Should I Save My Sand?

[rickrutland]

When I vacuum there is always some sand that comes out too. I have been rinsing it off, letting it dry and then putting it back in.

.... or should I throw it away?

Should I put in new sand occasionally?

Thanks

[Gseclipse02]

why is sand coming out of the tank ?

[CoryDude]

How much sand are you talking about? Typically I may have a handful of sand in my dump bucket when I clean my gravel, but nothing more than that.

Then a few times every year, I take some new sand that I've rinsed pretty well and dump a few handfulls back into the areas that are getting low.

Just my experience.

[Muddybluewater]

I wouldn't mess with putting it back into the tank. If it is a lot just stop taking so much out.

[cadamsreef]

Is this a reef tank? What are rising the sand with? I never vacuum the sand in my tank, just move the top half inch of substrate around if you don't have any critters to do that for you. You can remove some of your substrate if you think substrate is old and replace new, only a little bit at a time. You don't to want cause your tank to cycle. If you vacuum your tank and remove to much sand just replace with new clean sand.

[ErikH]

It's always advised to slowly change out your sand. Doing so as you have been stating will not harm your aquarium as long as it's not a ton. Replacing it often in small amounts is a great way to keep it diverse.