Should I clean all my substrate?

[alyrchd]

I clean the top of my substrate every two weeks or so, but I never really messed with the bottom part since I read it can be detrimental.

It was getting bother by always having to clean algae off the top of substrate (it doesn’t appear everywhere, just some areas), and decided to put a lantern to it looks like the bottom part has accumulated a lot of dirt.

How should I clean it?

I thought about siphoning deeper into the substrate and then doing a water change right after to prevent a nutrient spike, but I’m not sure if it’s the best way.

Any recommendations l?

 

[stE25wy14]

NO
u will stir the substrate releasing unwanted gases, ammonia and more unwanted things, stay with the top

 

[Fish Fan]

I think @stE25wy14 is right here. If your tank has been running for some time and has accumulated detritus in the sand bed, there is a chance that disturbing the sand bed may release toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.

Your substrate looks to be on the large side for substrate particle size, if that makes sense. This means that excess food or fish poo may drop into the substrate and become trapped there.

Maybe add some sand sifters to help break that up slowly and safely.

Good luck!

 

[stE25wy14]

I think @stE25wy14 is right here.

There’s a first for everything!

 

[Fish Fan]

There’s a first for everything!

Dude, you understimate yourself! You have great replies, I've learned from you, and I don't consider myself an expert at ANYTHING LOL!

 

[TX_REEF]

as said above, NO!

If you must, don't deep clean more than 10% at a time, or you're asking for trouble.

 

[stE25wy14]

Dude, you understimate yourself! You have great replies, I've learned from you, and I don't consider myself an expert at ANYTHING LOL!

Awww thanks a lot man! Means a lot!
When do I start teaching?

 

[Fish Fan]

Awww thanks a lot man! Means a lot!
When do I start teaching?

When you graduate highschool and get that advanced degree in Science that I know you're after ;-)

 

[stE25wy14]

Well what u could do, if u are up for the mighty risk
Is break all down, scrub scrub scrub
Siphon sand, wash, a full clean, like u are restarting the tank, I did that last week on my tank, and I did not regret it
Keep in mind it’s a 10gal too

 

[slingfox]

If you haven’t deep siphoned your sand ever then you would only want to do small areas gradually every week during water changes. That way you can make your way around if that is the goal.

I have a 0.75” - 1 inch sandbed and siphon almost all of it every week as part of a 14% water change. I have no issues since the sand bed is not very deep and is stirred up often. I also have 4 conches, a few nassarius snails, and a sand sifting goby constantly working on the sand. I also have two wrasses who bury themselves in the sand every night and three 2 inch pithos crabs who sleep in the sand during the day then wake up at night to go on CUC duty.