livetowin

Im sure a lot of people ask this question but how do i clean the sand in my tank

Amanda

The same way you would gravel.
You just have to be a little more careful, because you will start to suck up sand along with the garbage you're trying to get out. I just run my gravel vacuum right above the top of the sand. Some sand will get sucked up each time, but not that much.

livetowin

Ok I thought I would have to get a special vaccum

GreenMan13

For cleaning I take off the clear wide tube and just stick the narrow end near the sand. At first you will suck up a bit of sand with it but soon enough you will get the hang of it and it is much quicker to clean then a gravel bottom since more of the junk just sits on the top of the sand.

Je55*e

I had the same question as the OP. Since some sand will get sucked up, is adding more easy? As in, do I have to somehow water condition it before adding it into the tank to replace the sand that was sucked up?

GreenMan13

Adding sand is easy. Just needs to be rinses so that there isn't much dust in it if you stir it up while in water.

To rinse it you just put it in a bowl or something, fill with water.
Mix with your hands and pour off the cloudy water off the top.
Refill with water and mix again.
Continue until it doesn't make the water cloudy after mixing.

To put it in the tank, take the clean sand in the bowl and with the opening up slowly lower it into the tank letting the water fill into the bowl slowly so you don't stir up the sand in the bowl and then lower to the bottom of the tank and pour out the sand onto the bottom of the tank.

This will not need to be done much. I only suck up about maybe a half teaspoon of sand in every 5 gallons of cleaning I suck off the bottom of the tank in my 55 gallon.

Je55*e

^Awesome. Thanks!

livetowin

LOL yea I have been getting better at it

ewolfe315

This is why I got rid of sand. It use to clog up everything from the gravel vac to the filter. Just a waste of my time in my opinion.

fishlover78

I agree with you 100% finer gravel and sand are both hard to keep clean, if I have bigger fish in a tank I'll go for larger smooth stones.

GreenMan13

Probably not washed enough before you put it in cause it hasn't clogged anything of mine. I prefer to clean my sand tank to the gravel ones I have, much easier and quicker once you get the hang of it IMO.

Je55*e

I'll do my best to get the hang of it. The fish I've chosen would be happiest in sand, so that's what I'll give them.

Evan McKay

k i am new to asnd and forgot to rinse it ( i know now big mistake because my watert is very dusty) what can i do to get rid of the dusty water or will it take time with weekly or twice a week water changes

Angela_96

Just use the gravel vac, do a 50 percent waterchange every few days and it should go completly away.

Evan McKay

even with fish already in it its already cycled and has had fish in it for almost 3 weeks should i just do 25 percent and twice a week or is 50 % still good