Sand removal?

Aquattro · #1 08-04-2011, 01:26 AM

After running my tank for 7 months, it's become obvious that the sugar sand isn't going to stop clouding the water any time soon. I'm thinking of replacing it with a courser sand.
I'd like to remove it all in one go, so looking for ideas on filtering the water as I vacuum the sand out, so that it can feed back into the DT. Trying not to drain the whole tank

phi delt reefer · #2 08-04-2011, 01:43 AM

ugh Brad i am in the same boat but my tank is only 40 gallons so i have just been mixing 5 gallons of water at a time and trying to siphon as much as i can, then just replacing the water. I tried running it through filter floss and having the water empty back into the sump but the sugar sand still has fine enough particles to get through.

I'm thinking the only way is to get a kiddies sand play shovel and remove it a scoop at a time.

fyi - go with the carib sea floor special grade... its bigger than the sugar sand but still "sifter" safe.

Aquattro · #3 08-04-2011, 01:45 AM

Ya, floss isn't likely to work

A huge diatom filter maybe, or a sand filter from a pool might do it -lol. No way I can remove it with a shovel, the rock work is too intricate. I might have to remove a bit at a time during water changes...

That is the sand I'll probably use.

MMAX · #4 08-04-2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phi delt reefer

ugh Brad i am in the same boat but my tank is only 40 gallons so i have just been mixing 5 gallons of water at a time and trying to siphon as much as i can, then just replacing the water. I tried running it through filter floss and having the water empty back into the sump but the sugar sand still has fine enough particles to get through.

I'm thinking the only way is to get a kiddies sand play shovel and remove it a scoop at a time.

fyi - go with the carib sea floor special grade... its bigger than the sugar sand but still "sifter" safe.

Exactly what I did with mine. My daughter didn't seem to mind me using her shovel. Just took a long damn time and I didn't get all of it either.

The Grizz · #5 08-04-2011, 03:07 AM

I use a large fish net to wash my sand but there is some sand loss, maybe something like pantyhose?

BlueTang<3 · #6 08-04-2011, 03:13 AM

I have used a cheap large pump with a hose on the intake and a filter sock on the outlet. Suck up the sand/ water with the pump and the filter sock attached to the outlet will catch the sand. It has been my most effective attempt to remove the sand.

phi delt reefer · #7 08-04-2011, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTang<3

I have used a cheap large pump with a hose on the intake and a filter sock on the outlet. Suck up the sand/ water with the pump and the filter sock attached to the outlet will catch the sand. It has been my most effective attempt to remove the sand.

what micron rating was the sock? I find the sugar sand has a lot of "dust" that gets through and into everything and anything

BlueTang<3 · #8 08-04-2011, 03:37 AM

I think 100 they were useless for the tank as the would clog in hrs. It defiantly was not ideal but i got the sand from my frag tank.

Aquattro · #9 08-04-2011, 04:14 AM

Problem with the sock idea is that I'd have to empty it every 15 seconds, which means stopping the siphon and managing the sock with 1 hand

If I could find a really large one?? hmmm

lastlight · #10 08-04-2011, 05:05 AM

When I've removed sand before as part of a water change it siphons out with zero mess. I'd suggest not doing it all at once. You can suck a ton of sand out if you're doing a 40% change.