How to remove sand?

[Sylerwin]

So I've decided to remove the sand from my axolotl tank so it's easier to clean. I have some questions though:
Could this cause my cycle to crash? How could I avoid this?
My parents are weirded out by having salamanders in the fridge, so could I just have them in buckets while I do this, or a large shallow container?
If my cycle does indeed crash, any idea how long it would take for it to get back to safe levels?
I wanted to clean the decor in there while I was at it, as there is planaria in the tank, and it looks like I have dead worms on their decor! Yuck! Would this also be a cycle-crash potential?
Anyone have a good method of getting the sand out? I was thinking a simple small shovel for most of it, and then try and get the rest with a vaccuum?
I just want this to be as stress free as possible for my guys. Thanks.

 

[mikeg]

Easiest way to take the sand out without draining the tanks water completely or taking the axolotl out would be to siphon it out. Just put the end of the hose right into the sand and it will suck it up in a bucket. I would not do this all at once though because yes the cycle can crash. If you have a filter then your cycle crashing is not as high of a chance. Take out 25% of the sand every other day and replace the water you took out just like a regular water change.

 

[Tephra]

My parents are weirded out by having salamanders in the fridge

Haha, I can relate. "But... but... isn't it going to die...?" "But it's in there with all the food... isn't it going to cause the food to go bad?" (I kinda laughed at that one)

But yes, siphoning it out would be the best choice. And little bits at a time every other day. Just see it as... a small water change. Sand goes out, water goes in.

I somewhat recently removed all the sand from my tank and added black sand instead. To be honest; I just pushed through the whole mess and sort of rebooted the cycle. Aka emptying the entire thing, utterly and completely, buying new filter sponges, etc... And then I cycled it with them back in there. Be prepared for many water changes in that case though, and testing every day.

 

[mikeg]

siphoning it out would be the best choice. And little bits at a time every other day. Just see it as... a small water change. Sand goes out, water goes in.

Exactly and you axolotl will appreciate the nice clean water rather than the bucket