does sand really die after 2 years?

nicolicious · 05/04/2007, 04:39 PM

i was at my lfs getting new bulkheads (another story about leaking) when i overheard the reason why all of there tanks are bare bottom. he said no one really knows exactly why buy after about 2years the sand in the tank dies and needs to be replaced. he also said that could be a possible reason for algea blooms in 1-2 year old tanks...

anyone clarify this for me?

Travis L. Stevens · 05/04/2007, 04:42 PM

He's referring to "Old Tank Syndrome". It has neither been proven or disproven. There are many tanks that crash within two years and even more tanks that stay up for many years after that. Here is some more reading on it.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006...vated%20carbon

I personally don't believe in it, because with proper maintenance and husbandry, you're bound to go above and beyond.

tanku · 05/04/2007, 04:42 PM

well, I have had a dsb for over 4 years now, and my tank is flourishing.

RobSW1 · 05/04/2007, 05:06 PM

my lfs store tends to keep all his stick tanks BB because tthey are easier to clean, and the fish are easier to catch, when the water is not clowdy from sand.....other than that i will not say anything for fear of starting WWIII

drummereef · 05/04/2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nicolicious
i was at my lfs getting new bulkheads (another story about leaking) when i overheard the reason why all of there tanks are bare bottom. he said no one really knows exactly why buy after about 2years the sand in the tank dies and needs to be replaced. he also said that could be a possible reason for algea blooms in 1-2 year old tanks...

anyone clarify this for me?

I find this to be untrue. With proper husbandry any sand bed will remain alive for years and years. I've had mine over 10 years.

nicolicious · 05/04/2007, 06:13 PM

now i just have to figure out what that means.....I read somewhere on melvs site that he washes out the sand but keeps a couple of cupfulls to re-seed the newly washed sand....

is that what husbandry means?
or are you talking about animals....

elegance coral · 05/04/2007, 06:28 PM

husbandry has a wide meaning, but basicly its the hobiest doing the right thing by caring for his/her aquarium. The correct lighting and filtration for your animals, No large groupers with small clowns, maintenance.
Drummereef is correct. My sand has got to be around 15 years old. The only reason sand would die is if someone was doing something very wrong.

drummereef · 05/04/2007, 06:54 PM

Thank you elegance coral. Yes, husbandry is basically, in so many words, taking care of your aquarium and its inhabitants. A deep sand bed imo requires plenty of flow, a proper cleanup crew, and it will need to be replenished over time. However, they require very little maintenance once they are going. If set up and maintained properly you should get years of use from them.

Sk8r · 05/04/2007, 07:05 PM

Good answers here.

I had a crushed coral [not recommended] that lasted 5 years at least: but in the old days we used to clean them out with a diatom filter---deliberately stir the sandbed and then diatom-filter the daylights out of the result.
Stir a sandbed without that quality filter and you risk instant death for your tank, because of pockets of nastiness.

I'd say if your tank is a year old, and the sandbed is getting nasty, and you're getting nervous, consider either a sandsifting fish like a diamond goby if your tank is 50 or more gallons; or a diatom filter if you're under it. [Do NOT get a sandsifter until you have plenty of muck for him!]

05/04/2007, 04:39 PM	#1
nicolicious Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 202	does sand really die after 2 years? i was at my lfs getting new bulkheads (another story about leaking) when i overheard the reason why all of there tanks are bare bottom. he said no one really knows exactly why buy after about 2years the sand in the tank dies and needs to be replaced. he also said that could be a possible reason for algea blooms in 1-2 year old tanks... anyone clarify this for me?

05/04/2007, 04:42 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	He's referring to "Old Tank Syndrome". It has neither been proven or disproven. There are many tanks that crash within two years and even more tanks that stay up for many years after that. Here is some more reading on it. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006...vated%20carbon I personally don't believe in it, because with proper maintenance and husbandry, you're bound to go above and beyond. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

05/04/2007, 04:42 PM	#3
tanku Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: santa maria, ca Posts: 378	well, I have had a dsb for over 4 years now, and my tank is flourishing. __________________ 90 gal glass 70 lbs lr 5" dsb AQUA C URCHIN SKIMMER MONTIPORAS ZOOS SHROOMS

05/04/2007, 06:13 PM	#6
nicolicious Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 202	husbandry? now i just have to figure out what that means.....I read somewhere on melvs site that he washes out the sand but keeps a couple of cupfulls to re-seed the newly washed sand.... is that what husbandry means? or are you talking about animals....

05/04/2007, 06:28 PM	#7
elegance coral They call me EC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central Florida Posts: 6,208	husbandry has a wide meaning, but basicly its the hobiest doing the right thing by caring for his/her aquarium. The correct lighting and filtration for your animals, No large groupers with small clowns, maintenance. Drummereef is correct. My sand has got to be around 15 years old. The only reason sand would die is if someone was doing something very wrong. __________________ "Most of the failures with marine aquaria are due to lack of knowledge of the biological processes that occur in the aquarium." Martin A. Moe, Jr. "A scientist seeks the truth, wherever that may lead. A believer already knows the truth, and cannot be swayed no matter how compelling the evidence." Current Tank Info: I'm trying to see how many tanks will fit in my house before the wife loses it.

05/04/2007, 05:06 PM	#4
RobSW1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tallahassee, Florida FSU Posts: 244	my lfs store tends to keep all his stick tanks BB because tthey are easier to clean, and the fish are easier to catch, when the water is not clowdy from sand.....other than that i will not say anything for fear of starting WWIII

05/04/2007, 06:54 PM	#8
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Thank you elegance coral. Yes, husbandry is basically, in so many words, taking care of your aquarium and its inhabitants. A deep sand bed imo requires plenty of flow, a proper cleanup crew, and it will need to be replenished over time. However, they require very little maintenance once they are going. If set up and maintained properly you should get years of use from them. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/04/2007, 07:05 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Good answers here. I had a crushed coral [not recommended] that lasted 5 years at least: but in the old days we used to clean them out with a diatom filter---deliberately stir the sandbed and then diatom-filter the daylights out of the result. Stir a sandbed without that quality filter and you risk instant death for your tank, because of pockets of nastiness. I'd say if your tank is a year old, and the sandbed is getting nasty, and you're getting nervous, consider either a sandsifting fish like a diamond goby if your tank is 50 or more gallons; or a diatom filter if you're under it. [Do NOT get a sandsifter until you have plenty of muck for him!] __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.