Sand Maintenance In Reef Tank

SchmittyG · 11/09/2009, 08:40 PM

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???

Gary Majchrzak · 11/09/2009, 08:42 PM

no sand = no sand maintenance

hey- WELCOME TO RC!

jenglish · 11/09/2009, 08:43 PM

Siphon it clean.

scbauer · 11/09/2009, 08:45 PM

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

scbauer · 11/09/2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenglish

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

SchmittyG · 11/09/2009, 08:47 PM

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...

forrealb50 · 11/09/2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchmittyG

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

jenglish · 11/09/2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scbauer

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.

SchmittyG · 11/09/2009, 08:53 PM

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

SchmittyG · 11/09/2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forrealb50

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!!!

SchmittyG · 11/09/2009, 08:54 PM

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.

jenglish · 11/09/2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchmittyG

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.

scbauer · 11/09/2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenglish

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

Flipper62 · 11/09/2009, 10:07 PM

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

jenglish · 11/09/2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flipper62

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

SchmittyG · 11/11/2009, 11:18 AM

Here's a shot of my tank...

Frogmanx82 · 11/11/2009, 11:57 AM

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.

SchmittyG · 11/11/2009, 12:00 PM

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...

Toddrtrex · 11/11/2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchmittyG

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.

SchmittyG · 11/11/2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

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?

Toddrtrex · 11/11/2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchmittyG

Use one of what?

I forgot to paste the pic -- I just edited my post.

SchmittyG · 11/11/2009, 01:17 PM

Ok, thanks!

Frogmanx82 · 11/11/2009, 09:38 PM

They make them a lot bigger than that. The taller they are the easier it is to control the sand from getting sucked through.

danceswithfish · 11/12/2009, 12:07 AM

I use high flow, keeps my sand sparkly white. The best part is I dont have to do anything.

jimsplace · 11/12/2009, 04:43 AM

+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.

11/09/2009, 08:40 PM	#1
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	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???

11/09/2009, 08:42 PM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	no sand = no sand maintenance hey- WELCOME TO RC! __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

11/09/2009, 08:43 PM	#3
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	Siphon it clean. __________________ 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

11/09/2009, 10:07 PM	#14
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	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 __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

11/11/2009, 11:57 AM	#17
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	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. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

11/09/2009, 08:45 PM	#4
scbauer The Buff Reefer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,699	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 __________________ offical member of the "WIAGAS" club "Wondering If Anybody Gives A ...." ...for when your thread has 50 posts, and 48 of them are yours Current Tank Info: No tank. Got out of the hobby in 2011 but I’ll be back one day!

11/09/2009, 08:47 PM	#6
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	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...

11/09/2009, 08:53 PM	#9
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	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

11/09/2009, 08:54 PM	#11
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	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.

11/11/2009, 11:18 AM	#16
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	Here's a shot of my tank...

11/11/2009, 12:00 PM	#18
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	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...

11/11/2009, 01:17 PM	#22
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	Ok, thanks!

11/11/2009, 09:38 PM	#23
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	They make them a lot bigger than that. The taller they are the easier it is to control the sand from getting sucked through. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

11/12/2009, 12:07 AM	#24
danceswithfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: BC Canada Posts: 491	I use high flow, keeps my sand sparkly white. The best part is I dont have to do anything. __________________ Click on my name, "danceswithfish" then click on "visit danaceswithfish's homepage!" to see my 90g build!

11/12/2009, 04:43 AM	#25
jimsplace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 633	+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.