secrets to keeping a nice white sand bed! - Page 2

twon8 · 05/15/2006, 02:37 PM

I don't ever siphon my sand, and it is white, tank set up almost three years

i have a lot of flow (6100 stream, 1100 seio, mj 1200 w/cut nozzle on timer so it alternates, mj 900) and i feel that helps a lot keeping the sand clean, but i also have thousand of tiny snails that rise out of the sand every night and keep it clean.

here are a pics from a few months ago, not the best, but i believe it is what you are looking for.

SunnyX · 05/15/2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twon8
I don't ever siphon my sand, and it is white, tank set up almost three years

i have a lot of flow (6100 stream, 1100 seio, mj 1200 w/cut nozzle on timer so it alternates, mj 900) and i feel that helps a lot keeping the sand clean, but i also have thousand of tiny snails that rise out of the sand every night and keep it clean.

here are a pics from a few months ago, not the best, but i believe it is what you are looking for.

Whart lighting are you currently using?

Great job BTW.

Anemonebuff · 05/15/2006, 02:47 PM

Great tank. I do not syphon or replace either.

twon8 · 05/15/2006, 02:47 PM

now i have two aquaconnect 14k's and one 11k t-5. in the bottom pic i was still using an actinic vho

reefnewbie54321 · 05/15/2006, 03:45 PM

Ron Shimek has stated many times that Sand Sifting Gobies and Sand Sifting Stars are BAD chioces. It eats the fauna we try so hard to maintian. For those who are buying Fauna Kits and traveling to several different fish stores just to get a greater "biodiversity" in your sand might as well burn your money and not waste your time ... all your hard work will be ruined by these sifters.

Alot of people say that Ron Shimek doesnt know what he's talking about and converting to barebottom but as far as I'm concerned he's pretty much the head honcho of DSB's so what he says goes (atleast in my tank)

I'm not sure which ones have been suggested already becuase I havnt read the whole thread but here are some good ones that I forgot to mention

Cerith Snails
Tiger Tial Cucumber
Fighting Conch (NOT QUEEN CONCH!)

Sullyman · 05/15/2006, 03:47 PM

No sand sifting stars, but 2 large tiger cucs(started with one, it reproduced) and lots of life in my sandbed. The sand stays white under 3 250w 14k's and 2 150w 20k's, never siphoned the sand.

PiePuncher · 05/15/2006, 03:55 PM

Flow is the key. My sand is bright white and hasnt had a hint of tint in a good while. Flow doesnt even have to be directed twords the sand, just have lots of it. The nassarius snails also help quite a bit. They stir the sand up quite a bit when they come erupting through the sand to feed. I had conchs for a while but dont think they made much of a difference. Tank is still just as clean without the guys. The conchs are cool to look at but I think overall key is flow and the snails, as a few people have mentioned earlier

skylar · 05/15/2006, 04:26 PM

I have a sand bed of about 4" which is always white. The tank is 8' long and is about 8 years old. I add live sand about everry 18 to 20 months as needed.

Good Flow, 2 yellow head gobys, 2 sand stars, and a couple of conch's. There is plenty of Fauna in the sand which can be seen along the side of the tank, but the top is always white. The front facing of the stand blocks the view of the discolored lower/deeper areas of the sand bed.

The key is to keep enough sifters to keep it white, but not so many they starve because they ate all the food in the sand.

deadxero · 05/15/2006, 04:30 PM

I have a Diamond Goby in my 55. He turns over my entire sand bed at least once every couple of days. Does the job nicely. He's also got a great personalty and is a ton of fun to watch.

reefnewbie54321 · 05/15/2006, 07:19 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...highlight=sand

just read this thread, had some great suggestions

05/15/2006, 02:37 PM	#26
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	I don't ever siphon my sand, and it is white, tank set up almost three years i have a lot of flow (6100 stream, 1100 seio, mj 1200 w/cut nozzle on timer so it alternates, mj 900) and i feel that helps a lot keeping the sand clean, but i also have thousand of tiny snails that rise out of the sand every night and keep it clean. here are a pics from a few months ago, not the best, but i believe it is what you are looking for. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

05/15/2006, 02:47 PM	#29
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	now i have two aquaconnect 14k's and one 11k t-5. in the bottom pic i was still using an actinic vho __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

05/15/2006, 03:47 PM	#31
Sullyman Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Buffalo Grove, Il. Posts: 3,764	No sand sifting stars, but 2 large tiger cucs(started with one, it reproduced) and lots of life in my sandbed. The sand stays white under 3 250w 14k's and 2 150w 20k's, never siphoned the sand. __________________ SW Hobbyist since 1983, reefer since 96 Current tanks 190g acro/sps, many tanks with clownfish. Bred true Perculas. Have bred GSMs.

05/15/2006, 04:26 PM	#33
skylar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 158	I have a sand bed of about 4" which is always white. The tank is 8' long and is about 8 years old. I add live sand about everry 18 to 20 months as needed. Good Flow, 2 yellow head gobys, 2 sand stars, and a couple of conch's. There is plenty of Fauna in the sand which can be seen along the side of the tank, but the top is always white. The front facing of the stand blocks the view of the discolored lower/deeper areas of the sand bed. The key is to keep enough sifters to keep it white, but not so many they starve because they ate all the food in the sand. __________________ Addicted 14 years. Current tank:300g Reef w/ lot's of fish, SPS, LPS, and Clams. 4 x 400w MH 4 x 110 VHO actinic. MTC Ca reactor ER 12-1 & ASMG4Xrc.

05/15/2006, 02:47 PM	#28
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Great tank. I do not syphon or replace either.

05/15/2006, 03:45 PM	#30
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Ron Shimek has stated many times that Sand Sifting Gobies and Sand Sifting Stars are BAD chioces. It eats the fauna we try so hard to maintian. For those who are buying Fauna Kits and traveling to several different fish stores just to get a greater "biodiversity" in your sand might as well burn your money and not waste your time ... all your hard work will be ruined by these sifters. Alot of people say that Ron Shimek doesnt know what he's talking about and converting to barebottom but as far as I'm concerned he's pretty much the head honcho of DSB's so what he says goes (atleast in my tank) I'm not sure which ones have been suggested already becuase I havnt read the whole thread but here are some good ones that I forgot to mention Cerith Snails Tiger Tial Cucumber Fighting Conch (NOT QUEEN CONCH!)

05/15/2006, 03:55 PM	#32
PiePuncher Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 43	Flow is the key. My sand is bright white and hasnt had a hint of tint in a good while. Flow doesnt even have to be directed twords the sand, just have lots of it. The nassarius snails also help quite a bit. They stir the sand up quite a bit when they come erupting through the sand to feed. I had conchs for a while but dont think they made much of a difference. Tank is still just as clean without the guys. The conchs are cool to look at but I think overall key is flow and the snails, as a few people have mentioned earlier

05/15/2006, 04:30 PM	#34
deadxero Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 23	I have a Diamond Goby in my 55. He turns over my entire sand bed at least once every couple of days. Does the job nicely. He's also got a great personalty and is a ton of fun to watch.

05/15/2006, 07:19 PM	#35
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...highlight=sand just read this thread, had some great suggestions