substrate vacuuming

[Evil1]

Do you vacuum your substrate? Yes/No
Why or why not.

 

[Reefer Matt]

When I had sand I did. It was about 2” deep, so not beneficial for denitrification. Lots of detritus would come out.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I would usually do it during water changes. When I had dinos, this was a way for me to get rid of them that were on the sandbed

 

[ThisIsTheWay]

I have never really considered vacuuming my substrate as necessary due to my current inhabitants. Current inhabitants that impact sand are:
- Nassarius Snails
- Dove Nassarius Snails (They are a bit larger)
- Tiger Conch
- Tiger Sea Cucumber
- Randall’s Pistol Shrimp
For reference, my tank is a WB25 AIO Peninsula.

I’m curious though if it would still be good even with all my sand sifters, though I also want to make sure there’s food for my sea cucumber since it effectively eats the sand and consumes the biofilm on it.

 

[Mjsmallz]

I vacuum my sand during every water change, always have. I just run the hose into a small micron sock hanging in the sump. I have nassarius snails, conchs and sand sifting stars. Never had an issue, just feel like the tank is cleaner. I might be crazy but I feel like all of my tangs use the same corner to go to the bathroom, so this really helps.

 

[Waters]

Yep....anytime I do a manual water change.

 

[CKW]

Do you vacuum your substrate? Yes/No
Why or why not.

Nope! Too dang messy

 

[BrianneG]

Yes, I clean my tank at least once a month. However, since my lighting upgrade and an alk crash, I have been battling dinos. I've vacuumed the tank three times in the past two weeks, and I'm finding that this is really helping with the dino problem. Of course, I am still dosing bacteria as well.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

I vacuum every water change. For me it keeps everything looking clean and gives me a chance to get rid of some of the crap that the CUC doesn't handle

 

[atoll]

Nope, I might loosen the sand now and again which stirs up.some detritus but otherwise I leave it be. I have 2 sand sifting star fish and detritus eating snails.
Detritus is food for many animals including many corals.

 

[blkcoral]

What is best way to clean the top layer of sand in a tank without a sump? Most folks say just suction with a tube but I suck up too much sand even when pinching end of tube. Use a filter sock at end of tube before water flows into the bucket and add sand back? Or just suction into bucket, dump out water and add sand back?

I know these questions ignore CUC, bacteria impact, etc.

 

[get-salty]

I believe the idea of vacuuming the sandbed carried over from the freshwater side. I had freshwater, i vacuumed every inch of that sandbed and stirred up everything and anything beneath it and freshwater fish could careless and water parameter... eh who cares, its freshwater : p

On the saltier side, i've nvr vacuumed the sandbed - only scrape around the edges on the front and the sides with razor blade. I am too concern about my water parameter to do so. Stirring up too many things under there and how messy it can get and potentially taking out too many beneficials too quickly.

I hear from some people and i do think it is possible and true that, if you start out vacuuming (from beginning of your tank setup), it is fine from there on.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

What is best way to clean the top layer of sand in a tank without a sump? Most folks say just suction with a tube but I suck up too much sand even when pinching end of tube. Use a filter sock at end of tube before water flows into the bucket and add sand back? Or just suction into bucket, dump out water and add sand back?

I know these questions ignore CUC, bacteria impact, etc.

depending on the size of your tank, I use something like this:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pro-clean-gravel-wash-python.html
It lets you pull water out and the sand usually slowly makes it's way to the top. Once it does, I kink the hose to let the sand fall back down then resume. when I have the amount of water that I want out of the tank I dump it and add clean saltwater

 

[blkcoral]

depending on the size of your tank, I use something like this:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pro-clean-gravel-wash-python.html
It lets you pull water out and the sand usually slowly makes it's way to the top. Once it does, I kink the hose to let the sand fall back down then resume. when I have the amount of water that I want out of the tank I dump it and add clean saltwater

Thanks. I have tried a similar tool from BRS and the same approach. I just can't get it to work that well. Takes me a while to get the syphon started and then I let too much sand in the tube. I was hoping someone had a secret miraculous approach!

 

[Freenow54]

I am afraid to release the Kraken

 

[Freenow54]

Considering a reverse gravel filter in my new tank. The amount of substrate I could vacuum if I wanted to which i don't is very little. Things are good why go looking for trouble

 

[RedReefer]

Yes, I vacuum every week with 20% water changes.

 

[br116]

Do you vacuum your substrate? Yes/No
Why or why not.

yes. even build my own self-contained gadget driven by a powerhead at the bottom of the line where the canister with the element filter is

 

[br116]

Thanks. I have tried a similar tool from BRS and the same approach. I just can't get it to work that well. Takes me a while to get the syphon started and then I let too much sand in the tube. I was hoping someone had a secret miraculous approach!

I'm not sure if it is the way I built mine gadget, but once the canister with the powerhead and filter are in the sump (avoid water level changes), I simply flood the top tube and down the hose until stops. Turn the pump on and start the process with no issues. I even introduce a 1/2" valve to stop the follow and allow me to replace or wash the filter, once done, turn the pump back on and open the valve.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Vacuuming substrate goes in and out of style in the hobby. Looks like it is back in style again.

I used to vacuum my substrate. I still do, but I used to, too.