View Full Version : Vacume the Bottom Sand Or Not?
rob28
03/31/2013, 09:10 AM
Should i be vacuming the bottom sand every time i change water or am i sucking up lots for goodies and dumping them out.?
Thanks
Vinny Kreyling
03/31/2013, 10:02 AM
IF you have any phosphate problems the sand will have approx. double the water column.
Mine did when I checked. So I vacuumed.
Phishguy
03/31/2013, 10:15 AM
disturbing sand beds can let off bad stuff.. although, I think an exception is constant movement so there's nothing building up to be released into the water column
rob28
03/31/2013, 10:38 AM
Phosphates are good.I just gave it a quick vacume.Lots of debris sucked up.
small alien
03/31/2013, 11:23 AM
Either do it all the time or never.
sporto0
03/31/2013, 12:57 PM
I vote never, especially in a coral reef tank, get some Nassarius snails to sift through the sand.
agruetz
03/31/2013, 01:01 PM
I vote never, especially in a coral reef tank, get some Nassarius snails to sift through the sand.
+1 on this idea, I am lazy. A hand full of these guys + a tiger conch take care of my sand bed.
SpartaReef
03/31/2013, 01:05 PM
Good info
Megatrev62
03/31/2013, 01:06 PM
I vacuum and have a shallow sand bed. The water is black.
rob28
03/31/2013, 02:04 PM
thanks guys.I have a tiger conch and i'll get a few snails.
Get some nassarius snails: three per 50 gall. They'll do a better job without crashing your tank.
If you're seeing a colored blush on your sand, it's either diatoms (baby poo brown) or cyano (red to dark red). Totally different issue. See treatment of either.
Osteoclast
03/31/2013, 05:29 PM
I vacuum weekly with H2O changes. Run a SSB. Key component in reducing detritus in my opinion. I run a massive skimmer and I believe sand bed maintence is a critical component of my husbandry. You will be offered varying opinions however. Read, review, and critically think through the options as you design your system. Best of luck.
kegogut
03/31/2013, 05:56 PM
If you get a diamond head goby,youll never have to worry about it. Ive never really thought the nasa snails did a good enough job for me but after getting the goby it looks amazing. The water column was dirty for about a week but it stays clean now as he does his job quite well.
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