how often to vacuum sand bed?

[reefnoob616]

Just wondering how often I should vacuum sand? Every water change or longer?

 

[mike007]

I do about a inch deep every water change.

 

[Mike J.]

My five year old tank has never had it's four inch (variable) sand bed vacuumed and it looks clean to me. In fact, I try not to disturb the sand bed in any of my tanks. My 120 had a red slime algae problem at one time and I lightly siphoned it off the top.

 

[Mike J.]

I do about a inch deep every water change.

Aren't you afraid that you're sucking up all your good critters that keep the sand clean, like spaghetti worms, and lots of other worms. Also I have live clams in there and babies of all sorts. Just lots of stuff that I don't want to suck up.

 

[Rikerbear]

I clean half my sand bed every WC (2 inch deep).....I rarely suck up actual sand just the dust, detritus, and 'stuff'.
I am not worried about losing beneficial critters since I am not sucking up the sand, just the stuff that can be stirred up and light enough to float up the tube/vacuum.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I've never touched my sand bed.