Marco rocks sand advice.

[4tangs]

So I bought rock and sand from Marcorocks.com.... First of all let me say this is not to bash them. The rock is fantastic and the sand is beautiful.


My concern is the sand bed constantly shifting. I have been up and running for maybe 4 months now and the sand sits better than it did for the first few weeks but it is definitely an issue. SO..... Do I level it out and ad a layer of heavier sand over it (aprox 3-4" now)? Or slowly remove the sand in sections replacing it with something else as I go (over a month or two)? Ad heavier sand to the shifting spots only?

I LOVE the way the sand looks but I don't want the flow of my tank dictated by my choice of sand. If I adjust the flow of the pump and power heads as low as possible the sand doesn't move as much but then I have unwanted crap settling on the sanded instead of staying in the water column.


Tank is 72 wide 24 deep and 30 tall. Two tunze 6100's dialed way back and approx 1000 gph returning from sump.

[4tangs]

Bump

[flyline]

bump im wondering the same

[Phishguy]

I had/have the same problem. I just redirect the powerheads a bit. It took forever to get the sand to settle. Constant sandstorm for like 3 weeks.. But people smarter than me say that fine sand is perfect for bacteria.

[mc-cro]

I say just let it be. constantly moving sand like what your describing is not bad for the bed. A little at a time keeps it stirred, and clean. Its not like you are mixing the entire bed all at once.

[flyline]

im still thinking of maybe putting some heavier sand on top of mine since i havent addend any live rock to the tank yet...again i dont want the sand to dictate the flow of the tank either and this stiff is pretty fine

[flyline]

ok lets say i left the sand bed as is with it being so fine and acasionally causing my tank to cloud in small areas wouldent that be bad for the fish and coral? cuz its hard to get a good current in the tank without making it a mess

[tkeracer619]

I have sugar fine sand. It used to be deep but I have been sucking it out on occasion as my vortechs undertow pulls the sand to the outside.

Eventually it stops blowing around but will probably always move. You want it to move a bit.

I would leave it but remove about half. That is a lot of sand taking up valuable glass space.

You need to put live rock in the tank.

[DJ in WV]

Im in the same boat at the moment this stuff blows around like slit and stays in the water column. Did yours ever settle out? Love the rock from marco but dont think i could suggest the sand to anyone.

[flyline]

my sand has settled down it was a pain adjusting the power heads though but all and all im happy with it...i am using a filter sock and it helps out alot if your not using one i would say look into getting one

[DJ in WV]

yea i have 4 on order should be here on sat. Going to order some parts for my old diatom xl, dug it out and blow the dust off but all the gaskets and seals are dry rotted, It should filter fine enough to get the fines out of the water column I hope. Thanks for the quick reply fly