Vacuming Deep Sand Bed

[180+55reef]

Hi
I have 300 gallons of water and a large display tank
we moved the tank and sand about 9 years ago, the sand is about 5-6 inches deep

I was wondering what the down (or up) side was to vacuming deeply the sand bed. I would do say 10 % once a week. I vacummed some today and smelled like low tide

comments/thoughts are appreciated

thanks!

 

[Floowid]

One tip, if you do decide to vacuum an established sand bed, is to do the job in small increments. You say 10% a week, sounds good, don't do more than that on a big tank. Also, when you push the vacuum into the sand, do not remove it or even back off until you see the water running clear up the syphon tube. If you suck up a little sand, that is far better than pulling the vacuum out while it is still running brown and dirty and releasing that into your tank. Do you plan on reducing the sand depth after you have vacuumed? Or are you doing this to prevent the crash people talk about with deep sand beds? I guess I am just curious why you are interested in vacuuming the sand after 9 years.

 

[pimp4cheddar]

If you start sucking the sand...you're going to kick up some nasty toxins.

If your interested in just cleaning the sand...I'd recommend you stir the top layer with your hands. Once you start going deep...you might as well suck it all out like Floowid said. Don't start sucking and then stop...releasing all the nasty stuff that's been in the sand bed into your tank.

It's either you vacuum the top layer...or vacuum it all.

If you're going to remove the sand...I'd suggest you remove a lot of your water...and then put it back in after you remove the sand.

 

[180+55reef]

hi thanks guys

well I figured it would be good to get some of that built up junk out............I must admit the stuff I took out smelled. I have cyno too so I figured removing 9 years of junk might help


I do have a large system which is another reason I thought this would be ok..........

I have heard about people disrupting their sand and there system crashing, but I imagine u would have to do this with all ur sand

fwiw I moved my system 9 years ago and it was set up 5+ years before that

when I transfered the system (9 yo) I dont recall loossing anything, even though the whole thing was disrupted in the move................