How often do you disturb your sand?

[Azedenkae]

For those who keep a sandbed, how often do you disturb it for whatever reason - whether you want to or not?

If you end up disturbing more parts of it than others, feel free to explain in a reply. Also, yes you can also select multiple answers - if you disturb the sand at different rates depending on the tank, location, age, etc.

 

[Dkmoo]

I rarely do, but thats bc I got a lot of worms that do it + fishes that kick up a dust storm every once a while.

That said, I do change water every 1 to 2 months and if I see too much detritus accumulating in any dead spots I would deep syphon an area.

 

[Uncle99]

As least as possible, I want my micro-fauna in the sand not floating in the water column or down the drain.

That being said, over months, detritus can build up so about twice per year, i vacumn 25% of the sand lightly every two weeks till I’ve done all of it.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I do when I move stuff around. I don't bother it much intentionality bc I have some sand stirrers in the tank.

 

[andrecr]

I have a vallenciannea that keeps the sand moving everyday

 

[Brady4000]

rarely
I bought special grade sand, the thick stuff that can get algae growth on it. So I got a tiger conch. The snail dose all the work for me.

 

[FBAA]

As little as possible. There are tons of worms and pods growing in it. I have 1" of fine aragonite and I covered the entire bottom with decorative snail shells to give my pods a place to reproduce before they get picked clean by the fish.

 

[ca1ore]

I rarely touch the sand, but have a bunch of sand burying wrasses that disturb it every night.

 

[SamMule]

I vacuum my sand every week when I change my water.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Pistol shrimp and YWG do the sifting between the two structures. I vacuum out a bit every 6 months or so.

 

[highest_tides]

I rarely touch it because of my wrasse and goby. If I do it's with a water changed and a light vacuum.

 

[Billdogg]

I clean about 1/3 - 1/2 of the sandbed at every water change (every 4-6 weeks) using a python siphon. I always have. It allows the creatures who live there to flourish without letting gunk build up.

When I used a DSB (6-8") in the refugium for my eel's tank I left it be, but when I tore than tank down after the eel died at age 25, that sand was NASTY!

 

[Sharkbait19]

I avoid disturbing the sandbed as it gets the water really dirty if I do. My sandbed used to get really filthy until I got a tiger pistol shrimp, and now he stirs it every night keeping the detritus from settling. My nassarius snails also do a pretty good job of cleaning things.

 

[Mydoghasfleas]

I do daily, but my sand bed is very thin. It doesn’t even really cover the entire bottom because the flow pushes it off the glass lol. But almost everyday I disturb at least a small portion of the sand to kick up detritus.

 

[Duffer]

at water changes which is ever other week , i use a turkey baster and blow on the sand bed, than vacuum during water change

 

[Andy D]

For those who keep a sandbed, how often do you disturb it for whatever reason - whether you want to or not?

If you end up disturbing more parts of it than others, feel free to explain in a reply. Also, yes you can also select multiple answers - if you disturb the sand at different rates depending on the tank, location, age, etc.

I have 4 gobys and a few stars that are constantly turning my sandbed over, little and often is what im getting I guess haha

 

[Azedenkae]

Thanks everyone for the responses! Sounds like most of everyone has different live stock that sifts through the sand, but looks like when one vacuums the sand (or if at all) varies quite a bit. Very interest. ^_^

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

I vacuum 100% of sand every week into a filter sock in my sump.... keeps it clean and looking pretty!

 

[Charlie C]

Rarely but I have a large fighting conch plus a few fish that keep it moving around.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

I keep deeper beds >4" and rely on sand sifting starfish and conchs to turn it over for me. I also have an LTA that likes to leave craters when it decides to move.