|
|
|
04/14/2006, 08:42 PM
|
#1 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 102
|
Deep or shallow sand bed
After reading the 'Substrate Choices' article, I still cannot decide.
I am having green hairy algae problem, and I think it is because of the abandant nitrate level. I have a very shallow sand bed, less than one inch. The LFS guy said I do not need a deep sand bed when I set up my tank. I did everything I could to clear the algae but am still losing. I have a SeaClone skimmer and will replace it with a Corallife. The next thing I want to do is to add more sand to my 46 gallon tank. My two questions are: Will a deeper sand bed help? Is Corallfie 125 suitable for my tank please? Thank you. 
__________________
Corallife 220 skimmer, 2 x 900 Litres JBJ Powerhead, 20 gall sump with refugium, Corrallife PC 2x96, 65 gallon tank, 55 lb LR, 20 lb. LS |
|
|
|
04/14/2006, 08:53 PM
|
#2 |
|
To the Max...
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,364
|
Not sure about the skimmer – but it has gotten pretty good reviews. As for nutrients (nitrates), they are caused by poor maintenance and overfeeding. If you have mechanical filtration it has to be cleaned often (depending on stocking). Shallow sand beds have to be siphoned regularly and the rockwork blown off by a turkey baster as least once a month else nitrates will rise. Feeding should be done more often but in smaller amounts; enough for fish to finish in less than a minute normally. I would add sand to your bed – 2†is the sweet spot according to most scientists. Even in DSB’s 90% of denitrification happens in the first few inches. DSBs are good only when you have a large amount of area to dedicate to them (long aquariums vs tall). In your tank I doubt you would see much better results. So, in the end, even if you decide on a DSB if you neglect maintenance and over feed you’ll still end up with high nutrients. DSBs also only work in low bioload environments; in a tank your size it would mean a max of only two or three fish.
|
|
|
|
|
04/14/2006, 08:53 PM
|
#3 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 2,843
|
I don't think the sandbed has anything to do with it. Typically algae is caused by nutrients not being exported quickly enough. Your skimmer needs to work very well and flow is also an important factor in reducing algae.
I have a shallow sand bed and have had zero problems with algae. You can see my tank here. You will need to start at the second page because I ran out of space on the RC server for some of the pics. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=780206 This may also help. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=147010 http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm Phosphorus also causes algae. See this. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2002/chem.htm Regards, Pat
__________________
90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
