Ugly Sand Bed

CHOMPERS MFK · 08/30/2009, 10:03 AM

My sand bed has gone anaerobic in biblical proportions for some reason. It has brown areas (diatoms?) and black areas. I suspect that it is producing quite a bit of hydrogen sulfide because my new white urchins are not doing too well and one of my black urchins dropped some spines after sitting over a black area.

Any ideas what causes this and what to do? (I have an algae turf scrubber so I don't really need a deep sand bed.)

sedor · 08/30/2009, 10:05 AM

Replace the sand bed (slowly a little per day) and go with a shallow sand bed (3" or less) that way you can stir it up when it gets nasty. Of course you won't be able to have the denitrification benefits of a DSB, but I think the trade-off is worth it.

CHOMPERS MFK · 08/30/2009, 10:06 AM

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about...

wetWolger · 08/30/2009, 10:09 AM

lack of flow on the sand for one

austinh · 08/30/2009, 02:11 PM

diamond gobies or other sifting gobies for that matter wil help somewhat with this problem but with old sand i would watch the water params cause they tend to make a mess of things pretty quick

CHOMPERS MFK · 08/31/2009, 06:38 AM

Thanks everybody for the input.

08/30/2009, 10:03 AM	#1
CHOMPERS MFK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In the shadow of the MOUSE. Posts: 189	Ugly Sand Bed My sand bed has gone anaerobic in biblical proportions for some reason. It has brown areas (diatoms?) and black areas. I suspect that it is producing quite a bit of hydrogen sulfide because my new white urchins are not doing too well and one of my black urchins dropped some spines after sitting over a black area. Any ideas what causes this and what to do? (I have an algae turf scrubber so I don't really need a deep sand bed.)

08/30/2009, 10:05 AM	#2
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Replace the sand bed (slowly a little per day) and go with a shallow sand bed (3" or less) that way you can stir it up when it gets nasty. Of course you won't be able to have the denitrification benefits of a DSB, but I think the trade-off is worth it. __________________ Ryan

08/30/2009, 10:09 AM	#4
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	lack of flow on the sand for one __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

08/30/2009, 10:06 AM	#3
CHOMPERS MFK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In the shadow of the MOUSE. Posts: 189	Here's a picture of what I'm talking about...

08/30/2009, 02:11 PM	#5
austinh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nc Posts: 141	diamond gobies or other sifting gobies for that matter wil help somewhat with this problem but with old sand i would watch the water params cause they tend to make a mess of things pretty quick

08/31/2009, 06:38 AM	#6
CHOMPERS MFK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In the shadow of the MOUSE. Posts: 189	Thanks everybody for the input.