Disturbing a DSB ?
 

I'm re-aquascaping the left side of my tank and going to build 2 or 3 pillars. To do this, I'm going to have to set the PVC bases for my pillars all the way down to the bottom glass. I have a 4" DSB that has been up for 9 months and is going to take a major jostling as I set up these PVC bases to support the pillars.

By disturbing the DSB, what type of affect do you think this is going to have?

You can borrow my shopvac and suck all the sand out. Then you won't have to worry about it. :lol:

Seriously though... I don't think it will harm anything.

Dont laugh I did that once on a 55 gallon filled with dolamite with a rented shop vac that would suck the chrome off a bumper, fastest tank break down I ever did, it worked out real sweet!

I have a shopvac just to use for sucking up the detritus in my reef tank and sump.

I laughed because I meant for him to make his tank barebottom. It was a joke. :)

no barebottom here!

That was T.M.I. (To Much Info).

back on track now!

Do you think messing with the DSB is going to release a noxious amount of . . . . into the water?

All you're going to do is push a few pieces of pvc down into the sand right?

If that's the case it should have no ill effects.

It's going to be a "T" shaped frame about 30" in either direction.

I'd say as long as you take it easy and don't stir the sandbed up into the water column it should be ok. Your sandbed is kind of young in that it's only 9 months old. I'm no DSB expert though. :)

I'd ask in the reef discussion forum. I think you would get better responses in there.

Thanks Mike. I've already decided, it's going down on Sat. and there will be pillars! Hopefully my skimmer will take care of the residual problem I bring about.

I believe there is possibility of your releasing toxic Hydrogen sulfide gasses into your tank. You might want to write into WWM on that one. Maybe contact Ron Shimeck & ask him.
[url]http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm[/url]

If your sandbed it thriving with live, then there should be no problems. If worm and pod populations are weak, either because they were never widely introduced or have been decimated by some chemical treatments (Interceptor, Flatworm Exit, etc) then you could be in trouble.

A localized cyano outbreak that should clear up in a couple weeks, but nothing to worry about in a healthy reef.

Should not be a real problem since it is somewhat only localized. You may have a local bloom but it will pass in 2-4 weeks. Also, a Goby or Narcissus snails will find all sorts of stuff to munch on in the newly turned sand. Be a little more vigilant on some water changes after your pillars are in place.