Sand, No Sand, Deeper Sand??

lcheesman · 06/17/2006, 03:55 AM

Hi all,

I have had continuing algae problems for a long time. I have with the help of kind folk here at reef central ruled out most possible causes. However, recently it has been pointed out to me that my 1.5 - 2 inch sand bed could be causing nutrient problems...depite having 0 nitrate and 0 phosphate (well on the test kits anyway).

I intend to end up with around 90% sps in this 250 gallon.

The substrate from what I have read is in between a non active 1/2 inch bed and an active 3 inch + bed. So I am concerned and convinced that the detritus acumulating and not being broken down is causing the problem.

The bed is 2inchs of mixed fine sand and aragonite, some of it is clumped and stuck together.

What should I do, get it outta there and put in 1/2 inch or fill it up to 3 or 4 with more fine sand?

if so how do I go about doing either of these?

I have a few creatures that like the sand, coris wrasse, crabs, cortez ceriths etc.

The Saltwater Kid · 06/17/2006, 05:08 AM

put in a bunch of Nassarius (vibex) Snails. They are supposed to be great detritus eaters and will keep your sand bed stirred and oxygenated as they bury themselves in the bed (better than Ceriths) searching for detritus. I have the same level of a sand bed as you do but I don't (fingers crossed) seem to have any problems at all, everything tests perfect and i don't have much algae (my tank did just finish it's initial cycle so I did go through an algae bloom but that's gone now) in my tank.

crvz · 06/17/2006, 09:46 AM

I was having a similar problem with my 2" sand bed. I tried adding sand and purging the rocks (using the "rock cooking" method), but when I added the rocks back the tank after about 6 weeks of isolation, nothing changed. Here is a photo 2 weeks after i added the rocks back to the tank...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...z/4b2d3bdc.jpg

As much as i didnt want to do it, i removed the sand and added a cutting board instead. Here is a photo today (about 4 months later).

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...z/P1010347.jpg

I know a lot of people hesitate taking the sand bed out entirely, a lot of the times for aesthetics, but it really makes maintenance a lot easier. As you can maybe see from the second photo, the board is more than half covered with coraline, and so it doesnt really stand out anymore. The pictures don't do the tank justice. The tank is a 58 gallon, and i have about 30 lbs of live rock to add still.

Good luck with whatever you decide... it took me about 8 months to get rid of all my hair algae.

lcheesman · 06/17/2006, 10:53 AM

crvz

Thank you for that reply, I really appreciate that, and I'm glad you're all on track now. So in your opinion it was mainly the nutrients trapped in the sand that were causing your algae problems.

I have read about cooking rock and I have also read many fail to erradicate the algae using that method.

I don't mind going bare bottom at all, but... I really wouldn't mind a very very small amount of substrate even if it shows patches of glass in spots. I will just give it a good stir and plenty of critters.

crvz

How did you remove all that sand, what steps did you take?

06/17/2006, 03:55 AM	#1
lcheesman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 113	Sand, No Sand, Deeper Sand?? Hi all, I have had continuing algae problems for a long time. I have with the help of kind folk here at reef central ruled out most possible causes. However, recently it has been pointed out to me that my 1.5 - 2 inch sand bed could be causing nutrient problems...depite having 0 nitrate and 0 phosphate (well on the test kits anyway). I intend to end up with around 90% sps in this 250 gallon. The substrate from what I have read is in between a non active 1/2 inch bed and an active 3 inch + bed. So I am concerned and convinced that the detritus acumulating and not being broken down is causing the problem. The bed is 2inchs of mixed fine sand and aragonite, some of it is clumped and stuck together. What should I do, get it outta there and put in 1/2 inch or fill it up to 3 or 4 with more fine sand? if so how do I go about doing either of these? I have a few creatures that like the sand, coris wrasse, crabs, cortez ceriths etc.

06/17/2006, 05:08 AM	#2
The Saltwater Kid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Barre, VT Posts: 2,586	put in a bunch of Nassarius (vibex) Snails. They are supposed to be great detritus eaters and will keep your sand bed stirred and oxygenated as they bury themselves in the bed (better than Ceriths) searching for detritus. I have the same level of a sand bed as you do but I don't (fingers crossed) seem to have any problems at all, everything tests perfect and i don't have much algae (my tank did just finish it's initial cycle so I did go through an algae bloom but that's gone now) in my tank. __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14g Nano Tank w/middle chamber refugium mod 2 Ecoxotic Power Pro LED Modules (1 - 12K/Royal Blue combo, 1 - Royal Blue) MaxiJet 900 return, VorTech MP10 circulation Livestock: Higher End Z's & P's, few mushrooms, Aussie Duncan, Maxi Mini Carpet Anemone

06/17/2006, 09:46 AM	#3
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I was having a similar problem with my 2" sand bed. I tried adding sand and purging the rocks (using the "rock cooking" method), but when I added the rocks back the tank after about 6 weeks of isolation, nothing changed. Here is a photo 2 weeks after i added the rocks back to the tank... http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...z/4b2d3bdc.jpg As much as i didnt want to do it, i removed the sand and added a cutting board instead. Here is a photo today (about 4 months later). http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...z/P1010347.jpg I know a lot of people hesitate taking the sand bed out entirely, a lot of the times for aesthetics, but it really makes maintenance a lot easier. As you can maybe see from the second photo, the board is more than half covered with coraline, and so it doesnt really stand out anymore. The pictures don't do the tank justice. The tank is a 58 gallon, and i have about 30 lbs of live rock to add still. Good luck with whatever you decide... it took me about 8 months to get rid of all my hair algae.

06/17/2006, 10:53 AM	#4
lcheesman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 113	crvz Thank you for that reply, I really appreciate that, and I'm glad you're all on track now. So in your opinion it was mainly the nutrients trapped in the sand that were causing your algae problems. I have read about cooking rock and I have also read many fail to erradicate the algae using that method. I don't mind going bare bottom at all, but... I really wouldn't mind a very very small amount of substrate even if it shows patches of glass in spots. I will just give it a good stir and plenty of critters. crvz How did you remove all that sand, what steps did you take?