Sand bed

[bighen]

I'm having a little problem. I have a 300 gal tank and I have a some fish waste on my sand bed and need to know how to keep it clean. Would I need a clean up crew or is there something I could buy that makes it so I don't have to keep putting my hands in the tank?

Suggestions??

[CHEMCHEF]

Clean up crew. I find hermits do more for te surface of the sandbed.

[68551]

There is nothing that I have found that eats fish poo...Nassarious snails ( sp???) just crawl right over it....Use a turkey baster & siphon it out.....People always say better flow will keep it in suspention in the water & the overflow will remove it...I have 2 Vortechs in my corner 92 & they won't keep it in the water column for the overflow to remove....

[bighen]

There is nothing that I have found that eats fish poo...Nassarious snails ( sp???) just crawl right over it....Use a turkey baster & siphon it out.....People always say better flow will keep it in suspention in the water & the overflow will remove it...I have 2 Vortechs in my corner 92 & they won't keep it in the water column for the overflow to remove....


What exactly do you mean?

[bighen]

Vortechs in my corner 92 & they won't keep it in the water column for the overflow to remove....

Are you saying that the Vortech's aren't working for you?

[68551]

They work great....There's a LOT of flow in the tank, but I don't see how any pump can keep fish poo in the water column without blowing sand all over the place.....I have moved them all over the place but as soon as I get them within 8 inches of the sand big gorges in the sand appear & pile up someplace else....Flow is awesome....

[bighen]

right now my return pump is 1/2 horse power and i have 2 maxijet 1200, im think of upgrading to vortechs but i dont see how to keep the sand from blowing all over the place

[68551]

The sand does not blow around if the pumps are placed at least 8 inches above the sand.....All I'm saying is that I think I have the best, least conspicuous looking pumps with the most power & even THEY don't keep fish poo off the sand.....My reccomendation is to just suction it off with a baster or siphon.....Vortechs are really great for flow in the tank...

[bighen]

My reccomendation is to just suction it off with a baster or siphon

yeah i think thats what im going to do, thanks 6851

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

This is a Saltwater tank? I don't understand what the problem is. I've never heard of anybody analyzing the sandbed and noticing fish crap on it. I have pretty good luck with a sand star and a black cucumber cleaning my sand and keeping it stirred up. Good flow will keep it suspended. When you do a water change just stir your sand up, blow your rock off, etc. and it'll get filtered out. You know what else eats detrius... corals? It'll go into the column as food for corals too. Another reason why I don't see it as a problem. UNLESS you have a fresh water tank. I have several Tangs and they actually help feed the corals.

[68551]

SCIFI....You don't see fish poo in top of your sand bed along the front or side of the tank???? What could produce more flow than 2 Vortechs in a 92g corner tank???? Mine won't keep it in the water column without blowing sand mounds!!!!

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

I don't look that closely for things that are about the same color, and it won't harm anything anyway. I honestly never tried to look for that or even noticed. I do have several medium sized Tangs too.

Do you have a lot of BIG fish or something? When one of my Tangs takes a crapper it gets blown around till it pretty much disappears into the water. I had to mess with my Koralia's a bit so they stopped blowing holes in my sand too. Now it's just right and there's a constant whirl of flow everywhere. I also have just a few crabs (90 gal), that sand start, cucumber, maybe just a few snails too. Just stir up your sand once a week when you clean the glass and it'll all get consumed one way or another. UNLESS there's something unusual going on. Like really big fish, and lots of them or something. NO.. I don't have a lot of poop sitting around though.

[DaveMorris]

I have a 300g display tank with 7 tangs that crap a lot. I have never seen fish poop on my sandbed. I have tones of snails, hermits, stars, sandbed clams, worms, and a cuke that all do a great job keeping the tank clean. I believe that it is a HUGE mistake to stir up your sandbed and an even bigger mistake to vacuum it. Get the natural critters that clean up the mess and you will be much better off.

[68551]

I've never seen any snail or crab eat fish poo....I HAVE seen them crawl right over it avoiding it completely!!!! I have never had a cuke so I can't speak for them....
What is the secret for powerhead placement to create ultimate flow in a 92g corner tank????.........ANYONE????

[zmattie]

My emerald eats dertius! I see him eating it all the time

[JENnKerry]

I have tones of snails, hermits, stars, sandbed clams, worms, and a cuke that all do a great job keeping the tank clean. I believe that it is a HUGE mistake to stir up your sandbed and an even bigger mistake to vacuum it. Get the natural critters that clean up the mess and you will be much better off.

I totally agree. I would also like to recommend a fighting conch. These guys are great.