I use one but it is 4-5 inches above my gravel bed. It might if it was flush on the surface of your sand.
I also covered my intake to lessen the flow for my Betta.
In the first pic I'm touching the black fabric (a cotton headband) that is wrapped over my intake grate. The second pic is just a hair tie that I put in the same position but with better lighting
If you used a panty-hose sock it might filter sand without slowing the filter's flow rate as significantly as cloth. My suggestion is those free little sock thingies that shoe stores have for bare feet shoppers