Best way to clean sand?

[kingtoad]

My sand is dirty... it has a light shade of algae over the top of it, plus some other stuff. What would be the best way to clean this? I like my sand looking clean.

 

[dchao]

Siphon the very top layer away and replace with new sand on top. You should do that every 6 month, as the top layer of the sand is used up by reactions with acids. This is how some of the trace elements are replenished in the water.

 

[sequential]

replace with new sand on top

1) How do you replace the top level of sand without creating a huge mess, especially considering obstacles like inverts, clean up critters, LR, and such? My first guess is to remove everything, lay down the sand, let settle, rebuild, but that seems quite disruptive.

2) How much sand is being replaced? 1/4"? 1"?

3) What kind of sand should be added for live sand? More live sand or is some inert sand okay to add on top?

(Hope these are helpful questions and not seen as disruptive.)

 

[DaveAngie79]

i have seen sand sifter kits to make it easier

 

[kingtoad]

Interested to know as well.

 

[DaveAngie79]

they are almost like a vacum

 

[sequential]

Something like this?

 

[dchao]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6707461#post6707461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sequential
1) How do you replace the top level of sand without creating a huge mess, especially considering obstacles like inverts, clean up critters, LR, and such? My first guess is to remove everything, lay down the sand, let settle, rebuild, but that seems quite disruptive.

2) How much sand is being replaced? 1/4"? 1"?

3) What kind of sand should be added for live sand? More live sand or is some inert sand okay to add on top?

(Hope these are helpful questions and not seen as disruptive.)

1) I put a 1" tubing inside the tank with the end just above the sand, pour new sand inside the tube so it slides down the tube without creating any sand storm.

2) about 1/8" - 1/4", I siphon out the rubbles too, so the new sand will look smooth and white, just like a new sand bed. With plenty of trace element for your corals too.

3) Dead sand is find. Don't forget everything inside your tank is live, and you have more live sand than dead new replacement sand.

 

[sequential]

dchao, you're so totally my new hero if this works. Thanks! I'll let you know in five months when my new sand needs its first change.

 

[kingtoad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6707554#post6707554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sequential

Something like this?

Would this work with live sand?

Looks like it cyphons the water too.