How to clean sand

[Toxic Fish 9999]

OK well i am geting a 125 and i want a nice sand bottom but i dont know how to clean it? So how do you guys clean yoursnad bottom tanks?
Thanks

 

[joedodge]

fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/4 to 1/2 up with sand and use a garden hose and run water through it while stiring it around. do this until water coming out of the bucket is clean and not cloudy. it can take a while but make sure you get it clean.

 

[Toxic Fish 9999]

fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/4 to 1/2 up with sand and use a garden hose and run water through it while stiring it around. do this until water coming out of the bucket is clean and not cloudy. it can take a while but make sure you get it clean.

OK thanks i will try that Thanks
More ideas every one

 

[OscarRobinson]

Thats the best way to do it. Tip the bucket on its side a little bit.

 

[koop171]

fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/4 to 1/2 up with sand and use a garden hose and run water through it while stiring it around. do this until water coming out of the bucket is clean and not cloudy. it can take a while but make sure you get it clean.

Agreed this takes a lot more time then if you were cleaning gravel too. also if you're cleaning colored sand (black, red) it takes more time. and you'll never get it 100% clean. your filter will have to do the fine cleaning for you.

 

[CTU2fan]

It helps to start with pool filter sand or something, rather than play sand. Otherwise agreed with everybody, bucket and hose is the way to go.

 

[Z Rex]

Bucket and hose. Even then though, like they said above, you will still have to let your filter clean up some.

 

[Acura_RSX]

It helps to start with pool filter sand or something, rather than play sand. Otherwise agreed with everybody, bucket and hose is the way to go.

x2 .. been using pool filter sand for 7 months now and worked great. looks better imo also. and i cleaned it the same way as everyone else .. except used a smaller bucket so it took more time.