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Old 01-25-2013, 07:58 PM
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Default Vacuuming Sandbed

Do you do it ?
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29 Gal Bowfront w/24" LED Lights. DIY HOB Sump (5.4 Gal) MP40. Orange Spotted Watchman Goby, 2 Clownfish and a few hermits.
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Old 01-25-2013, 08:01 PM
tim the toolman tim the toolman is offline
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Nope. I let my army of snails and hermits do it for me.
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Old 01-25-2013, 08:46 PM
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Hey Mark, how goes it?

I vacumn mine
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Setup: 180G DT, 105G Refuge (approx. 300lbs LR, 150lbs Aragonite)
Hardware: Super Reef Octopus SSS-3000, Tunze ATO, Mag 18 return, 2x MP40W, 2X Koralia 4's Wavemaker
Lighting: 5ft Hamilton Belize Sun (2x250W MH, 2X80W T5HO)
Type of Aquarium: mixed reef (SPS & LPS) with fish
Dosing: Mg, Ca, Alk
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Old 01-25-2013, 09:58 PM
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It goes well enough !

I've been hearing a lot of people say they vacuum their sand lately. This came as a bit of a surprise since I'd imagine the the standard gravel siphon would suck sand right out of the tank with the water...

Do you just suck a little off the top or right to the bottom and what do you use to do it ? Has it made any difference to the overall health of the tank ?
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29 Gal Bowfront w/24" LED Lights. DIY HOB Sump (5.4 Gal) MP40. Orange Spotted Watchman Goby, 2 Clownfish and a few hermits.
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Old 01-25-2013, 10:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DiverDude View Post
It goes well enough !

I've been hearing a lot of people say they vacuum their sand lately. This came as a bit of a surprise since I'd imagine the the standard gravel siphon would suck sand right out of the tank with the water...

Do you just suck a little off the top or right to the bottom and what do you use to do it ? Has it made any difference to the overall health of the tank ?
I have a hose clamp that restricts flow, and I will bend the hose slightly while vacumning to slow down things further if needed.

I hold the valumn at a 45 degree angle, I find it cyclones the sand in the tube better, cleaning better, while not sucking out too much sand. You will always suck a bit out.

You should see how dirty the water taken out is, very black... over time with weekly cleaning, the water removed becomes tan in color.
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Setup: 180G DT, 105G Refuge (approx. 300lbs LR, 150lbs Aragonite)
Hardware: Super Reef Octopus SSS-3000, Tunze ATO, Mag 18 return, 2x MP40W, 2X Koralia 4's Wavemaker
Lighting: 5ft Hamilton Belize Sun (2x250W MH, 2X80W T5HO)
Type of Aquarium: mixed reef (SPS & LPS) with fish
Dosing: Mg, Ca, Alk
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  #6  
Old 01-25-2013, 10:24 PM
csnow csnow is offline
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I vacuum about 1/4 of my bed with each water change. I installed a PVC valve in my gravel vacuum hose and I can use the valve to keep the flow at the right amount to get the black junk but no sand.

I have always done this so no experience with whether it actually makes a difference. I get a lot of gross looking stuff out though so it must do something.
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Old 01-25-2013, 09:56 PM
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Mine gets stirred around enough that it doesn't get much of a buildup

Between a 1" sandbed, 3 sifter gobies, a dragon wrasse, unknown number of starfish and snails, 2600gph of return 5 korilias, and an mp40 my constantly changing sand bed stays pretty clean

Dragon wrass is a pita tho, keeps moving ALL my frags into the one corner of the tank

Time for some glue
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