Cleaning the sand bed around my aqua scape

[Guiids]

Hello fellow reefers,

Does anyone have any recommendations on how best to clean the sand bed around my rocks? I have a 55 gallon tank that is relatively narrow with a rock formation that runs the length with lanes that run the front and back of the scape. The bottom heavy rocks are glued together but the top most are just stacked and interlocked (See pic)

My problem is I'm using the python gravel vac to pull water and try and hit the sand but the vac is pretty large diameter and I keep knocking a rock or two off and I'm worried about it crushing a fish. Other issue is I can't really get under any arches or hit certain build up spots

I guess the obvious answer is to get a smaller diameter vacuum but I'm worried that will take forever to do my 50% water changes, they already take about 20 minutes.

Any tips?

Thank you in advance!

 

[lapin]

If your good at getting siphon started without inhaling a bunch of tank water you could use flex tubing with a 45* fitting to get those hard to reach places

 

[Guiids]

That's not a bad idea. I have one of those squeeze ball siphon starters in line, I wonder if I could just take the python part off and just using the tubing with maybe a zip tied stick so I don't have to reach my arm down to the bottom of the tank. Although I'd lose the python length which is significant so I'll have to check if I can still get the other end out the window to my disposal patch haha. Thanks for the idea

 

[lapin]

I use a drive way marker taped to the hose. 5x5x3 ft tank

 

[BryanM]

When I vacuumed sand I just did the best I could to get to the odd places, but I didn't worry all that much about missing spots. There's places in my tank that are impossible to get to the sand.

 

[lapin]

Me too

 

[Guiids]

Yeah, I would agree but in my case the python is so large and rigid there's large spots with significant buildup I really don't think should be left. And the more concerning part for me is I pretty much always knock 1 or two rocks down and I don't want to crush a fish

 

[BryanM]

Yeah, I would agree but in my case the python is so large and rigid there's large spots with significant buildup I really don't think should be left. And the more concerning part for me is I pretty much always knock 1 or two rocks down and I don't want to crush a fish

Not sure if this is possible, but you might try adjusting flow, or adding another wave maker to help get less buildup.

 

[Guiids]

Yep. Can't see in the pic but I have 2 power heads, I'm going to move them down lower so they're flowing across the sand bed to kick stuff up into the column so my sump can get it.

 

[BZOFIQ]

That black sand is generally no good - it has metallic particles.

 

[Baylott224]

The smaller aqueon one has big flow rate. The tubing and hole were the water goes in are bigger.

 

[Baylott224]

I switched over to that from a big python it only added like 5 minutes to. My wc time.

 

[Guiids]

That black sand is generally no good - it has metallic particles.

Really? Even the carrib sea live sand in black? That's what it is.. I tested copper I'm at 0. Ive been running this tank 2 years with little issues, although recently my hermit population wiped but I thought that was due not enough water changes. Fish have been fine.

 

[Guiids]

That black sand is generally no good - it has metallic particles.

You are probably right now that I think of it my cleaner magnet grabs the substrate so it's magnetic... Is that harmful? Why would carrib sea sell it if it is... Insane now I need to do a bed refresh?

 

[BZOFIQ]

You are probably right now that I think of it my cleaner magnet grabs the substrate so it's magnetic... Is that harmful? Why would carrib sea sell it if it is... Insane now I need to do a bed refresh?

Perhaps it's ok in freshwater applications.

My friend had to replace all in his 180G tank.

 

[Guiids]

Nope mine is saltwater... Concern is what rust?

 

[Baylott224]

If it's the carrib sea Hawaiian black one then l. My whole lfs has it in all there tanks it doesn't seem to cause a problem.

 

[Baylott224]

It should say argonite Hawaiian black live Sand

 

[Guiids]

It should say argonite Hawaiian black live Sand

That sounds extremely familiar I'm pretty sure that's what I have. I remember doing the research a few years ago.

 

[Waters]

I just use a small freshwater aquascaping tool and stir the substrate up around the rock....then vac the rest of the tank. They do sell small detail siphons though if that hasn't already been mentioned.