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09/17/2006, 11:49 AM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mass
Posts: 604
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how disruptive is this
So in my tank I have
44 lbs rock 14 assorted snails 5 hermits 1 emerald crab 1 clown 1 green chromis. I used a mixed agrogate subtrate not crushed coral but a mixed sized 1.2 - 4 mm agrogate with shell frags in there. I really like that look better than clean sand. But as you all probably know it gets crappy looking fast. I did not understand this when I stocked my tank. I I just spen a half hour using a plastic kitchen spoon with slots in it to sift the sand bed and take out some of the big chunks. I stired things up pretty good and even accidently knocked some of my rock down. Do the critters in the tank deal with this sort of thing ok or will I stress them out. Because I plan to do about 3 more cleaning like this over the next 2 weeks to get the sand a little finer i nthe areas I can reach. Some areas I cant touch and thats fine. |
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09/17/2006, 11:52 AM
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#2 |
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100-mile-commuter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: almost nevada
Posts: 4,721
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It should be fine. Unless your sand bed is very deep and old, I wouldn't worry.
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Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics |
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09/17/2006, 11:52 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Morro Bay, CA
Posts: 2,143
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How old is the tank, and what is it's volume?
The reason I ask... all tanks go through blooms of algae and diatoms as part of the stabalizing period. Instead of micro-managing your tank by cleaning the sand like that, up the flow a bit over the surface of the sand and your skimmer will deal with it. It's likely just a phase your tank is going though and isn't anything to be sifting stuff with a spork over. |
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09/17/2006, 11:54 AM
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#4 |
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Premium Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Westchester County, NY
Posts: 7,327
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I originally had crushed coral in my reef as the substrate, but when I decided that it not only looked bad but also served as a nitrate generator, I took it out by hand. I used a turkey baster to blow it forward from unreachable places so that I could get more of it out. It is a bit disruptive, but all the inverts and fish will get over it very quickly.
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I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR |
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09/17/2006, 12:28 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mass
Posts: 604
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Its a good 3 inches deep. and I put the sand in before the rock and minda wedged the rock down into it. Getting it all out is not an option. here is some older (before any critters) shot of the sand bed.
 
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09/17/2006, 01:47 PM
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#6 |
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Premium Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Westchester County, NY
Posts: 7,327
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I didn't have quite tha much, but I have a lot more rock than you do. I think that you'd be able to get just about all of it out if you wanted to. The turkey baster or, better yet, a powerhead could be used to make it all accessible to be removed with a fish net. You'd probably, if you wanted, be able to clean that stuff out.
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I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR |
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09/17/2006, 05:41 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: San Marcos, CA.
Posts: 9
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very
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