Silt from new sandbed

LBCBJ · 05/31/2006, 03:38 PM

Ok, I added my sandbed 2 days ago and now it has finally settled. The problem is now I have like an inch of silt on top of the sandbed. I bought a vacuum, but all it does is suck up all my water (18 gallon nano) including my sand and kicks it all up again. What can I do!?

bertoni · 05/31/2006, 03:54 PM

I don't vacuum my sandbed at all. The silt should settle down over time in any case, as animals start rearranging the sandbed.

LBCBJ · 05/31/2006, 05:22 PM

Well the problem is I have no mechanical filter, only a skimmer, so I'm not sure how to get it out. Now anytime I put my hand in there it stirs it up = very cloudy. I can't imagine what will happen when I add live rock.

bertoni · 05/31/2006, 05:26 PM

I don't use mechanical filters, either. If you want, you can siphon out the silt and discard it, although it'll likely help support animals in your sand. Over time, the silt will stop clouding the tank, in my experience, anyway.

LBCBJ · 05/31/2006, 05:31 PM

Ok, that sounds logical. Thanks

AZDesertRat · 05/31/2006, 05:52 PM

Once the sandbed becomes populated with bacteria it will settle like a rock. Don't waste the fines they are a very important part of the DSB.

SpaceAce · 05/31/2006, 06:09 PM

Leave the silt alone. it will settle. like others said, the bacteria will keep it out of the water

05/31/2006, 03:38 PM	#1
LBCBJ Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 1,332	Silt from new sandbed Ok, I added my sandbed 2 days ago and now it has finally settled. The problem is now I have like an inch of silt on top of the sandbed. I bought a vacuum, but all it does is suck up all my water (18 gallon nano) including my sand and kicks it all up again. What can I do!?

05/31/2006, 03:54 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't vacuum my sandbed at all. The silt should settle down over time in any case, as animals start rearranging the sandbed. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/31/2006, 05:22 PM	#3
LBCBJ Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 1,332	Well the problem is I have no mechanical filter, only a skimmer, so I'm not sure how to get it out. Now anytime I put my hand in there it stirs it up = very cloudy. I can't imagine what will happen when I add live rock. __________________ Brent

05/31/2006, 05:26 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't use mechanical filters, either. If you want, you can siphon out the silt and discard it, although it'll likely help support animals in your sand. Over time, the silt will stop clouding the tank, in my experience, anyway. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/31/2006, 05:31 PM	#5
LBCBJ Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 1,332	Ok, that sounds logical. Thanks __________________ Brent

05/31/2006, 05:52 PM	#6
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Once the sandbed becomes populated with bacteria it will settle like a rock. Don't waste the fines they are a very important part of the DSB.

05/31/2006, 06:09 PM	#7
SpaceAce Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 52	Leave the silt alone. it will settle. like others said, the bacteria will keep it out of the water