So I have always just used gravel substrate in the past and when I siphoned my tank I just plunged the siphon down in the substrate to clean it but in my new tank I have a sand substrate. It’s a freshwater tank and my question is when I siphon my sand substrate do I just go over the top of it to get the waste or do I actually plunge the siphon down in the sand? I’m just have trouble with sucking up a bunch of sand when I plunge it down in the substrate!
Very newbie question about sand substrate!
- Thread starter coryuo1986
- Start date
It took me a few time's but now a pro at it ?
If you are using a gravel vac just lift vac tube or crimp the hose when the sand rises about half way up the gravel vac tube. I have PFS and Play Sand in different aquariums. Pool filter sand will be the easiest to vacuum over imo. Play sand is very light and is sucked up quickly by the gravel vac.
One of the more positive aspects of sand for me, (unlike gravel) is that sand doesn't allow debris to fall between, and sink in the cracks as easily as the large interstitial spaces in gravel, debris just sits on the sand surface, is easily seen, and can be quickly sucked out.
So "plunging" deeply in it is not as important, as getting at the junk that sinks deep into gravel substrate.
So for me a light vacuuming of just the sand surface is usually adequate.
I also find if I aim flow right, most debris will collect in a very localized area, and becomes even faster, and easier to vac out.
So "plunging" deeply in it is not as important, as getting at the junk that sinks deep into gravel substrate.
So for me a light vacuuming of just the sand surface is usually adequate.
I also find if I aim flow right, most debris will collect in a very localized area, and becomes even faster, and easier to vac out.
That's going to depend on your water pressure while syphoning. I use pool filter sand, have been for many years, and I manage to suck it up all the time if I'm not careful. Many times I've had to clean it out of the sink my python is connected to...
One of the things (I believe) many people don't like about sand, is that because it allows detritus to sit on its surface, turds and other non-aesthetic stuff is obvious, right there in eye shot.
And to get rid of it, it needs to be siphoned out often, perhaps every 2 or 3 days.
For me this is perfect because I tend do every other day water changes.
And to get rid of it, it needs to be siphoned out often, perhaps every 2 or 3 days.
For me this is perfect because I tend do every other day water changes.
Ime tanks vary for a number of reasons, including stock levels and type of fish, but for the most part my sand stays pretty clean. Usually several months or longer before I siphon and even at that I don't usually get much. But I generally stock and feed moderately (or lightly) and don't have big waste producers for the most part. I do have a couple of plecos, juvenile L14 and L91, that produce a decent amount of wood debris that I siphon out during a water change when I'm in the mood to mess with it.
Agree on siphon pressure, also sand type, determining whether your siphon sucks it up and out of the tank. Ime if you can adjust that you can control it.
In my tanks for whatever reason, combination of tank ecology, stock levels, water current, aqua scape, sand sifting fish-- fish waste on the sand breaks up fast and you don't really see it.
Agree on siphon pressure, also sand type, determining whether your siphon sucks it up and out of the tank. Ime if you can adjust that you can control it.
In my tanks for whatever reason, combination of tank ecology, stock levels, water current, aqua scape, sand sifting fish-- fish waste on the sand breaks up fast and you don't really see it.
That's why I do a gravity siphon to the outside, and when I do have to use the sink attachment, the water line of the tank is higher than the sink, so I can easily just turn off the water faucet and let it drain down the sink without having any pool sand in the sink. Keeping the faucet on to increase water pressure would be a waste of water for me, especially since the water in my area is piped from very far away and the water rates are pretty high.