I've been thinking about switching to sand instead of the gravel that I now have as I like the look of sand. This is going to sound kinda dumb, but how does one vacumm the tank with sand there? Or do you just not vacumm at all?
Sand and cleaning question
- Thread starter ColemanFish
- Start date
I vaccum once a week on the top and pick up the decor to get under every 2 weeks. The way to vaccum is take the siphon nozzle off the hose and suck on the end on the hose to get the suction going and keep the other end off the sand bed about 1/2 inch and everything will get sucked but not the sand. I mean the first time you will suck up sand but once you get the hang of it you won't suck any up anymore. Also be sure to flip the sand once every 2 weeks or so. By this I mean scoop up sand in your hand and just kinda flop it around so all the sand gets turned. This prevent gas build up in the sand which has the potential to kill your fish. You won't really have to do this if you have fish that will dig and move your sand as they will release all the bad stuff on a regular basis.
lol... I don't get why people suck on the freaking hose... put the entire hose in the tank get ALL the air out of it, PLUG one end with your thumb (Put the bottom of your thumb, where the finger print is over one of the holes on the end of the hose) and take it out, put that in the bucket, release it and there you go.... it empties, no sucking on a filthy hose.
Rakie;1067511; said:
i agree .... i have two sand tanks and altho the syponing is a bit of a pain at least you can actually see all the poop on top of the sand ..... i also have a syphon that doesn't suck up the sand...it is a sort of valve on it and only sucks up the poop with little sand......no idea how it works.
Rakie;1067511; said:
There is an easier way. Scoop up some water in your gravel cleaner and then hold it up to let water flow down. Before it totally empties, stick it back under water again and the initial draining water will suck the air through creating the siphon you want. Its an easy thing to learn and much faster than putting all your hose underwater.
Thanks for the advice!
As far as the vacuum thing, mine hooks up to my sink in the kitchen and my faucet does all the water changing work.
As far as the vacuum thing, mine hooks up to my sink in the kitchen and my faucet does all the water changing work.
My sand is large grained enough to vaccum with a large diameter gravel vac.If it rises too far up the vac I pinch the hose and let it settle
