sand bed maint.

dhomni · 04/24/2007, 08:44 PM

does anyone have any ideas about wether or not to vacuum the sand bed in a marine tank. I keep having algae problems, and wonder if I'm making it worse by disturbing the sand or is it better to get the excess dirt out? thanks

davidryder · 04/24/2007, 08:58 PM

I would personally recommend a crew that will stir the sand bed, such as:

Fighting conch
Nassarius Snails
Sand sifting gobies

If you decide to stir the sand I wouldn't go deeper than a half inch. Vacuuming is probably unnecessary.

damac20 · 04/24/2007, 08:59 PM

I agree with the conchs and sand sifting gobies...I throw in a few cucumbers as well.

CyanoMagnet · 04/24/2007, 09:00 PM

First of all I think it depends on how deep your sandbed is.

If its a DSB, you are not supposed to diturb it. It interrupts the nitrification process from what I read.

I dont know about the shallow bed.

CyanoMagnet · 04/24/2007, 09:01 PM

For the algae problem , a good skimmer should solve that problem.

Also a refugium would help. But most important thing to control algae is protein export.

dhomni · 04/24/2007, 09:11 PM

thanks, the sand bed is only about 2-3" deep, I'm running a Berlin skimmer, and using a refugium. I have a feeling the excess nutrients are the prob also, since the tank houses a couple of morays and a Huma trigger, so they eat a lot, naturally. I was just curious if leaving the sand bed alone completely might help

dhomni · 04/24/2007, 09:14 PM

btw, the trigger makes it difficult to keep algae cleaners in the tank, like snails, crabs. He loves them!

davidryder · 04/24/2007, 09:15 PM

I guess it's safe to say that crustaceans are out of the picture

04/24/2007, 08:44 PM	#1
dhomni Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: texas Posts: 3	sand bed maint. does anyone have any ideas about wether or not to vacuum the sand bed in a marine tank. I keep having algae problems, and wonder if I'm making it worse by disturbing the sand or is it better to get the excess dirt out? thanks

04/24/2007, 08:58 PM	#2
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	I would personally recommend a crew that will stir the sand bed, such as: Fighting conch Nassarius Snails Sand sifting gobies If you decide to stir the sand I wouldn't go deeper than a half inch. Vacuuming is probably unnecessary. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

04/24/2007, 08:59 PM	#3
damac20 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando FL Posts: 838	I agree with the conchs and sand sifting gobies...I throw in a few cucumbers as well. __________________ "Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand."

04/24/2007, 09:00 PM	#4
CyanoMagnet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn ,NY Posts: 1,272	First of all I think it depends on how deep your sandbed is. If its a DSB, you are not supposed to diturb it. It interrupts the nitrification process from what I read. I dont know about the shallow bed. __________________ Salifert - - - - - - Phosphates ud, ud Nitrates .0xxxppm, Alk 9dkh Calcium 445ppm mag 1380 PH 7.7-8.0 Salinity, 1.026 11/27/2008 Current Tank Info: 72 g bf,15g sump->16g qt,10g refugium w/ DSB and cheato (lots), T5 lighting 6x54watt (2x10k,2xab,blue act,super act),korallin 1501 ca reactor,sulfur denitrator(korallin),bullet 1 skimmer,phosban reactor(running carbon atm),2xtunze1500gph,3xkoralin

04/24/2007, 09:01 PM	#5
CyanoMagnet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn ,NY Posts: 1,272	For the algae problem , a good skimmer should solve that problem. Also a refugium would help. But most important thing to control algae is protein export. __________________ Salifert - - - - - - Phosphates ud, ud Nitrates .0xxxppm, Alk 9dkh Calcium 445ppm mag 1380 PH 7.7-8.0 Salinity, 1.026 11/27/2008 Current Tank Info: 72 g bf,15g sump->16g qt,10g refugium w/ DSB and cheato (lots), T5 lighting 6x54watt (2x10k,2xab,blue act,super act),korallin 1501 ca reactor,sulfur denitrator(korallin),bullet 1 skimmer,phosban reactor(running carbon atm),2xtunze1500gph,3xkoralin

04/24/2007, 09:11 PM	#6
dhomni Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: texas Posts: 3	thanks, the sand bed is only about 2-3" deep, I'm running a Berlin skimmer, and using a refugium. I have a feeling the excess nutrients are the prob also, since the tank houses a couple of morays and a Huma trigger, so they eat a lot, naturally. I was just curious if leaving the sand bed alone completely might help

04/24/2007, 09:14 PM	#7
dhomni Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: texas Posts: 3	btw, the trigger makes it difficult to keep algae cleaners in the tank, like snails, crabs. He loves them!

04/24/2007, 09:15 PM	#8
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	I guess it's safe to say that crustaceans are out of the picture __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)