To vacuum or not?

[saltkreep88]

Just wanted to see if you guys vacuum your sand with your water changes? I normally do not, and I vacuumed a small section today and black sludge came out. My sand bed is 1 1/2 inches deep.

 

[myrjon]

i had read your better to leave alone .

 

[Rwc]

Is it a crushed coral sand bed or fine powder. Personally I vacuum mine maybe one third of the time but I've got 5 jawfish in the tank as well as a diamond goby so my sandbed get turned over quit well by them. I would a agile if you didn't stir it up every once in a while all that detritus would create methane and other problems over time

 

[saltkreep88]

It is sand, but not super fine like oolite.

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[Rwc]

That's what I had in my last tank and hated it always dealing with cyano and diatom outbreaks. switched to a coarser live sand. Do u use gfo maybe black gook is iron building up in the bed as I've read long term use of gfo will build up. From my experience with the fine stuck in the past vacuum the hell out of it and get a crap load of nasarrius snails

 

[saltkreep88]

It wasn't sludge, just black/brown sediment. I definitely have to add more cuc

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[mnat]

It is good habit to vacuum, just don't do it all at once and do intrigue before a water change. Over time that stuff builds up and can present greater issues.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I disturb a section of my sandbed a section at a time ... never had black gunk ...but I have oolite sand about 4 in deep.

 

[saltkreep88]

Thanks for the input guys. I will clean a section at a time.

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[dan_k]

I disturb a section of my sandbed a section at a time ... never had black gunk ...but I have oolite sand about 4 in deep.

Not to hijack here but how do you like the oolite sand every tank I have had it's been crushed coral my 180 I'm setting up has about 3-4 sand bed of oolite any regrets

 

[horseplay]

my diamond spotted goby clean the sandbed for me. sure there is a minor sandstorm sometimes bu it getting better an i know my sandbed is clean.

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[mnat]

I would be careful with crushed coral, it traps a ton of gunk and it much harder to clean.