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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:40 PM   #1
SchmittyG
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Sand Maintenance In Reef Tank

Im not new to the hobby, but I have started a new 29 gallon reef tank. The sand is not looking too hot. Ive added 6 sand sifting snails and was wondering about getting a goby or something that might clean up the joint better and faster. A fish store told me that the tank might be too small for a goby — any suggestions???


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:42 PM   #2
Gary Majchrzak
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no sand = no sand maintenance

hey- WELCOME TO RC!


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:43 PM   #3
jenglish
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Siphon it clean.


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I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.

Current Tank Info: broken and dry
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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:45 PM   #4
scbauer
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My sand stays fairly clean because of 2 things... First, I have a snail (nassarius, I think) snail that crawls around through the top 1/2" of the sand. The second piece of the puzzle is that I have fairly high flow, so things stay suspended in the water rather than settle on the sand. I don't have sand blowing around, though, so that's good.

I'm not sure of the requirements for a sand-sifting goby... I'm actually thinking about getting one myself because I absoultely love a clean white sand bed.

By the way, WELCOME to Reef Central!

-Scott


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:46 PM   #5
scbauer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jenglish View Post
Siphon it clean.
If you're not planning on building a DSB full of bacteria, then this is a great idea. My sand bed is about 5" deep, but when I had a shallower sand bed (about 2") in an old tank, I regularly vaccumed the sand to keep it clean.

-Scott


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:47 PM   #6
SchmittyG
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Thanks guys... I love the orange goby, I used to have a 55 gallon reef and he was amazing how he kept the sand super clean... they're pretty cheap, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to try... just wanted to see if there was any other ideas. I think sand is a must for me...


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:47 PM   #7
forrealb50
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchmittyG View Post
Im not new to the hobby, but I have started a new 29 gallon reef tank. The sand is not looking too hot. Ive added 6 sand sifting snails and was wondering about getting a goby or something that might clean up the joint better and faster. A fish store told me that the tank might be too small for a goby — any suggestions???
My diamond sand sifting goby did an amazing job. He cleaned my nasty sand ben over night.

Here's a pic of what they look like. They can get pretty big 5-6" so I would try to find a smaller one.


http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/ca...amond-goby.jpg


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:52 PM   #8
jenglish
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scbauer View Post
If you're not planning on building a DSB full of bacteria, then this is a great idea. My sand bed is about 5" deep, but when I had a shallower sand bed (about 2") in an old tank, I regularly vaccumed the sand to keep it clean.

-Scott
DSB still need siphoned IME. Regular cleaning helps rather than hurts a DSBs ability to denitrify. I think the old "do not disturb" mentality of DSB keeping is completely false, but to each his own.


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Jeremy
Brown liquor never hurt anybody

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I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.

Current Tank Info: broken and dry
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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:53 PM   #9
SchmittyG
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The other thing is that it seems like I might have something living in my sand... like a worm of some sorts.... looks to have little trails going around. Please don't tell me Im ****ed


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:54 PM   #10
SchmittyG
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Quote:
Originally Posted by forrealb50 View Post
My diamond sand sifting goby did an amazing job. He cleaned my nasty sand ben over night.

Here's a pic of what they look like. They can get pretty big 5-6" so I would try to find a smaller one.


http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/ca...amond-goby.jpg
That's the guy I want!!!


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:54 PM   #11
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Ill post some photos of my tank soon. I got to make dinner and get caught up, but hopefully by tomorrow. Thanks for the warm welcome.


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Unread 11/09/2009, 08:56 PM   #12
jenglish
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchmittyG View Post
The other thing is that it seems like I might have something living in my sand... like a worm of some sorts.... looks to have little trails going around. Please don't tell me Im ****ed
Worms are natural part of having sand, most likely nothing to worry about.


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Jeremy
Brown liquor never hurt anybody

“Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace


I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.

Current Tank Info: broken and dry
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Unread 11/09/2009, 09:00 PM   #13
scbauer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jenglish View Post
DSB still need siphoned IME. Regular cleaning helps rather than hurts a DSBs ability to denitrify. I think the old "do not disturb" mentality of DSB keeping is completely false, but to each his own.
Agreed, but not all at once. With my deeper sand bed, I still vaccume about 1/8 of it about once every month or two.

-Scott


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Unread 11/09/2009, 10:07 PM   #14
Flipper62
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I always clean the top 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the sand when I do my water changes. This keeps the sand looking good.

However, IMO....I wouldn't disturb the sand any deeper then that. There are lots of toxins deep in the bed that you dont want to release into the tank


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Unread 11/09/2009, 10:19 PM   #15
jenglish
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipper62 View Post

However, IMO....I wouldn't disturb the sand any deeper then that. There are lots of toxins deep in the bed that you dont want to release into the tank
If you siphon it every couple of weeks there aren't

I know what I do is different than the traditional DSB, but think about it


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Brown liquor never hurt anybody

“Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace


I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.

Current Tank Info: broken and dry
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Unread 11/11/2009, 11:18 AM   #16
SchmittyG
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Here's a shot of my tank...


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Unread 11/11/2009, 11:57 AM   #17
Frogmanx82
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I agree with scbauer. I think your better off doing a deep vacuum of a small portion of the sand bed than just skimming the surface of a larger area. If you have a really deep sand bed, more than 5 inches, you'd have to be careful.


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Unread 11/11/2009, 12:00 PM   #18
SchmittyG
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I dont think mine is five inches, maybe three tops. How do I do a vaccuum without the sand going into the bucket?

Also, any suggestions besides the rose anenome I want to get, im looking for fish/coral to get that I can have with normal light situation. The Ricordia mushrooms seem to be a hot item...


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Unread 11/11/2009, 12:30 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchmittyG View Post
I dont think mine is five inches, maybe three tops. How do I do a vaccuum without the sand going into the bucket?
...


Use one of these. The other end is a "normal" sized hose, you can control how much sand it sucks up by putting your finger over the end of it. Takes a little practice, but after a while it is very easy to use, and very little sand will get removed from the tank.


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Last edited by Toddrtrex; 11/11/2009 at 01:00 PM.
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Unread 11/11/2009, 12:51 PM   #20
SchmittyG
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toddrtrex View Post
Use one of these. The other end is a "normal" sized hose, you can control how much sand it sucks up by putting your finger over the end of it. Takes a little practice, but after a while it is very easy to use, and very little sand will get removed from the tank.
Use one of what?


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Unread 11/11/2009, 01:00 PM   #21
Toddrtrex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchmittyG View Post
Use one of what?
I forgot to paste the pic -- I just edited my post.


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Unread 11/11/2009, 01:17 PM   #22
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Ok, thanks!


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Unread 11/11/2009, 09:38 PM   #23
Frogmanx82
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They make them a lot bigger than that. The taller they are the easier it is to control the sand from getting sucked through.


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Unread 11/12/2009, 12:07 AM   #24
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I use high flow, keeps my sand sparkly white. The best part is I dont have to do anything.


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Unread 11/12/2009, 04:43 AM   #25
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+1 on SCBAUER's post (#4), Nassarius snails and water flow. The biggest improvement I have seen in my 90 was the addition of a Vortec MP40. The under tow created by the Vortec has my sand looking cleaner than ever before.


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