Do People Vacuum Their Substrate and Why?

[RussC]

I am installing a utility sink just so I can begin using a python siphon system to assist with speeding up my water changes! Which got me thinking about vacuuming my substrate.

For 7 months my water changes involve my sump water only. When I get my python siphon, is there an advantage/benefit to siphoning my substrate?

 

[RobZilla04]

Plenty of opinions right here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2666955&highlight=vacuum

I vacuum mine during water changes. You'll find this split about 50/50 and no difference either way for right/wrong or better/worse.

 

[Ab129]

I try to pick up large unsightly chunks from the sandbed but can't seen to get the knack of doing it without picking up too much sand.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I do just because it keeps the sand looking nice. I do one half per water change so I don't disturb to much

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[AlSimmons]

I don't really vacuum my sand bed, but I will use a small powerhead and stir it up once every month or so right before a water change. It's amazing what can accumulate UNDER those rocks sometimes. Also by not using the vacuum I'm preserving all the micro fauna that lives within the substrate as well. After 10 years so far so good.

 

[mcgyvr]

I do not ever probe down into he sand and never have on any tank..

Of course I haven't done a water change in 8+ months either so its not like I've had the chance to siphon it..

I do however have nassarius snails, sand sifting starfish, large cucumbers, worms,etc.. and various other microfauna that I hope is doing their job keeping the sand bed functional.

 

[Uncle99]

I keep two layers of sand separated with a screen.
Top I vacuum as I like the nice clean look and the bottom stays as is cause I need those for waste processing

 

[j.falk]

When I didn't vacuum I had issues with cyano and black hairlike algae growing on top of the sand...after I started vacuuming during every other water change, I no longer had any issues. It all disappeared and now my tank stays nice and clean looking.

Just remember not to vacuum the entire substrate at one time. I do no more than 25 - 30% at a time.

 

[top shelf]

As mentioned your going to get mixed reviews on this questions and there really is no right or wrong answers. Its more personal preference and on a tank by tank basis. In the last 6 1/2 months I've never vacuumed my sand once I have no algae problems and the sand stays nice and clean with only a snail cuc. However j.falk mentioned if he doesn't then he has cyano and hair algae. If your tank looks good and you don't have any issues then I see no real need to vacuum, if it isn't broke don't fix it. Just my opinion though.

 

[Sk8r]

Only the sump. I rely on sand-sifters like gobies to do their jobs upstairs.

 

[ramseynb]

Do People Vacuum Their Substrate and Why?

I stir up and siphon what I can off the sand. It traps a lot of detritus so I like to siphon it. I don't want s ticking time bomb on my hands. I'll suck a bit of sand out each water change too and just discard it. Once I get low on sand, I'll add a bit more. Basically, I feel like detritus is the worst enemy of a reef tank so I don whatever I can to reduce it.

EDIT: I've had other tanks where I didn't touch the sand bed and it caused problems. Cyano and when I did finally disturb it, it was a phosphate bomb. Detritus was everywhere.

 

[BoisBlancBoy]

I do not ever probe down into he sand and never have on any tank..

Of course I haven't done a water change in 8+ months either so its not like I've had the chance to siphon it..

I do however have nassarius snails, sand sifting starfish, large cucumbers, worms,etc.. and various other microfauna that I hope is doing their job keeping the sand bed functional.

How deep is your sand bed and did you go with a fine or medium grain size? Thanks.