Nicholaa

Okay - the title says it all!!

I have a 10G All-Purpose tank that I currently have filled with white sand (unfortunately that's all the LFS had at the time). The reason it's pure sand is because it is serving as a sometimes maternity, sometimes fry tank for Cichlids and Cichlids love their sand. If it was up to me, I'd have the cheesy colorful gravel that my 10G Community tank has.

Anyways, I have a "resting Auratus" in there that I'll be moving back to the main tank next weekend, but I wanted to do a water change on the tank this weekend (as I always try to do my 20-25% weekly water changes). This is the first time I've actually done it on this tank since I set it up because before I added her, the Molly and Danio that were in the tank did not make noticeable poo waste. This Auratus however does. There are strands of black poo all over my white sand and I am about ready to have a heart attack!

I have 3 different vacuums (only tried the small and medium - large is waaaaaay too big) and NEITHER of the two picked up the poo at all. It suctioned out the water just fine and was even suctioning up some of the sand no matter how hard I tried to not have that happen, but would it pick up the poo? Nooooo.

Is the vacuum not strong enough? I use the small one in my 10G Community and vacuum through all the decorative gravel, shaking the vacuum to let the gravel fall back down, but it sucks up all the visible poo and any bits of remaining food particles. BUT - it won't work in the sand substrate. The sand is the only thing I can think would be causing the vacuum to not be strong enough.

Do I need to remove the sand much to my Cichlids' chagrin and just put down gravel to keep my sanity? I dunno what else to do at this point...

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55G: All Male Mbuna Tank:
1 Labeotropheus trewavasae (Mpanga) - 3 Labidochromis caeruleus - 1 Labidochromis sp. "Hongi" - 1 Metriaclima fainzilberi Lundu "Flag Top" - 1 Pseudotropheus sp. "Perspicax Orange Cap" Ndumbi - 1 Metriaclima callainos (Cobalt Blue) - 1 Metriaclima estherae (Red) - 1 Metriaclima gresshakei - 1 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli) - 1 Labidochromis flavigulis - 1 Cynotilapia sp. "Mbweca" - 1 Pseudotropheus saulosi - 1 Pseudotropheus sp. "Elongatus Usisya" - 1 Metriaclima hajamaylandi Cobwe "Lilac" - 1 Cynotilapia sp. "Lion's Cove"

BJP

I can't see the grain size of your sand but I use the Estes brand (which does come in colors that can be mixed) and the grain size is small enough that I can scoop the area with a coarse/quick fish net. Gently sift and lift. The sand falls through the holes in the net, whatever I wanted out stays in (assuming it's larger than the holes).

Another trick is to add a piece of plastic quilting into the gravel vacuum. It's great for raking and stirring and can be trimmed to just the right length beyond the end of the vacuum to allow you to pick up what you want but not pick up the sand. Picture below.

Tommy Gun

I do, or did, the same thing as BJP points out with the net idea, however my sand is/was a bit larger granules so I picked up a slotted shovel type device from my LFS which would let me pick up things other than the sand.

I also use a python, hooked to my kitchen sink, for doing water changes and sand cleaning. I simply use the faucet to dictate the strength of the siphon action on the business end of the python and while I do suck up a lot of sand, it never makes it out of the vaccum and into the tubing which goes to the sink. I do end up with a minute trace of sand in the sink...which I use to sharpen my garbage disposal blades...but it is very very minimal and not really a problem. Of course, over time those small amounts will add up and I would have to add more sand to the tank. I also can see how BJP's idea would further help reduce the sand which makes it to the sink.

a little fishy

Nicholla, I have sand and love it ,dirt stays on top so its just a matter of skimming of the top surface. I use a small tubing like the one you would use for a airator, use as a cyfon its small and will take you some time but has plenty of suction,and you can control how much sand you pick up.