Best way to clean sand?

[MissMaddylyn]

So I wanted to do my first water change for my rams, but I also wanted to clean it up a bit. The sand didn't look dirty really, but I swear I had cobwebs on my plants! The flake food I tried for my fish just all collected on my sponge filter and stuck to these "cobwebs".

I used a siphon hose and it just made the whole tank a huge cloudy, icky looking mess and more importantly, my fish are pissed

So I used a lil water clarifier to settle the debris, but for next time, I'd like to do it "right".

Any tips?

 

[fmland]

You might want to just skim the top layer off and replace with fresh sand. Thats what i've resorted to in the past.

 

[boldtogether]

The best way I have ever found is to get an old window screen and put the sand, a portion at a time, onto the screen and gently wash the crud, along with fine particulates, through the mesh. be sure to elevate the screen so it isnt resting on the ground, defeating the purpose. This works great as long as the grains are bigger than the screen mesh. The other way is to put a portion into a bucket and run a hose down into the sand. Make sure to regulate the water flow as not to wash the sand up and out. Keep the water stirring the sand until it overflows the bucket and runs clear. I have heard of people using pantyhose for really fine sand. Put the sand in the pantyhose and tie it off. Then just work the sand in the "bag" under running water until the water runs clear. Careful not to break the "bag" or there will be sand everywhere.
All these take time and are a little tedious but well worth the effort as you will be left with very clean sand.
Have fun.

To clean sand already in the tank, a Python is really the best bet. I hat them as they waste water but unless you have a sump and can make a siphon that dumps the water from the tank, through a filter, back into the sump, a python is really your only option.

Keep in mind, the cloudy stuff you are stirring is very likely benificial bacteria and it isnt recommended to try and siphon clean more than 25-30% of the sand bed at a time. You could upset the balance of your little ecco system.

 

[Slippery K]

I asked this question myself a couple weeks ago. I plan on useing pfs in my next tank and someone mentioned useing a pillow case to rinse the sand out. Seemed like a really good idea. You'll probably ruin the pillow case though lol

 

[LeMAy]

i just skim the top of the sand, keeping the end of the siphon about 1/4 inch off the surface of the sand. all the waste and junk just sits on the top of the sand, which is why i like it better that gravel. i can usually get up all of the junk while keeping the water clear. you end up sucking up a small amount of sand but its not noticeable until you do it several times, at which time you can put down a little fresh sand.