How do you remove soil from a tank properly, cleanly, and without leaving stains?

**Panut** · 31st May 2008, 16:56

Hi people

would gladly appreciate if you could share your experiences and expertise on this matter.

What is the best/ideal possible way of taking out soil (mine is amazonia) properly such that it is cleanly done and without causing the silicon to have soil stains? Also not leaving scratch marks on the glass, and crushing the soil.

cheers!

(maybe this could be made into a sticky

)

**Shadow** · 31st May 2008, 17:15

What I do is using hose to suck all the soil. On the other side of the hose I put those washing nets. Buy the big on with fine nets. The purpose of the nets is to seperate the soild and the mud. Once done just hang the nets until the soil slightly dry.

**Panut** · 31st May 2008, 18:49

Good idea!

anymore?

**torque6** · 31st May 2008, 21:31

Im using the same method as shadow, just get those $3 large size net from LFS, get a pail underneath it and siphon it with a 12/16 hose. The net are the china types with mesh instead of holes in them.

**Panut** · 31st May 2008, 22:31

But If there are no water, Only soil, how do you suck them out?

**Savant** · 31st May 2008, 22:43

Add water :P

**Panut** · 31st May 2008, 22:47

Ha

i See i see. But the majority of the soil, we use our hands to scoop out first right?

**Shadow** · 31st May 2008, 23:12

I straight away start using hose, some times need to fill out couple of time because water run out fisrt before the soil

.

As far as I can remember, I never take out soil without water. Usually I take out soil during major re-scape or if I want to replace partial of the soil with other type. For example white sand to create river.