Clean my sand bed?

[Mussin]

Does anyone on here siphon their sand bed during water changes??  Is this necessary?  My tank has been up for almost 1.5 yrs and I have never touched the sand bed.  Is it due for A cleaning?

[Twizted1]

I have conches that keep the sand pretty clean. So I have never done it. If it hasn't been disturbed in that long, I would be afraid to mess with it.

[Neogenesis]

Agree with what twisted said........if you do decide to clean it, do small sections at a time....that way the bio in your tank has time to deal with it and you don't spike any levels.

[Steve]

When I had the melanurus wrasse I didn't as much because it always kept the sand stirred. In general though I have always cleaned my sand bed, at least areas that I could reach. There are some spots under large rocks that haven't been disturbed in years. I have a cave area that is completely encrusted with sponge about 1/2 inch thick all across the top of sand bed.

[Wall_Tank]

If you have a shallow sand bed, it should be cleaned either with animals or by hand.    If you don't have nitrate issues, then I wouldn't worry about it.   If you decided to start cleaning it, just do a small piece at time.

[Mussin]

My sand bed is probably 2.5" or so..  Not sure whats considered "deep".   What are good snails to keep it cleaned?


Jeremy

[Wall_Tank]

2.5" is not deep enough to get the benefits that come with a DSB.   It is probably just trapping detritus.   Nassarius and conchs are good sand stirrers.   They will likely not be able to keep up.   If your are curious, take a gravel vacuum and poke it down in once or twice, see how much junk you suck up.  If you decide to clean it going forward, just start by doing small sections at a time.

[Amstar]

Diamond goby...... Cleans my sand

[delta1190]

is a dragon goby the same as a diamond goby?

[Travis8896]

Get a sandsifting starfish

[Bucknutz]

Get a sandsifting starfish

This and some Nassarius snails.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_new.tpl&product_id=26&category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=58

[Amstar]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+220&pcatid=220

this is a diamond watchman goby

[volcano]

I always siphon my sand bed.  However, I have read that if you never do it, then it could cause problems.

[volcano]

I also have all kinds of sand dwelling critters, but still siphon.  You would be amazed at how much wasted comes out.  My sand bed is about 4" deep.