detritus or dirt or...

sassyfrassy · 06/11/2010, 10:32 AM

I see these tanks with pristine white sand, but I have dirt (not diatoms) or detritus or whatever on top of my sand. Why and what can I do about it? I have 2 turbo snails that stay on the rock or glass, but never the sand (sugar size) and I have about 15 cerith snails, that mostly stay on the glass - so what do I need?

thebkramer · 06/11/2010, 11:03 AM

You could vacuum the top layer of sand.
Get some supreme sand sifters/cleaners.
But vacuuming top layer would be easier and quicker

snarkes · 06/11/2010, 11:04 AM

You're going to need to vacuum that stuff up and then create better flow to reduce the dead spots that allow the detritus to settle.

The turbos and ceriths arent going to do much with the dirt/detritus... at least thats my experience.

Allmost · 06/11/2010, 11:12 AM

increase flow and change direction till detritus do not settle down.

do you have a sump ? what kind of filter ?

the Idea is to have so much flow that all detritus would move untill eaten or moved to overflow box.

VAccuming Sand bed is not something you should do as you will be disturbing the sand bed and its operation.

sand sifting stars do remove some detritus, but they will eat all lfe in your Sand bed, leaving it dead and they will starve to death shortly after.

sassyfrassy · 06/11/2010, 11:13 AM

What are the best sand sifters/cleaners? Where's the best - cheapest - place to order them? My sand is sugar size and I was using my HOB magnum to vacuum, but it vacuums up the sand. What is a better method to vacuum?

snarkes · 06/11/2010, 11:17 AM

Vacuuming is okay if you have a shallow sand bed I believe and its better/easier to vacuum up the detritus without kicking it back into the water column if you can easily clean it up where it stands.

You can use some clear tubing and start a siphon to get your vacuum going. Super easy.

Other sand sifters to consider... a sandsifting goby or a small conch?

sruiz · 06/11/2010, 02:20 PM

Diamond Goby all the way and forget about vacuuming the top layer.

sassyfrassy · 06/12/2010, 10:44 AM

I have sugar size sand that is so fine that when I vacuum it sucks up sand too. With the diamond, will I have a sandstorm all the time w/suck sugar size sand?

mthomp · 06/12/2010, 10:46 AM

i swear by nass snails. they dont create any kind of storm and keep my sand very clean.

gnashty · 06/12/2010, 07:45 PM

up that flow

06/11/2010, 10:32 AM	#1
sassyfrassy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kings Mountain, NC Posts: 912	detritus or dirt or... I see these tanks with pristine white sand, but I have dirt (not diatoms) or detritus or whatever on top of my sand. Why and what can I do about it? I have 2 turbo snails that stay on the rock or glass, but never the sand (sugar size) and I have about 15 cerith snails, that mostly stay on the glass - so what do I need? __________________ Faith, hope, and love abide; but the greatest of these is love. Current Tank Info: 40g breeder DT LR & Macro Algae - 2" sand, 6 T5s & 2 fans in hood; 30gL sump/fuge w/MSX 200 skimmer & other equip.; (mangroves in DT - roots are great look)

06/11/2010, 11:03 AM	#2
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	You could vacuum the top layer of sand. Get some supreme sand sifters/cleaners. But vacuuming top layer would be easier and quicker __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

06/11/2010, 11:13 AM	#5
sassyfrassy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kings Mountain, NC Posts: 912	What are the best sand sifters/cleaners? Where's the best - cheapest - place to order them? My sand is sugar size and I was using my HOB magnum to vacuum, but it vacuums up the sand. What is a better method to vacuum? __________________ Faith, hope, and love abide; but the greatest of these is love. Current Tank Info: 40g breeder DT LR & Macro Algae - 2" sand, 6 T5s & 2 fans in hood; 30gL sump/fuge w/MSX 200 skimmer & other equip.; (mangroves in DT - roots are great look)

06/11/2010, 02:20 PM	#7
sruiz Reef'R Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Searching... Posts: 1,381	Diamond Goby all the way and forget about vacuuming the top layer. __________________ Don't forget your water change.

06/12/2010, 10:44 AM	#8
sassyfrassy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kings Mountain, NC Posts: 912	I have sugar size sand that is so fine that when I vacuum it sucks up sand too. With the diamond, will I have a sandstorm all the time w/suck sugar size sand? __________________ Faith, hope, and love abide; but the greatest of these is love. Current Tank Info: 40g breeder DT LR & Macro Algae - 2" sand, 6 T5s & 2 fans in hood; 30gL sump/fuge w/MSX 200 skimmer & other equip.; (mangroves in DT - roots are great look)

06/11/2010, 11:04 AM	#3
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	You're going to need to vacuum that stuff up and then create better flow to reduce the dead spots that allow the detritus to settle. The turbos and ceriths arent going to do much with the dirt/detritus... at least thats my experience.

06/11/2010, 11:12 AM	#4
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	increase flow and change direction till detritus do not settle down. do you have a sump ? what kind of filter ? the Idea is to have so much flow that all detritus would move untill eaten or moved to overflow box. VAccuming Sand bed is not something you should do as you will be disturbing the sand bed and its operation. sand sifting stars do remove some detritus, but they will eat all lfe in your Sand bed, leaving it dead and they will starve to death shortly after.

06/11/2010, 11:17 AM	#6
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	Vacuuming is okay if you have a shallow sand bed I believe and its better/easier to vacuum up the detritus without kicking it back into the water column if you can easily clean it up where it stands. You can use some clear tubing and start a siphon to get your vacuum going. Super easy. Other sand sifters to consider... a sandsifting goby or a small conch?

06/12/2010, 10:46 AM	#9
mthomp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 766	i swear by nass snails. they dont create any kind of storm and keep my sand very clean.

06/12/2010, 07:45 PM	#10
gnashty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 79	up that flow __________________ 240g system~Coralife SS~RKE Controller w/net~1 Regal Tang~1 TR Clown~2 Maroon Clowns~Lawnmower Blenny~GBTA~6" Maxima Clam~1 4 Stripe Damsel~1 Foxface~250+ Zoa Polyps~Ricordia~Favia~Meteor Shower~Cleaner Crew~Devils Hand Leather~1 Jack Russel Terrier Current Tank Info: 210 Oceanic Reef, RKE w/ NET

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