How To Clean Aquarium Sand

One crucial part of maintaining a healthy aquarium is by ensuring the aquarium sand is properly cleaned. Cleaning the aquarium sand helps in mitigating any sort of toxin or bacteria build up inside the aquarium which could be harmful to the aquatic organism within the aquarium. Below is a brief guide on how to effectively clean up the sand in your aquarium.

Why is it important to Clean Aquarium Sand?

The sand in the aquarium serves as bedding as well as aesthetic purpose. It does not only provides habitat for the useful bacteria and other organism within the aquatic environment but also enriches its looks and serves as an anchor for the roots of the water plants. On the long run, the waste from the fish and food debris can gather inside the sand, which can lead to lower quality of oxygen and water. Frequent cleaning of the aquarium sand is crucial to sustaining a healthy aquarium.

Materials and Tools Needed To Clean Aquarium Sand.

It is important to gather the following tools and materials before embarking on cleaning tour aquarium sand.

Siphon Gravel Cleaner or Gravel Vacuum: This tool is vital in eradicating debris and changing water from the tank.

Bucket: This is used in the collection of dirty water during the process of cleaning the aquarium sand.

Aquarium Cleaning Brush: The brush is useful in slackening debris that are found of the surface of the sand.

Net: Vital for getting away bigger debris.

Clean Water: Useful for getting the sand rinsed.

Steps by Step to Cleaning Aquarium Sand

 Step One: Prepare the Aquarium

1. Switch off The Aquarium: Put off any electric gadget connected to the aquarium such as light, filters, heaters etc. to guarantee safety when cleaning the tank.
2. Take Away Decorations: Briefly take away any kind of decorations such as plants, rocks etc. to gain access to the sand without obstruction.

Step Two: Employ The Gravel Cleaner

1. Start the Gravel Cleaner: Put one end of the gravel cleaner inside the tank/aquarium and the other end inside the bucket. Switch on the pump if the gravel cleaner is equip with it to commence water flow.
2. Vacuum the Sand: Gently move the gravel cleaner/siphon over the surface of the sand. Let the vacuum suck up any debris. Be careful not to allow much sand to be sucked up.
3. Clean in Sections: Ensure the sand is cleaned in small sections in order to achieve properly cleaning. This consequently, ensures that much of the beneficial bacteria is not removed.

Step Three: Manual Cleaning

1. Swirl The Sand:  Employ the aquarium cleaning brush to gradually stir the sand inside the aquarium. Doing this assist to untangle any debris that is trapped and further enables the vacuum to efficiently pick up the debris.
2. Take out Bigger Debris: The net can be used to get rid of bigger debris or food particles that are uneaten which could have settled on the surface of the sand.

Step Four: Water Change

1. Observe Water Levels: When cleaning aquarium sand, monitor the aquarium’s water level. Strive to remove only 12%-18% of the water in the tank.
2. Replenish the Tank: Refill the water that is been removed with dechlorinated clean water. Endeavor that the temperature and PH of the refilled water matches that of the aquarium to avoid causing in-equilibrium in the aquatic environment.

Step Five: If Necessary Rinse the Sand

1. Take out the Sand (If Necessary): In the event that the sand is very dirty, it will be necessary to completely take out the sand for a deeper cleaning.
2. Rinse the Sand: Put the removed sand in a large container such as the bucket and use clean water to rinse it. Stir thoroughly the sand, separate the dirty and pour it off. Repeat till you get clear water.
3. Pour Back the Sand: Cautiously pour back the cleaned sand into the tank and spread it uniformly at the bottom of the aquarium.

Step Six: Re-assemble the Aquarium

1. Fix Back All Decorations: Bring back all decorations e.g. plants, stones and rocks to their initial positions.
2. Switch on Equipment: Power on the electrical gadget in the aquarium.

Steady cleaning of the sand in the aquarium is vital for sustaining not only healthy but also a visually attractive aquatic environment. Adhering to the above listed steps will ensure the sand in your aquarium remains clean and free from any bacteria growth.