To vaccum or not to vaccum, that is the question.

Discussion in 'Sand' started by Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009.

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  1. Strickland_673

    Strickland_673 Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2008
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    sry title is a little corny,

    I was wondering how many people actually use one of those vaccum things when cleaning and actually suck down in the sand bed? I heard that stirring the sand bed is a bad thing?!?! What does your cleaning include when you do water changes??
     
    Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009
    Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009
    #1

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  2. unclejed

    unclejed Whip-Lash Squid

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    My advice is; 40 gal. and smaller...vacuum, larger than 40 gal. don't vacuum. If you do......keep the siphon larger end completely embedded in the sand until you see no cloudiness in the tube before lifting to go to another location to minimize nitrate release into the display.
     
    unclejed, Mar 28, 2009
    unclejed, Mar 28, 2009
    #2
  3. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

    Joined:
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    Miami, FL

    I vaccum my sand every time I do a WC. I have tested my water before and after I vaccum the sand and I have found no evidence that vaccuming the sand bed causes a No3 spike. I think people just regurgitate what they hear so the myth continues to grow. I know in my case, if I dont vaccum the sand bed, it gets real nasty and red slime follows. If you really want to know if it causes a No3 spike, test your water before and after you vaccum the sand bed, make up your own conclusion. Just my two cents. Luna
     
    lunatik_69, Mar 28, 2009
    lunatik_69, Mar 28, 2009
    #3
  4. Strickland_673

    Strickland_673 Fire Shrimp

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    Dec 8, 2008
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    Thanks people. I have a 55 FOWLR so i'll try the test before and after.

    does anybody else have any points? or cleaning tehniques??
     
    Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009
    Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009
    #4
  5. Stingray

    Stingray Blue Ringed Angel

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    Location:
    West Midlands,UK
    No vacuum for me, just a chalk goby...
     
    Stingray, Mar 28, 2009
    Stingray, Mar 28, 2009
    #5
  6. Strickland_673

    Strickland_673 Fire Shrimp

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    I Have a yellow wrasse that loves to dig, will this be enough for my 55g?
     
    Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009
    Strickland_673, Mar 28, 2009
    #6

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  7. GuitarMan89

    GuitarMan89 Giant Squid

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    Location:
    Wilmington, DE
    I siphon off the detritus and such when I do a water change. I also stir it a little to make it look nice.
     
    GuitarMan89, Mar 28, 2009
    GuitarMan89, Mar 28, 2009
    #7
  8. Aqualung

    Aqualung Stylophora

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    Oct 30, 2008
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    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Actually good title btw.. I have a 16 gallon, and I don't vacuum.. I rely on nass snails and sand sifting stars.. to clean my gravel. I use crushed coral and not sand.. not sure if this makes a difference.
     
    Aqualung, Mar 28, 2009
    Aqualung, Mar 28, 2009
    #8
  9. ZachB

    ZachB Giant Squid

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    I don't mess with my sand, it's about 2-3 inches all throughout the tank. I now have a sand sifting goby that does a good job keeping the surface of the sand stirred up and he makes piles and rearranges it constantly. I also have quite a few nassarius snails that help too.
     
    ZachB, Mar 28, 2009
    ZachB, Mar 28, 2009
    #9
  10. m_hsiao

    m_hsiao Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    466
    nassarius nails are key, if large ones, get 1 per 2-3 gallons, if small ones, get 1 per 1-1.5 gallons it will keep your sandbed mainly free of detrius
     
    m_hsiao, Mar 28, 2009
    m_hsiao, Mar 28, 2009
    #10
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