I have never had good luck with sand...or with keeping it clean.
Are you talking sugar grain? I wont go smaller than a 1. I just wont. Ever again. Sand was my worst nightmare, going into filters, going all over the rocks and the corals...not being able to clean, trapping gasses/crap...being covered in algae...
So now I siphon my gravel once a week...like I recommend pretty much everyone to.