Sand vacuuming

[maugustine]

I have used a service provider to do my big water chasing changes.. I am doing more of my own tank maintenance little at a time as I learn..
questions:
Best vacuum for sand?
So many online .. many with bad reviews.

What is the best thing to clean red.. chunky algae that’s forming for some reason in my sand?

my tank is a little over a year old.. seems like it could need more sand.. when do you know if u need more sand?
If I do need more sand.. what’s the best way to add it?
Thanks so much in advance for any help.. I tried searching the forums for answers ..

 

[landlubber]

research cyano bacteria and vacuum your sand when you do your water changes.
i've heard you can add sand all at once but i'd probably do it in stages after it was thoroughly rinsed.

 

[Lasse]

Maybe not the best sand cleaning device -. but cheap and it does the job. Cut off the bottom of a 1.5 L pet bottle. Attach a tube to the opening in the top. Start a siphon down to the drain and bump the open bottom of the bottle in the sand.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[rob taft]

For normal sand vacuuming I found the Python to be just fine. If the algae is heavy I found it easier to just direct the hose (without the large Python vacuum attached) over the offending area and suck it up. You will suck up some sand as well but you can replace the sand. I made something similar to what Lasse describes above but I made it with a forward leading edge i.e. like a spatula. I used this when I had a huge GHA outbreak on the back walls of the tank. No longer have the algae so its in my AQ tool drawer.

As far as adding sand, the method I describe may be more work than you want. I thoroughly rinse the sand in tap water. I don't see any benefit to rinsing it in RODI water. I use a strainer over a 5 gallon bucket. I then take the filtered sand and let it dry. I let it dry because then it is easy to take my 24" Python tube and a funnel and just direct the sand where I want it without any dust blowing around. Being dry the sand flows easily through the funnel and Python. Another method is to take a aquarium safe cup, fill it with sand, stick your hand in the tank and pour it out just above where you want it. Turn off your flow pumps while doing the above. YMMV