Vacuuming - Part Deux

[Aquattro]

Ok, so according to the highly controversial poll on vacuuming sand, we have almost 2 to 1 in favour of it.

So question - How is it done in your tank? Siphon? In tank vacuum? Spatula?

[Leah]

...I like dirty, can I play too?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Leah

...I like dirty, can I play too?

I'm not sure I can reply to that within the bounds of good taste

[Reef Pilot]

When I did vacuum, I just siphoned with a regular wider bottom vacuum head. But like I said in the other thread (the one that only likes opinions worth publishing), my goby does the job for me now.

[MarkoD]

Under gravel filter ftw!

[Magickiwi]

I have about a 3" DSB and would be interested in learning a method of vacuuming the sand that doesn't result in all the sand being siphoned out of the tank. I've had a couple golden head gobies that do a wonderful job of sifting the top couple centimeters of sand but one took a trip out of the tank and the other wound up as lunch for my carpet nem. Every time I stir or disturb the sandbed my phosphates go through the roof.

[Leah]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I'm not sure I can reply to that within the bounds of good taste

No idea what you mean by this, however. I am actually doing the dirty thing right now.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Leah

I am actually doing the dirty thing right now.

Without pics, didn't happen.

[Aquattro]

Ok, back on track. What was I talking about? Oh ya. Sand. Wayne uses an Eheim vacuum, apparently works well. Since I can't remove sand, I may try this.
I'll leave a bed of sugar sand in the back for the wrasse, but so far really happy with the special grade. It's still where I left it last night.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Ok, so according to the highly controversial poll on vacuuming sand, we have almost 2 to 1 in favour of it.

So question - How is it done in your tank? Siphon? In tank vacuum? Spatula?

I use a gravel vacuum and vacuum all the sand to its full depth on all waterchanges. The sand is only 1/2" deep.

If your sand is more than 1/2" deep and you do not regularly vacuum it you do risk exposing black anaerobic areas and releasing hydrogen sulphide. So if you haven't vacuumed, but you want to, you have to start slowly by only going through the top 1/2" of the sand, and continually going a bit deeper on each waterchange. I've had tanks with up to 6" sand beds that I vacuumed to their full depth, but it was done regularly and no anaerobic areas were allowed to form.