sand bed cleaning

Not sure which forum to post this on. But i was wondering which is the best way to clean my sand. I'm doing regular weekly water changes, but currently have no way of cleaning the debris on the bottom of my tank without syphoning it all up.

 

There is a tool to let you siphon the sand and it falls back out before it goes up the tube. its a must have.

 

lots and lots of nassarius snails will help
they sift your and and clean all the left overs at the bottom

 

reeferbob..........what tool?

 

Gravel vaccum.

 

Sand is too light to use conventional gravel cleaning tools on. A gravel vaccum will suck out the sand with the detritus. Get yourself some sand sifting snails and some hermit crabs and let them do your dirty work.

 

I use one and it works good for me. I use it at an angle and the sand spins and falls out.

 

Yes I was wondering this too. I have been not cleaning my sand with my 'vacuum' thing ever since I almost tipped out a tiny brittle starfish down the drain!!!!!!! Now I just do lil bits when it gets bad hehehe

 

With the right cleanup crew you shouldn't have to worry about cleaning your sand much. Nassarius and cerith snails, and assorted crabs should keep your sand clean. A sand sifting star or goby would also help. You want to leave your sandbed untouched as much as possible.

 

If you use a vacuum on sand you need the really long tubed vaccum. .. then the sand can be controlled easier so It won't go up. My two spot goby was a great sand sifter but he died. My yellowhead sifts sand like crazy but he drops sand all over the corals. I would love to trade him for another two spot goby.
I also have a horseshoe crab that shows up about once a month .. he's awesome.