Vacuuming sand wars. Yes or no?

[AlSimmons]

I've been stirring up my SSB once every month for the past ten years or so and everything looks great. (right before a water change) I don't use any GFO or have to rely on things like an ATS or refugium either, so doing the work seems to be paying off in my case.

 

[hanas]

My sand bed is similar, roughly about .375 inches deep and I never vacuum it but do mix it around (turn it over essentially) once a week. The flow picks it up any detritus (you'd be surprised how little accumulates if you keep up with it once a week) and down the overflow it goes. I've done this for years in an SPS tank with no effects at all. If you haven't been doing this from the start, then I would recommend vacuuming it the first time then start mixing it around once a week.

 

[alton]

Not much of a war? I guess there are more important things in life.

 

[Mishri]

I've done both, vacuumed and not vacuumed. had sand stirrers, no sand stirrers. I saw no difference. so.. my vote is don't waste your time/efforts vacuuming. I have never kept a proper deep sand bad though... these are all .5"-2.5" sand beds in my experience. keep sand stirring critters if you want.. or don't bother.. you don't really need anything you don't want to keep/look at... I kind of like having all sorts of snails and crabs and things running about doing their thing... so.. I've ran them in about half my tanks over the years.

all you really need is lighting, good(stable) water parameters, and water movement. sand or no sound? vacuum or no vacuum? critters or no critters? real live rock from the ocean or dry rock? All personal choices.. do whatever you like... I've done it just about every way you can, and it all works.

 

[Bent]

I just like for my sand to be white. Idk if it actually does anything or not.

My refugium has 6” of sand that I’ve never touched.

 

[avery155]

I vacuum the top layer to get any gunk off of it. If I notice a spot that is particularly cruddy I stir it with my finger and suck out the gunk that floats up out of it.

 

[Uncle99]

I use a screen between 2, 3" layers of sand.
This way I keep the top sand clean white and fresh, and the bottom sand with my creatures stays put....best of both worlds...