Does anyone siphon their rock work or sandbed regularly?

[teebone110]

Just curious if anyone siphons their rock work or sand bed during regular water changes? I know some guys just blast things around with a turkey baster and let the detritus go into the water column.

I used to run a bare bottom system and it was easy to vacuum the crud out of my display, but now with a sanded, its a little more difficult.

 

[yveterinarian]

I siphon a percentage (probably 20%) of the sand each time so that I don't disturb the whole sandbed.  I also only do a surface suction, not deep as this could disturb too much and throw the water chemistry off.  I also have a lot of Snails to dig into the sandbed and keep it viable.

 

[Hayes]

Maxi jet once a week or so. Blow the rock work off and create a wicked sandstorm by stirring up the sand bed, add Coral Snow and let the skimmer and filter socks do the rest.
If there was a way to vacuum the sand without losing 100% of it up the tube I would be up for it but with sugar fine sand this is impossible in my experience

Dwayne

 

[yveterinarian]

If there was a way to vacuum the sand without losing 100% of it up the tube I would be up for it but with sugar fine sand this is impossible in my experience

Dwayne

I agree.  Mine isn't sugar sand or I know I would lose it too.

 

[davesolo29]

get a bigger clean up crew.

 

[teebone110]

Maxi jet once a week or so. Blow the rock work off and create a wicked sandstorm by stirring up the sand bed, add Coral Snow and let the skimmer and filter socks do the rest.
If there was a way to vacuum the sand without losing 100% of it up the tube I would be up for it but with sugar fine sand this is impossible in my experience

Dwayne

Great idea! I am noticing the crud that settles on my rocks later turns into nasty algae if I dont deal with it regularly. I'm going to try this. Been using Coral Snow for a while, not sold that it is doing anything. I have read various testimonials, but if you and Darryl are using it, there is probably something to it!

 

[teebone110]

I siphon a percentage (probably 20%) of the sand each time so that I don't disturb the whole sandbed.  I also only do a surface suction, not deep as this could disturb too much and throw the water chemistry off.  I also have a lot of Snails to dig into the sandbed and keep it viable.

More snails would do the trick too.

 

[teebone110]

get a bigger clean up crew.

Maybe more and not bigger

 

[Salty Cracker]

I vacuum the substrate top layer every other water change, but the rocks are bare-bone clean.  There is a billion of the tiny snails in my tank, maybe they do a good job on the rock.  I rinse the sucked-up sand in super-hot water about 20 times, let it completely dry out, then rinse it in RO/DI water before putting it back in the tank.  I find there is an encrusting algae that will start to bond the substrate together after a while if you don't keep it stirred around a bit. 

 

[BIGSHOW]

Once every 4-6 months a vacuum what I can get at ...I have a coarser substrate so I don't have issues with sucking up sand.

 

[Royal Aquariums]

I Blow my rock off once a week with a turkey baster, as well as stir up the sand  bed with it.

 

[jones02]

I have yet to have a snail that will keep the sand clean, so I got a dimond goby works great other then sometimes likes to burry frags

 

[Darryl_V]

I'm a believer is not letting things settle too long on the rocks and stirring up or syphoning the sand if its a shallow sand bed or a the top layer of sand if its a dsb. 

 

[Victoss]

Love my diamond goby but man how he hates my frags    Keeps the sand clean though

 

[spyd]

I use a turkey baster once a week to blast the rock. I also siphon the sand bed once a month as best as I can.

 

[dale]

i used to use a turkey baster for the rocks and stir up the gravel,,..,, no need any more,., ive  never vacuumed though, there is lots of little critters and worms n stuff in there and i just thought it was better to leave them in.,,.,??