Cleaning your sand bed.

[MizTanks]

After a year old and having very very little if anything in my tank that stirs up my sand bed. I'm wondering....how would I go about cleaning it up a little without causing a disaster?

[BC United]

If you are going forward with the upgrade, then at the time you transfer contents of your current tank over to the new one, I would recommend ditching your current sand and starting with fresh. If sticking with the current tank, then I would follow chort55's advice and get a couple nassarious snails.

[MizTanks]

Not exactly sure when the upgrade will happen. Or even if it will be....

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[BC United]

I should add this: IMO, messing with the sand bed has the potential to cause serious trouble in the tank. About a year ago my tank had a partial crash. The crash followed an attempt by me to thoroughly vacuum clean the sand bed, which in the process stirred up into the water column lots of dendritus and who knows what else. I attribute the partial crash to suspending this junk in the water column, which probably induced a cycle. Adding narsarrius snails would have been a better approach.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

If anything I would simply just add a nassarious snail or two.... but I thought your about to upgrade soon anyways??

That works. Personally I've had good results with; cerith snails, manual stirring, or partial sand vacuuming (being used in concert or individually).


If you are going forward with the upgrade, then at the time you transfer contents of your current tank over to the new one, I would recommend ditching your current sand and starting with fresh. If sticking with the current tank, then I would follow chort55's advice and get a couple nassarious snails.

You can ditch the old sand if you want, but aragonite is aragonite is aragonite. So, why throw it way just to buy more?

The sand bed in my tank is 10+ years old and has been moved many times. I've always viewed switching out old sand for new as increasing the chances of getting a cycle. Upgrading/moving a tank can be done with little to no cycle if the same sand and rock are transfered. While moving the sand, rinse it in the saltwater being disposed of during the move. It won't get totally cleaned, but removing some fraction of the detritus is the best you can do with this method.

Oh, and if we're voting on this thread... I will cast my vote for you to upgrade!

Tom

[MizTanks]

I'll just go with some larger nass snails for now. Thanks guys. Stay tuned for the upgrade.....

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[jimsflies]

I have two pistol shrimp in my tank. The sandbed is moved around completely every few days. It's also worth pointing out that nassarius snails will take out other sick tank mates...the one I have is always one of the first circling the wagon if something isn't doing well.

[jimsflies]

Yeah I only mention it because nassarius have been tagged as "carnivorous snails" in the past.