F-ing creepy crawlies

[instinctloh]

Most? Tat means not 100%? They can't survive out of the water rite ? Really feel like soaking all soil in hot water. lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[seudzar]

However, even after you dry out all the substrate, there is no guarantee that u won't get them back in future when you use it to set up your tank again

[instinctloh]

Hi, wondering is there anyway to remove them completely? Or to play safe shall I throw away the sand?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Y3H]

Removing them 100% would be quite difficult as copepods/detritus worms will always show up, although relatively harmless. Fish population would help to control these.

Prevention is always better than cure, the only thing we as owners could exercise would be to control our temptations of over zealous feeding sessions just because we dote on our pets. Basic tank husbandry such as vacuuming the substrate or basic water changes helps keep the tank healthy.

That being said, you could try drying out the sand for a few days, throwing it out and getting a new one isn't going to help; my new soils always have copepods and detritus worms and occasionally 1-2 planaria sighted. Their populations are under control by my corydoras and controlled feeding. A feeding dish helps alot if you are having a shrimp only tank; prevent most of the food from getting into the soil and feeding the unwanted pests.

I don't know about pouring hot water down the sand though. It should potentially kill all of the pests but I do not know whether the sand should be suitable for tank usage later on.