cleaning deep sand beds???

NuccaTree · 07/11/2006, 09:55 AM

Okay here is a question? I have a 75g mature tank of 5 years without any problem. However, laterly, past few months, I have noticed that I have a bit more debree suspended in the water and if I move rocks around and stir anything, there is a finer mist of 'stuff' floating in the water. I change 15g about every 6 weeks and have a good sump with a skimmer. I am just wondering if there needs to be a time that you would use a vacuum on the top of the sand bed to get rid of a top lay of film of excess crap that settles rather than filtered. I am not thinking of vacuuming it like crushed coral in freshwater tanks, just skimming the surface.
Anyone have some good thoughts from mature tanks keepers.

Angel*Fish · 07/11/2006, 09:58 AM

Have you tried adding some "fresh" live sand?

NuccaTree · 07/11/2006, 10:11 AM

That is something I would not have thought about. What is the reasoning behind that?

NuccaTree · 07/11/2006, 07:11 PM

bump

AZDesertRat · 07/11/2006, 07:37 PM

A couple of cups of live sand from friends tanks will jump start the bacteria growth as well as add beneficial critters to help your sand along. Critters get depleted over time if you have fish or other things that eat pods mini stars and worms. Bacteria can also die off if you disturb the anaerobic bacteria living below the sand surface. You should not disturb anything deeper than 1/4 to 1/2" if possible. Things like sand sifting stars and some fish eat all the goodies that make a deep sand bed live.
Once the bacteria is supercharged again the sand and silt should settle like a rock.

Angel*Fish · 07/12/2006, 09:04 AM

What he said

and I'd add that you need to be seeing lots of life especially worms in your SB - if a DSB is allowed to go without the worms & infauna the sand clumps up and becomes ineffective -

When you add some new life to your SB, it's important not to exct instant results as it takes some time for the animals to spread and become somewhat stable

FWIW, I try to add a cup or 2 of nice sand every 2-3 months

It's best IMO to use as many different sources as possible and to try and find sand with as much life as possible. I've purchased sand from online suppliers like GARF.

If you have a local reef club, I'd hunt them down - here in houston i've bought LS from a company out of Corpus Christi that comes to our meetings - I've got mysis reproducing in my tank now thanks to the nice sand I got from them.

HTH

Also you might look into buying a sea cucumber - it has to be the right kind - Dr. Ron , I think wrote an article on them...when i have more time I'll see if I can hunt it down

NuccaTree · 07/12/2006, 06:13 PM

I have got oodles of worms and tiny stars moving about the sand as well as little pods scurrying about the bottoem floor especially at night.

wvufan788893 · 07/12/2006, 07:35 PM

Has anyone ever seen a yellow tang "fight" their reflection in the tank glass?

This is all I can think of regarding his behavior. Water parameters are good, he's eating, etc., but he's staying in the back corner of the tank darting side to side and sort of shaking at his reflection.

Weird . . . .

wvufan788893 · 07/12/2006, 07:36 PM

Oops, sorry. Hit the wrong button.

07/11/2006, 09:55 AM	#1
NuccaTree Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: QCA, Iowa Posts: 213	cleaning deep sand beds??? Okay here is a question? I have a 75g mature tank of 5 years without any problem. However, laterly, past few months, I have noticed that I have a bit more debree suspended in the water and if I move rocks around and stir anything, there is a finer mist of 'stuff' floating in the water. I change 15g about every 6 weeks and have a good sump with a skimmer. I am just wondering if there needs to be a time that you would use a vacuum on the top of the sand bed to get rid of a top lay of film of excess crap that settles rather than filtered. I am not thinking of vacuuming it like crushed coral in freshwater tanks, just skimming the surface. Anyone have some good thoughts from mature tanks keepers. __________________ Balance of Life is what we all should strive to achieve! Current Tank Info: 75g reef w/30g sump (home), 55g reef (office)

07/11/2006, 09:58 AM	#2
Angel*Fish cats and large squashes Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 5,951 Blog Entries: 1	Have you tried adding some "fresh" live sand? __________________ Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums

07/11/2006, 10:11 AM	#3
NuccaTree Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: QCA, Iowa Posts: 213	That is something I would not have thought about. What is the reasoning behind that? __________________ Balance of Life is what we all should strive to achieve! Current Tank Info: 75g reef w/30g sump (home), 55g reef (office)

07/11/2006, 07:11 PM	#4
NuccaTree Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: QCA, Iowa Posts: 213	bump __________________ Balance of Life is what we all should strive to achieve! Current Tank Info: 75g reef w/30g sump (home), 55g reef (office)

07/12/2006, 09:04 AM	#6
Angel*Fish cats and large squashes Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 5,951 Blog Entries: 1	What he said and I'd add that you need to be seeing lots of life especially worms in your SB - if a DSB is allowed to go without the worms & infauna the sand clumps up and becomes ineffective - When you add some new life to your SB, it's important not to exct instant results as it takes some time for the animals to spread and become somewhat stable FWIW, I try to add a cup or 2 of nice sand every 2-3 months It's best IMO to use as many different sources as possible and to try and find sand with as much life as possible. I've purchased sand from online suppliers like GARF. If you have a local reef club, I'd hunt them down - here in houston i've bought LS from a company out of Corpus Christi that comes to our meetings - I've got mysis reproducing in my tank now thanks to the nice sand I got from them. HTH Also you might look into buying a sea cucumber - it has to be the right kind - Dr. Ron , I think wrote an article on them...when i have more time I'll see if I can hunt it down __________________ Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums

07/11/2006, 07:37 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	A couple of cups of live sand from friends tanks will jump start the bacteria growth as well as add beneficial critters to help your sand along. Critters get depleted over time if you have fish or other things that eat pods mini stars and worms. Bacteria can also die off if you disturb the anaerobic bacteria living below the sand surface. You should not disturb anything deeper than 1/4 to 1/2" if possible. Things like sand sifting stars and some fish eat all the goodies that make a deep sand bed live. Once the bacteria is supercharged again the sand and silt should settle like a rock.

07/12/2006, 06:13 PM	#7
NuccaTree Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: QCA, Iowa Posts: 213	I have got oodles of worms and tiny stars moving about the sand as well as little pods scurrying about the bottoem floor especially at night. __________________ Balance of Life is what we all should strive to achieve! Current Tank Info: 75g reef w/30g sump (home), 55g reef (office)

07/12/2006, 07:35 PM	#8
wvufan788893 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: St. Albans, WV Posts: 44	Yellow Tang; fighting his reflection? Has anyone ever seen a yellow tang "fight" their reflection in the tank glass? This is all I can think of regarding his behavior. Water parameters are good, he's eating, etc., but he's staying in the back corner of the tank darting side to side and sort of shaking at his reflection. Weird . . . .

07/12/2006, 07:36 PM	#9
wvufan788893 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: St. Albans, WV Posts: 44	Oops, sorry. Hit the wrong button.