How long should you wait to siphon the sandbed

[BryanCaruso]

New tank I only did my first water change after cycle. I did 50% and completely drained sump to get the initial silt from the sandbed out of the sump. I was wondering if like six months is a good time frame to siphon out 1/4 of the sandbed at a time. Or just start doing a little at a time on my regular water changes?

 

[mcgyvr]

Why do you want to siphon out the sand bed?
Its best to not disturb a sand bed.

Not only are you potentially removing beneficial microfauna,etc.. but you are also potentially disturbing anaerobic areas where denitrification is occurring.

 

[BryanCaruso]

Well I have been reading about it and if you don't do it for let's say 2 years then it can be bad. However if you don't let nitrates build up then it can be a good thing. I just bought pods and it is a brand new tank and I don't want to suck the bacteria I have been trying to build out. Just looking for that happy medium you could call it.

 

[thegrun]

If you have a good clean up crew with nassarius snails or a conch you should not need to remove sand from your tank. I do on occasion siphon out small pieces of detritus that settles on top of the sand.

 

[themagicman]

How big is your tank? How deep is the sand bed? Instead of using a siphon you might want to get a small powerhead and stir up your sand bed once every three weeks or so right before a water change. Incorporate some sort of mechanical filter for a few hours or so to polish the water for you and once things clear up go ahead and remove the media. Your Nitrate reading will kind of give you an idea of what's going on with your sand bed. (assuming you don't have a protein skimmer, refuge, ATS etc) Having some of these tools can kind of mask an underlying problem. Don't get me wrong though these things aren't bad, but to get to the root of the problem sometimes you need to start eliminating things just to see if the numbers will hold up.

 

[BlackTip]

since I started the tank 18 months ago, I have been siphoning the sandbed every two weeks during the water change. My sandbed is 1-2". I can't reach the areas in the back. The sandbed in those areas have solidified to standstones.

 

[Sk8r]

I don't siphon, but then I have a fish that moves everything. What fish do you have? Some of them are good at this job.

 

[gabloo]

Diamond goby is ur best friend!

 

[BryanCaruso]

I was planning on getting a watchman. Tank is 65gallon I do have a skimmer and my sand bed isn't very deep. I used the direct ocean so mostly really fine but some shells I put the rock first and then sand I used 40 pounds and I can't even get too some of it because of rock work

 

[surfingdude]

i have been vacuming the front sand bed every three weeks when it looks bad...probably 20% sand bed surface...other areas, I cannot reach anyway.

 

[jmmbones]

Thoughts on no sand bed at all?

 

[EdgeN]

Diamond goby is ur best friend!

I'd have to disagree here. This thing is just going to be pooping in the very same substrate you wish to keep clean. Not to mention the extra food that will be required to feed it. They're also limited by the rockwork and it's amazing what can accumulate UNDER your rocks sometimes. A band-aid more or less IMO. If you want it as a pet though then by all means knock yourself out.

 

[scooter31707]

Thoughts on no sand bed at all?

Many reef keepers have BB tanks, but me personally I do not like them. I have some wrasses that required sand and plus I think it looks like the natural environment.

 

[ca1ore]

My tanks been setup now for 3 1/2 years and no sandbed vacuuming chez Simon. Lots of critters that are fun to watch.

 

[BryanCaruso]

So what are we saying no vacuum and no watchman. Just nassarius snails

 

[ca1ore]

It's debatable. If you decide you want to siphon, then don't bother with any sandbed fauna, and siphon regularly. If you decide you don't want to siphon, then employ sandbed fauna, snails, cuckes and even a goby.

 

[AaaRr]

I don't siphon and keep a DSB 6 inches. I just employ lots of and sifters mainly snails.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[AlSimmons]

So what are we saying no vacuum and no watchman. Just nassarius snails

Nassarius snails are kind of overrated IMO. They will eat any leftover food that they come across, but then again what goes in must come out. (poop)
Also, the speed in which they bury themselves and then reappear is pretty slow too, so don't expect a whole lot of detritus to be kicked up for removal. You would be better off just putting your finger in the sand and shaking it vigorously.