How to go bare bottom?

Mikefallen13 · 04/23/2013, 01:21 PM

I have been having problems with my sand bed for several months now and I've had enough. First, I made the mistake of using super fine sand which blows EVERYWHERE if I even bump a power head. Second, it looks terrible. As I can't have any good amount of flow, detritus has built up and is causing nutrient issues. So what is the best way to remove sand? And is it going to cause my tank to cycle again? Any ideas?

Nator · 04/23/2013, 02:48 PM

maybe as part of a large water change, you could siphon the sand out as well... might take a few water changes but the nutrients should mainly go with the sand out the siphon. There are probably benefits and less risks to reducing it over time vs. one big swoop.

trinity1012 · 04/23/2013, 02:50 PM

i had the same problem..since going BB.i could not be happier.wont ever go with sand again.just get a hose and suck it out.i would do a little at a time if possible.i had no problems with it.good luck to you

djp2313 · 04/23/2013, 04:06 PM

As long as your sandbed is not a DSB then you will be fine taking it all out at once. Otherwise I would limit it to 25% per water change just in case.

Mikefallen13 · 04/23/2013, 04:47 PM

It is pretty deep 2 1/2" in some places, so I'll take a little out at a time. I have to say using that sand was one of the biggest mistakes when I setup this tank. Thanks or the help!

Wills612 · 04/23/2013, 05:43 PM

I had 1.5-2" sand bed. I siphoned as much sand out as I could with my normal water change. 4 changes later most sand was out. Removed coral and lr for final vacuum. A few more water changes to get all the residual sand that fell from rocks. I've been bb for 3-4 months and love it.

Dr Colliebreath · 04/23/2013, 05:48 PM

I would take the sand out a bit at a time over a couple of weeks, say no more than 25% at a time. Remember, it is part of your biofilter and your live rock will have to provide additional bacteria to make up for what is removed with the sand.

d0ughb0y · 04/23/2013, 06:12 PM

Scoop whatever you can each week. Then once you scooped out all that you can, you will need to take all the rocks out and remove the rest. Then put the rocks back etc. that's what I did. IMHO, if you don't do that, you will still have enough sand left over that was causing you all the problems and grief. If you want to do it, go 100% bare bottom, not 90%.

ridetheducati · 04/23/2013, 07:52 PM

For such a small tank, take out all rock and sand replace rock (aggressively dip rock in salt water to remove all detritus). 100% water change. Small diatom bloom for a couple of weeks and system will be back to normal.

codyreed29 · 04/23/2013, 08:01 PM

I was thinking that adding a small amount of sand that I can clean weekly would work. I just like the visuale that it gives the tank. Maybe just enough to be a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch.

MARINECRITTERS · 04/23/2013, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codyreed29

I was thinking that adding a small amount of sand that I can clean weekly would work. I just like the visuale that it gives the tank. Maybe just enough to be a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch.

The majority of the bacteria you have is probably living within the pores of your live rock, removing all the sand at once should not cause too much of an issue.
I would remove it all and then if you want some sand for aesthetics, then go with a larger grain sand, also only have the sand bed about 1/2inch.
If you have algae, then I imagine you have more issues in your tank then detritus piling up on the sand bed. Is your tank overstocked?, do you run a skimmer?, what about RODI water?

codyreed29 · 04/23/2013, 08:12 PM

Oh my tank is barebottom right now I had a 15 long that i made was 49 inch long and i cracked it two days ago it was a false sandbed bottom. I moved to my sump up and converted it to a aio. I'm gonna go with skimmer only.

pic of my old tank. the lights now sit on top of a 55 gallon aio tank. 33 gallon display area.

yeah large grain sands what i want Just like 15 lbs thats about a 1/2 inch. I use ro water and only have a watchman goby right now hes fine lived thru the whole ordel with me.

I plan on slowly slotcking the tank like a fish and coral a month.

Michigan Mike · 04/23/2013, 08:21 PM

If your going BB do it right with starboard on the bottom.

MARINECRITTERS · 04/23/2013, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

If your going BB do it right with starboard on the bottom.

+1 on this

saltyfishd · 04/24/2013, 06:06 AM

Good start with bb I regret using dsb...

04/23/2013, 01:21 PM	#1
Mikefallen13 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 150	How to go bare bottom? I have been having problems with my sand bed for several months now and I've had enough. First, I made the mistake of using super fine sand which blows EVERYWHERE if I even bump a power head. Second, it looks terrible. As I can't have any good amount of flow, detritus has built up and is causing nutrient issues. So what is the best way to remove sand? And is it going to cause my tank to cycle again? Any ideas? __________________ Thank you! Michael Fallen Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Gorgonian/Softie Reef, 14 Gallon BioCube

04/23/2013, 02:50 PM	#3
trinity1012 sps addict Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: spokane,wa Posts: 496	i had the same problem..since going BB.i could not be happier.wont ever go with sand again.just get a hose and suck it out.i would do a little at a time if possible.i had no problems with it.good luck to you __________________ Inland Corals 180AGA,ati 8x80 t5,2-mp40,sro3000sss,sps dominant.

04/23/2013, 04:47 PM	#5
Mikefallen13 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 150	It is pretty deep 2 1/2" in some places, so I'll take a little out at a time. I have to say using that sand was one of the biggest mistakes when I setup this tank. Thanks or the help! __________________ Thank you! Michael Fallen Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Gorgonian/Softie Reef, 14 Gallon BioCube

04/23/2013, 05:48 PM	#7
Dr Colliebreath Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC Vicinity Posts: 1,813	I would take the sand out a bit at a time over a couple of weeks, say no more than 25% at a time. Remember, it is part of your biofilter and your live rock will have to provide additional bacteria to make up for what is removed with the sand. __________________ Frank Current Tank Info: 110 Oceanic RR w/35 gal sump and SRO XP2000 int

04/23/2013, 07:52 PM	#9
ridetheducati 20 and Over Club Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 2,968	For such a small tank, take out all rock and sand replace rock (aggressively dip rock in salt water to remove all detritus). 100% water change. Small diatom bloom for a couple of weeks and system will be back to normal. __________________ "Send more paramedics" Current Tank Info: 300g DD, SPS dominated, Apex, Tunze 6125s, ATB 1050, 400w MH, and Geo 618 Ca Reactor

04/23/2013, 02:48 PM	#2
Nator Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 12	maybe as part of a large water change, you could siphon the sand out as well... might take a few water changes but the nutrients should mainly go with the sand out the siphon. There are probably benefits and less risks to reducing it over time vs. one big swoop.

04/23/2013, 04:06 PM	#4
djp2313 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 75	As long as your sandbed is not a DSB then you will be fine taking it all out at once. Otherwise I would limit it to 25% per water change just in case.

04/23/2013, 05:43 PM	#6
Wills612 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,130	I had 1.5-2" sand bed. I siphoned as much sand out as I could with my normal water change. 4 changes later most sand was out. Removed coral and lr for final vacuum. A few more water changes to get all the residual sand that fell from rocks. I've been bb for 3-4 months and love it.

04/23/2013, 06:12 PM	#8
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	Scoop whatever you can each week. Then once you scooped out all that you can, you will need to take all the rocks out and remove the rest. Then put the rocks back etc. that's what I did. IMHO, if you don't do that, you will still have enough sand left over that was causing you all the problems and grief. If you want to do it, go 100% bare bottom, not 90%.

04/23/2013, 08:01 PM	#10
codyreed29 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 892	I was thinking that adding a small amount of sand that I can clean weekly would work. I just like the visuale that it gives the tank. Maybe just enough to be a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch.

04/23/2013, 08:21 PM	#13
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	If your going BB do it right with starboard on the bottom.

04/24/2013, 06:06 AM	#15
saltyfishd Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 90620 Posts: 763	Good start with bb I regret using dsb... __________________ All is good and Good is all Current Tank Info: 12gal. Frag tank.