way I can keep the sand clean without actually removing some from the surface, cleaning it and putting it back in? I'd really rather not do that every week

Thanks

[fish_doc]

You could use a 5 gallon bucket and syphon the water close to the sand.
Then let the water and sand settle in the bucket.
Dump the water and put the sand back in the tank.
That way you recycle the sand while changing the water.
Being a 8 gallon tank a 5 gallon bucket would be more than big enough.

It would still create that sandstorm but at least you would not have to be replacing the sand constantly.

[Zoe]

Thanks, that's a good idea.

It's awesome sand and it doesn't cloud and settles quick so that's a good idea. I did not like the idea of 'washing' away all those friendly bacteria