View Full Version : Siphoning sand?
DownwardDawg
06/05/2011, 07:42 AM
Explain this to me. I've been in the hobby 3 years but never siphoned my sand. I do have a DSB so I never planned on it. I use a 1/2 hose to siphon out water during WC's but if I put this close to the bed it would suck my entire sand bed out!! What are people using? Airline hoses?
Lynnmw1208
06/05/2011, 08:23 AM
I use the python water change system. it has a valve to control the flow so I don't suck up my sand.
greech
06/05/2011, 09:07 AM
The Python or similar siphons with large hard plastic siphon tubes attached to smaller diameter vinyl tubing. If yours doesn't have a valve you can just crimp the vinyl tubing as needed.
steelhead77
06/05/2011, 09:20 AM
Why put the hose so deep? Just put it deep enough in the tank to suck water. There is no need to go down to the bottom. I use a 5/8 hose and rarely go deeper than 6 or 8 inches from the top. It doesn't matter where in the tank the water comes from.
DownwardDawg
06/05/2011, 09:46 AM
Why put the hose so deep? Just put it deep enough in the tank to suck water. There is no need to go down to the bottom. I use a 5/8 hose and rarely go deeper than 6 or 8 inches from the top. It doesn't matter where in the tank the water comes from.
That's why I asked about siphoning sand. Not changing water. I stick my hose in the tank just deep enough to siphon water. I'm trying to learn about siphoning the sandbed and rocks like a lot of people do.
steelhead77
06/05/2011, 09:56 AM
Ah. My bad. I thought you DIDN'T want to siphon your DSB. You should not siphon your DSB. Leave it alone. Get a sand sifting goby and/or some nassarius snails and leave it alone. You can stir up some nasty stuff if you go disturbing it too much.
Toddrtrex
06/05/2011, 10:09 AM
I "gravel vac" the sandbeds in all of my tanks, been doing it that way for 15+ years. HOWEVER, I have always had shallow sandbeds -- 2 inches or less overall. I would never do (( nor suggest )) gravel vacuuming a deep sandbed.
aleonn
06/05/2011, 12:34 PM
I recommend not touching the DSB at all. Lots of toxic gases and stuff reside in the DSB that would harm livestock. I like the sand-sifting goby (Diamond watchman or Golden head sleeper), nassarius snails, cerith snails, or fighting conchs to sift, clean, and oxygenate the sand.
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