Other Turtle Discussion :: how do you clean your Sand Substrate?

[portsporting06]

how you clean your sand? and how when u clean it??

[Love of Animals]

Clean sand before you put it in the tank. Put it in a 5 gallon bucket and run the hose through it, occasionally swishing through the sand until the water runs clear. Then do it again for good measure. If your putting it in your tank that already has water in it, turn off your filter. Put the sand in and wait for it to settle. Then turn your filter back on making sure the intake is at least 4 inches from the sand. For regular maintenance, use a siphon hose. Hold the hose right above the sand to vacuum out the debris.

[VeipaCray]

TIP: If you're setting up a new aquarium. Put the sand in the bottom. Put a dinner plate upside down over the sand and use the plate to diffuse the water as you fill the aquarium. You'll still get some sand that will end up clouding the water but it won't be as bad as if you filled the tank without the diffuser.

Also.. if you put sand in a bucket to rinse it wear gloves. Sand is sharp and abrasive if you run your bare hand through it to swish it around.

[portsporting06]

I also use my hands when I clean my sand but I never got a cut lol

[sflemin2]

It exfoliates!