The Easiest Way to Get Sand Out of an Aquarium

Sometimes aquarists want to change an aquarium from a sandy bottom to some other substrate media such as gravel. However, the sand in a mature tank contains beneficial bacteria that performs an important task: turning dangerous ammonia into less-harmful nitrites and nitrates. Generally, you do not need to change the sand unless for aesthetic purposes.

Things You'll Need

  • Holding tank with aerator
  • Pail or tub
  • Fine-mesh net
  • Siphon
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn off your aquarium's pumps and filters. You may leave aeration devices running for your animals, or turn them off so you can see better.

    • 2

      Remove all rocks, plants, decorations, fish and animals that may be in the way or may get sucked into the siphon. Place them in a holding tank containing water from the aquarium from which they came. Give them an aerator.

    • 3

      Set a fine-mesh net on top of a large pail or tub. Place one end of the siphon in the net to catch the sand as it comes out of the siphon. The pail will catch and contain the dirty water.

    • 4

      Start your siphon. A manual siphon that does not attach to a sink faucet will give you the most control. Begin the flow by gently sucking on the end of the siphon and let gravity do the rest. The siphon must be powerful enough to suck up the sand and gravel. Be careful with fish, plants or coral if you have left any in the tank.

    • 5

      Move the siphon along the top of the sand, allowing it to suck up sand, debris and waste. Do not remove more than 30 percent of the water volume at once.

    • 6

      Repeat step 5 a week later if you are unable to remove all the sand at once without draining your tank. Draining your tank entirely would eliminate a great deal of the beneficial bacteria that keeps your animals from succumbing to ammonia poisoning. According to the website Aquarium Home Care, this is called new tank syndrome.

    • 7

      Add your new substrate to your aquarium. Replace rocks, decorations and water. Allow the filtration system to run and debris to settle before returning fish to the aquarium.

    • 8

      Save or discard the old sand, and dump the pail of old, dirty water.