Cloudy tank/Deep sand bed

amydale3 · 11/01/2011, 10:16 AM

Hey,

Been hearing different opinions on deep sand beds. Need some help determining what's best for my set up. My tank is cloudy and I was told adding to my sand bed may help. Is this true. I've started out with 1/2 inch of sand and need to know what you'd suggest for a 60g. 48x12x24. I only have 3 small fish and a small clean up crew of 10 hermit crabs (hermit crabs ate my snails).
I've got an aquamaxx hob 2 skimmer, 1050 powerhead, I've even tried using a hob power filter. I have nearly 10LBS of live rock and 25LBS of dried coral (that I was told would become live) Maybe you could let me know on that one as well.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

username in use · 11/01/2011, 10:22 AM

Well, to start with you could up your rock to about 65-75 lbs. More sand is not the answer.

How long has the tank been set up? How did you set it up?

Personally, 1/2" to an inch is right where you want to be unless you go a full 6" but that is whole other discussion. I would leave the sand. Thats not a lot of flow for that amount of water, upping it could help the O2 exchange and allow the rock to filter more water.

What are your parameters, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alk, cal, these things can help us narrow it down.

amydale3 · 11/01/2011, 10:32 AM

My per. are all good. My tank has been set up for 4 years. Was FO for the first 2, ever since I tried adding coral, it's been the dumps. Cool, so more LR. That's a start. Another power head. Okay. I'll start with that. Too bad my hermits love the taste of snails. LOL

username in use · 11/01/2011, 05:44 PM

You can keep your snails alive if your hermits are well fed and there are empty shells for them to take when they grow.

calbert0 · 11/01/2011, 05:56 PM

Are you currently adding any supplements to your tank? Whats your lighting setup, how long has it been since you've replaced bulbs? Are you running a skimmer? Activated Carbon? You mentioned HOB filters, so i am guessing you dont have a sump/refugium? How often do you do water changes, and at what % of the total volume?

amydale3 · 11/02/2011, 10:15 AM

I add, calcium and alk once a week, 2x54 t-5 (6mths old), Aqua maxx Hob2 skimmer, Tried aqua clean 70 with carbon, phosguard and polywool, no sump/refugium. Water change weekly of 10%.

11/01/2011, 10:16 AM	#1
amydale3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North Bay, Canada Posts: 18	Cloudy tank/Deep sand bed Hey, Been hearing different opinions on deep sand beds. Need some help determining what's best for my set up. My tank is cloudy and I was told adding to my sand bed may help. Is this true. I've started out with 1/2 inch of sand and need to know what you'd suggest for a 60g. 48x12x24. I only have 3 small fish and a small clean up crew of 10 hermit crabs (hermit crabs ate my snails). I've got an aquamaxx hob 2 skimmer, 1050 powerhead, I've even tried using a hob power filter. I have nearly 10LBS of live rock and 25LBS of dried coral (that I was told would become live) Maybe you could let me know on that one as well. Any help would be great. Thanks

11/01/2011, 10:22 AM	#2
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Well, to start with you could up your rock to about 65-75 lbs. More sand is not the answer. How long has the tank been set up? How did you set it up? Personally, 1/2" to an inch is right where you want to be unless you go a full 6" but that is whole other discussion. I would leave the sand. Thats not a lot of flow for that amount of water, upping it could help the O2 exchange and allow the rock to filter more water. What are your parameters, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alk, cal, these things can help us narrow it down. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

11/01/2011, 05:44 PM	#4
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	You can keep your snails alive if your hermits are well fed and there are empty shells for them to take when they grow. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sand bed in Refugium?	educom	New to the Hobby	11	09/19/2013 06:13 AM
Sand bed depth	SlvrSurfRidr	Nano Reefs	3	06/30/2011 03:33 PM
Turns out my sand bed is silica based....	nanshaw2001	Reef Discussion	5	05/29/2011 12:54 PM
Deep sand bed or shallow?	JStraz4991	New to the Hobby	21	12/07/2010 09:10 PM
To deep sand bed or not to deep sand bed?	Sean P.	Marine Aquarists Roundtable of Sacramento (MARS)	20	02/26/2009 08:05 PM

11/01/2011, 10:32 AM	#3
amydale3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North Bay, Canada Posts: 18	My per. are all good. My tank has been set up for 4 years. Was FO for the first 2, ever since I tried adding coral, it's been the dumps. Cool, so more LR. That's a start. Another power head. Okay. I'll start with that. Too bad my hermits love the taste of snails. LOL

11/01/2011, 05:56 PM	#5
calbert0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: City of Chicago Posts: 198	Are you currently adding any supplements to your tank? Whats your lighting setup, how long has it been since you've replaced bulbs? Are you running a skimmer? Activated Carbon? You mentioned HOB filters, so i am guessing you dont have a sump/refugium? How often do you do water changes, and at what % of the total volume?

11/02/2011, 10:15 AM	#6
amydale3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North Bay, Canada Posts: 18	I add, calcium and alk once a week, 2x54 t-5 (6mths old), Aqua maxx Hob2 skimmer, Tried aqua clean 70 with carbon, phosguard and polywool, no sump/refugium. Water change weekly of 10%.