9 replies to this topic

[Kimbo]

If you have really fine sane is there any way to clean the sand or will it get sucked up?

Edited by: Kimbo at: 4/20/04 6:27 pm

[mrgreen]

just put it back into the tank!!!!!

[hlokk]

Theres 2 options.

1. Get a tube and get it syphoning, position it several cm from the surface and swirl the tube around. It should stir up all the detrious but not suck up the sand, then u just syphon the detrious out. It can be a bit tricky but you'll get it after a while.

2. The other option as mentioned by steve. You syphon out the sand with the detrious then clean it but rinsing it in water and letting the detrious float to the top (see here: www.malawicichlidhomepage...sand.html)

A combination of the methods would be good (i.e. use the 1st to get as much waste as you can, then every 2nd waterchange use the 2nd one, or just use both every water change)

Also remember to give the sand bed a churning every couple of months if you dont siphon the sand out everywhere.

[Kimbo]

thanks guys

[mystic]

Hi
Make a air vacuum cleaner, works really good.... easy if you have one of those air bubble sponge filters. All you need to do is tie a "bag" that is made of some sort of fine mesh to where the water would normally flow out of the sponge filter. And then you just have to put the other end over the detritus you want to pick up, what will happen is the bubbles will rise and create a current and bring the detritus into the bag.

Hope this makes sense

Cheers
Alan

[hlokk]

Just checking i'm not confused then, basically, get a tube, bubble air through the bottom so it goes up to the top. This creates an upwards current flow which is then stopped by a fine mesh 'bag' at the top of the tube right? I would assume the detrius would stay at the top?

If thats the idea then it sounds pretty good (like a sand vaccum as opposed to gravel vac ). I should try it when i get sand.

[eX024]

I notice on that site it says not to use crushed coral sand, I use it, should I swap to that river sand or whatever they suggest?

[Mazimbwe]

hmmm....this is going to sound to simple but here goes.

Put a tap into your syphon hose and regulate the flow...just turn the tap off a little ata time till it is not sucking the sand higher than the Vac that you have.

[eX024]

I use a really dodgy method that probably doesn't work and I really should change it, but you can try it anyway

I just suck it up like normal and just before the sand gets to the top of the cannister thingy before it gets into the tube (the point of no return) I pinch the hose with my finger and let it sink back down.I thinkit sucks up the dirt crap faster than the sand so this could work. I have a really soft hose too so its easy to pinch to cut off flow...

its similar to what Mazimbwe said, but I think Mazimbwe's idea sounds better so I might try it.

[mystic]

Hi

Image is attached of my vacuum. Basically its part of an air filter. The air will go down the thin green tube and then up the thick green tube which carries all the debris off the sand and into the bag at the top. You can see the dirt stain in the bag (An aquaclear 300 media bag). I prefer this way over gravel cleaners coz its a pain to empty buckets of water over and over again.

Hope it clears it up



Cheers
Alan

Edited by: mystic at: 4/22/04 7:25 pm