Sand Dunes

JMorris271 · 09/07/2016, 11:02 AM

dune2.jpg

Hi RC

Can you please tell me how to not have these mounds form?
I have 2 WP40's pointed to the mid back of a 120 gal tank.

Thanks Ya'll

mcgyvr · 09/07/2016, 11:06 AM

You know why they are forming right?
So correct that.. Either reducing flow, moving the location,etc..

thegrun · 09/07/2016, 11:24 AM

You need either bigger grained sand, less flow, redirect existing flow or a combination of the three.

jayball · 09/07/2016, 03:53 PM

If the sand is new, after a while the biofilm that develops will help stay in place. Other than that X2 to thegrun

JMorris271 · 09/07/2016, 03:53 PM

OK. I flubbed it. I don't know why I thought the sand I purchased would work in my setup. I suppose somewhere I read not to use too coarse a grade sand or whatever.
The sand I got is too fine for my purposes. Carrib Sea Premium Fijji Pink
What is the safest way to take about half out and mix it with a coarser type?
I do have fish in the tank now.
Thanks

shellsea · 09/07/2016, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMorris271

OK. I flubbed it. I don't know why I thought the sand I purchased would work in my setup. I suppose somewhere I read not to use too coarse a grade sand or whatever.
The sand I got is too fine for my purposes. Carrib Sea Premium Fijji Pink
What is the safest way to take about half out and mix it with a coarser type?
I do have fish in the tank now.
Thanks

I would play around with flow direction or rock formations that impact the flow before removing sand. If you do end removing some do it gradually. a little out, a little in with a week or more in-between depending on how old the sand is.

JMorris271 · 09/07/2016, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shellsea

I would play around with flow direction or rock formations that impact the flow before removing sand. If you do end removing some do it gradually. a little out, a little in with a week or more in-between depending on how old the sand is.

Thanks Jack for responding.
I have been doing that and now it occurs to me it still stirs more than I would like with my hands in the tank. Dunes aside.. I don't want to deal with a sand storm whenever I want to work in there.

billdogg · 09/07/2016, 05:42 PM

I have sugar fine sand in my 120. Sure, it has gotten moved around some by the power heads. IMHO, it looks more natural that way

kmbyrnes · 09/07/2016, 06:07 PM

I have sugar sand in my 125. I wouldn't do it again, but I am sticking with it because it does have a more natural look as it shifts about. Also, the thought of cleaning ANOTHER 100#'s of sand is not very appealing.

09/07/2016, 11:06 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	You know why they are forming right? So correct that.. Either reducing flow, moving the location,etc.. __________________ Who me?

09/07/2016, 03:53 PM	#5
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	OK. I flubbed it. I don't know why I thought the sand I purchased would work in my setup. I suppose somewhere I read not to use too coarse a grade sand or whatever. The sand I got is too fine for my purposes. Carrib Sea Premium Fijji Pink What is the safest way to take about half out and mix it with a coarser type? I do have fish in the tank now. Thanks __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....

09/07/2016, 05:42 PM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have sugar fine sand in my 120. Sure, it has gotten moved around some by the power heads. IMHO, it looks more natural that way __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/07/2016, 06:07 PM	#9
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	I have sugar sand in my 125. I wouldn't do it again, but I am sticking with it because it does have a more natural look as it shifts about. Also, the thought of cleaning ANOTHER 100#'s of sand is not very appealing. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

09/07/2016, 11:24 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You need either bigger grained sand, less flow, redirect existing flow or a combination of the three.

09/07/2016, 03:53 PM	#4
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	If the sand is new, after a while the biofilm that develops will help stay in place. Other than that X2 to thegrun