How often should you clean substrate?

tomato clown

tomato clown

Member
I got bored this morning and decided to use the vacuum I bought to clean my substrate. I am using aragonite and as i was vacuuming i was pulling out alot of seddiment. Now my tank is cloudy as hell. Should this seddiment be there? and if not how often should I vacuum?
When I got the tank my brother-in-law just said all I had to do was remove some and replace it with new, he also never said anything about rinsing the new aragonite before replacing it.......I was supposed to rinse it wasn't I?
Thanks again,
Dan
 
kris walker

kris walker

Active Member
In my opinion, you should not vacuum your gravel. It contains helpful bacteria that breaks down ammon. and nitrite to less toxic nitrate. This is probably why it is cloudy. At deeper depths, you get into bacteria that break down nitrates. It is better if you use a baster to stir up the detritus on the bottom to (1) let a mechanical filter remove it and (2) to feed your existing corals. Of course, a coral diet should not consist entirely of detritus.
sam
 
tomato clown

tomato clown

Member
Well my clown stirs it up rather well for me, I was just wondering if there is such as thing as too much detrius only because even when the clown stirs it up, the cloud is a deep-dark brown color. I didn't go deep into the sub. just hit the top partion in a few areas like the front of the tank and the corners.
Thanks though I will take that into considderation (the turkey baster idea) I just don't like how it engulfs my LR, coral, and pollops. (makes everything look dirty)
 
jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Active Member
I have a 2" CC substrate, UG filter running 4 powerheads as my only filtration. In the past, I have cleaned my substrate about once every 4 months or so. Recently, I've decided to make it more frequent, about once a month. All my readings are fine, but I need to to a monthly water change to replace some of the minerals that get used up. I figure that if I'm going to be doing a water change, I might as well clean too. I do a quick vacuuming (about 3 minutes... takes about 4 gallons from my 75) just to keep the CC looking good and clean.
I have been told that the bacteria living in the CC (the good bacteria) will not be removed from the CC if you do a fairly quick vacuuming. However, if you leave the syphon in 1 place for an extended period of time (say, more than 5 seconds or so), that's when you could start causing problems.
 
up north hermit

up north hermit

Member
If you have a fine aragonite substrate, the answer to your question is NEVER.
Get the proper clean-up crews and they will turn the substrate for you, you should never have to "vaccuum" it. In fact it is detrimental to the bed.
HTH
Hermit
BTW-- Crushed Coral is a different subject altogether.
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Vacuuming a sand bed is not detrimental if done 1" deep, every week.
Having a brittle star and some scarlet hermits helps too.
Mechanical usually = nitrate factories
BurnNSpy
 
tomato clown

tomato clown

Member
I would love to get a brittle star, but Im lucky right now that my clown trigger hasn't touched my cleaner shrimp and emerald crabs.
Learned my lesson there last brittle I had, the arms started going and I never knew my trigger was the culprit!
I am using "Seaflor" Special grade Aragonite sand. Is this the fine?..looks like tiny bits with dust.
My clean-up crew right now is basically just 2 cl. shrimp, 2 emerald crabs, and eyelash blenny.....do I need a few hermits?
Thanks to all so far
Dan
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Sorry dude, you don't have a cleanup crew there.
A cleanup crew consist of snails, hermits(scarlets are prefered) and brittle stars. Emeralds eat algae but it will hardly impact the algae population, but they are nice to watch.
BurnNSpy
 
up north hermit

up north hermit

Member
Go to any on-line vendor (starting here of course ;) ) and check out the "Clean Up Crew Packages". This will give you an idea of what is considered to be the standard in the hobby for clean up crews.
BTW, I stand by my advice NOT to vacuum the substrate if you have a DSB. Many of the minions of critters are thriving in the top 1" and should never be disturbed. Of course there are millions in the deeper depths as well. And one should note that if cynao or brown diatoms are covering the surface of the sand, they can be removed by vacuuming. However, vacuuming for the sake of just vacuuming, is not recommended. (Dr. Ron Shimek, Aquarium Fish Magazine, March 2001)
HTH
Hermit
 
tomato clown

tomato clown

Member
Ahhhh..... ok thanks guys that was lots of help. I'll invest in some snails and hermits, the brittle stars wouldn't last a day with my trigger.
Dan
 
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