Gravel vacuuming sand substrate

[Willy’sreeftank101]

Hello, I have a sand bed substrate that I can’t seem to keep clean. I have a gravel vaccum but I can only use it when I’m doing a water change. Is there a more effective way to keep it clean and method of cleaning it? Thank you

 

[fishface NJ]

 

[Pistondog]

I have one of these

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It needs to be mostly submerged to work.
I don't use it much because it might just redistribute the stuff you're trying to pick up. The water exits thru holes that trap larger particles.

 

[Bellasmith]

I also have the same problems as yours. Pls help me!

 

[slojim]

I almost never clean my sand. It usually looks fine. I don't know what your bioload is like, but a diverse clean-up crew and decent flow is usually more appropriate for a marine sandbed in a reef tank. When I had fish only tanks, then siphoning was more routine. And weekly to every other week for the FW tanks.
If you want to use a gravel vac without a water change, run the drain end back to a sock hanging in the sump and vacuum to your heart's content.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I almost never clean my sand. It usually looks fine. I don't know what your bioload is like, but a diverse clean-up crew and decent flow is usually more appropriate for a marine sandbed in a reef tank. When I had fish only tanks, then siphoning was more routine. And weekly to every other week for the FW tanks.
If you want to use a gravel vac without a water change, run the drain end back to a sock hanging in the sump and vacuum to your heart's content.

+1 on leaving the sand alone. If anything I lightly blow the top layer around with a turkey baster occasionally just so the corals can have some detritus