new tank, deep sandbed removal.

c0mp|ex · 02/12/2008, 08:29 PM

so i have a 29g with about 3-4" of sand in the display. it has been cycling for about a week and a half with just live rock. i recently changed my mind and wanted to run only about a 1-2" sandbend in my display and move the rest to the fuge. would it be ok to siphon off some sand and place it in my fuge our would it cause some cycle or nitrates to spike?

the only other inhabitats in the tank are a hitchhicker hermit, and some hitchhicker mushrooms and button polyps.
thanks

demonsp · 02/12/2008, 08:34 PM

It would be better to go bare bottom. The minimum is 2 to 3 inches. Dont go below that.
Im curious why you want to remove and what type of stock do you have or want?

Agu · 02/12/2008, 09:02 PM

After that short time you could just siphon it out. That assumes the rock is firmly on the bottom of the tank and not sitting on the sand.

I have the 1-2" of sand in my nanos and it works just fine.

uscharalph · 02/12/2008, 09:04 PM

You say you are already cycling. It is far better to make this change now than later.

c0mp|ex · 02/12/2008, 09:06 PM

cause i was hearing problems with deep sand beds tanking out tanks and causing problems. the stock i want would be a pair of clowns and some softies for now.

demonsp · 02/12/2008, 09:10 PM

Well its not a FOWLR tank you want a reef tank. FOWLR tank usually have more aggresive fish that eat CUC and are dirtier.
The LS and LR are your best bio filter and if done right will only add to the tanks health.Its whene its done wrong that its talked bad about.
I think you need to decide if you want a reef or a FOWLR an go from there.

c0mp|ex · 02/12/2008, 09:23 PM

ultimately i would like a reef tank. by stating in my sig that im starting a fowlr i mean that i wouldnt have any corals in there for a while since it will be a new tank. so i guess i want a reef setup.
should i keep the 3-4" sand bed, or move the sand bed to the fuge and leave about 2" left?

demonsp · 02/12/2008, 09:31 PM

You could move some to the fuge but i would keep around 3 inches.
For best results in a reef tank you want to add stock in a controlled way.
Start with basics water test kit,Amount of LR and LS with all equipment ,quality water source and lights then let it cycle. Whene cycled add a few CUC then wait if readings stay good the in a week or 2 add a fish or soft coral then wait and if readings stay good then add more CUC and a fish or coral then wait and repeat.
For a reef tank consider fish that will help control algea and keep SB clean.Use them as a tool for water quality and MB a few for eye candy.

uscharalph · 02/12/2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by c0mp|ex
cause i was hearing problems with deep sand beds tanking out tanks and causing problems. the stock i want would be a pair of clowns and some softies for now.

But you are still cycling??

c0mp|ex · 02/12/2008, 09:45 PM

yes i am still cycling. i dont plan on adding anything soon though until the cycle is done

i know about adding stuff slowly thats why my sig says fowlr. i was just planning on adding the clowns. my readings show 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 10ppm nitrate. i got the rock from a friends tank. so it was pretty much cured but im letting it cure some more in case. my display is completely clean, no algea and rocks are covered in purple coraline. all the frags (2 shrooms and a colony of button polyps) that came with the rock are looking healthy. there is a diatom bloom in my fuge so i am waiting it out.

i guess ill leave the sand

uscharalph · 02/13/2008, 12:06 AM

What I am saying is that since your tank is still cycling, NOW would be the time to remove/decrease your sanbed.

02/12/2008, 08:29 PM	#1
c0mp\|ex Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 296	new tank, deep sandbed removal. so i have a 29g with about 3-4" of sand in the display. it has been cycling for about a week and a half with just live rock. i recently changed my mind and wanted to run only about a 1-2" sandbend in my display and move the rest to the fuge. would it be ok to siphon off some sand and place it in my fuge our would it cause some cycle or nitrates to spike? the only other inhabitats in the tank are a hitchhicker hermit, and some hitchhicker mushrooms and button polyps. thanks

02/12/2008, 09:02 PM	#3
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	After that short time you could just siphon it out. That assumes the rock is firmly on the bottom of the tank and not sitting on the sand. I have the 1-2" of sand in my nanos and it works just fine. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/12/2008, 09:04 PM	#4
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	You say you are already cycling. It is far better to make this change now than later. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

02/13/2008, 12:06 AM	#11
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	What I am saying is that since your tank is still cycling, NOW would be the time to remove/decrease your sanbed. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

02/12/2008, 08:34 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	It would be better to go bare bottom. The minimum is 2 to 3 inches. Dont go below that. Im curious why you want to remove and what type of stock do you have or want?

02/12/2008, 09:06 PM	#5
c0mp\|ex Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 296	cause i was hearing problems with deep sand beds tanking out tanks and causing problems. the stock i want would be a pair of clowns and some softies for now.

02/12/2008, 09:10 PM	#6
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Well its not a FOWLR tank you want a reef tank. FOWLR tank usually have more aggresive fish that eat CUC and are dirtier. The LS and LR are your best bio filter and if done right will only add to the tanks health.Its whene its done wrong that its talked bad about. I think you need to decide if you want a reef or a FOWLR an go from there.

02/12/2008, 09:23 PM	#7
c0mp\|ex Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 296	ultimately i would like a reef tank. by stating in my sig that im starting a fowlr i mean that i wouldnt have any corals in there for a while since it will be a new tank. so i guess i want a reef setup. should i keep the 3-4" sand bed, or move the sand bed to the fuge and leave about 2" left?

02/12/2008, 09:31 PM	#8
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	You could move some to the fuge but i would keep around 3 inches. For best results in a reef tank you want to add stock in a controlled way. Start with basics water test kit,Amount of LR and LS with all equipment ,quality water source and lights then let it cycle. Whene cycled add a few CUC then wait if readings stay good the in a week or 2 add a fish or soft coral then wait and if readings stay good then add more CUC and a fish or coral then wait and repeat. For a reef tank consider fish that will help control algea and keep SB clean.Use them as a tool for water quality and MB a few for eye candy.

02/12/2008, 09:45 PM	#10
c0mp\|ex Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 296	yes i am still cycling. i dont plan on adding anything soon though until the cycle is done i know about adding stuff slowly thats why my sig says fowlr. i was just planning on adding the clowns. my readings show 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 10ppm nitrate. i got the rock from a friends tank. so it was pretty much cured but im letting it cure some more in case. my display is completely clean, no algea and rocks are covered in purple coraline. all the frags (2 shrooms and a colony of button polyps) that came with the rock are looking healthy. there is a diatom bloom in my fuge so i am waiting it out. i guess ill leave the sand