Freshwater filter that cleans sand substrate?

[RichardCichlid]

Hi everyone,

I was just curious as to how people cleaned the waste from the sand substrate, and the sand substrate itself in the huge 1000+ gallon tanks.

Surely that wouldn't be vacuumed or siphoned out in such a huge scale.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[jeremoose]

Strategically placed powerheads make the world go round.

 

[RichardCichlid]

Ahhhh interesting, but wouldn't that just push the sand into piles in certain locations?

 

[DIDYSIS]

Lots of flow and big fish stir the sand very well. But really the key to keeping sand clean is lots of flow. The fish usually will stir the sand a little and move it around as they wish. Sometimes piles happen but that is life.

Sent from the Monster Fish Keeping App

 

[burbon44s]

I stir my sand every other day with a net.
Then back flush the filter once a week

Sent from my DROID4 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[RichardCichlid]

So if you have an overflow, would you have to angle the powerheads upwards, otherwise what's to stop it from settling back down? Although you still need some at angle downwards enough to stir it up to begin with. Sounds like a lot of powerheads and $$$ to me.