moving sand

gusmanda · 11/01/2009, 07:53 PM

I'm having a hard time buying a sand sifting animal where I live. In the meantime, how often should I stir the sand with a stick?

tkeracer619 · 11/01/2009, 07:57 PM

You won't need to manually stir it unless you get a slight film of algae on the sand. Then its only for aesthetics.

gusmanda · 11/01/2009, 08:51 PM

you get more nitrates and nitrites if you just let it sit around, don't you? Thought that's the reason why I needed a goby to move it around for me.

tkeracer619 · 11/01/2009, 09:24 PM

Not really, you don't absolutely need a sand sifter. If the sand is really deep then you don't want to disturb the bed.

Nitrates will only form if you put more food into the tank then detritus you take out. A good skimmer and adequate flow to keep detritus suspended until the skimmer can pull it out will help keep nitrates in check.

Nitrites should never be present in a cycled reef.

11/01/2009, 07:53 PM	#1
gusmanda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Guadalajara, (central west Mexico) Posts: 848	moving sand I'm having a hard time buying a sand sifting animal where I live. In the meantime, how often should I stir the sand with a stick?

11/01/2009, 07:57 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	You won't need to manually stir it unless you get a slight film of algae on the sand. Then its only for aesthetics. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/01/2009, 09:24 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Not really, you don't absolutely need a sand sifter. If the sand is really deep then you don't want to disturb the bed. Nitrates will only form if you put more food into the tank then detritus you take out. A good skimmer and adequate flow to keep detritus suspended until the skimmer can pull it out will help keep nitrates in check. Nitrites should never be present in a cycled reef. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/01/2009, 08:51 PM	#3
gusmanda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Guadalajara, (central west Mexico) Posts: 848	you get more nitrates and nitrites if you just let it sit around, don't you? Thought that's the reason why I needed a goby to move it around for me.