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#1
06/25/2007, 11:57 AM
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Keeping sand cleaner!
The sand in my 75g reef is really starting to get dirty. There are several sand snails but they don't seem to do a very good job.
I've tried vaccuming the sand a couple of times, but everytime I do, it ends up sucking up a lot of the sand bed, and the critters that live in it. For now, I use my fingers to stir it up a little, but then the tank is cloudy for hours. Is there a better way to keep it clean?? |
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#3
06/25/2007, 01:23 PM
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What do you mean by dirty? Detritus or is it some kind of living mat (diatoms/red slime algae)? Does it disappear a few hours after the lights go out?
A lot of things can help... more flow more skimming more janitors... what does your janitorial crew consist of? I have patches in my tank in the sand that develops some sort of funk, but it's photosynthetic -- it diminishes nearly completely at night. And it's only where the light reaches the sandbed. I have about 1-2" of fine grain sand in my 20g. -- usually a sign of too high of a nutrient load in the tank as I understand it. My crew consists of: a peppermint shrimp 2 nassirius snails 2 cerith snails 2 astrea snails 2 other snails 3 hermit crabs (2 blue legged, 1 red legged) hth -M |
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#5
06/25/2007, 01:50 PM
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Sorry to Thread-jack here. But mine is a thick layer of red slime algae. I've got probably 20 assorted snails, some the size of golf balls, and 10 hermits, and a sea hare. For a 90 gallon tank.
I'm looking forward to what people have to say. |
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#6
06/25/2007, 02:16 PM
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Quote:
-M |
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#7
06/25/2007, 02:21 PM
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The tank has been up for probably a year now.
And it isn't really algae, its like brown dust. I thought about buying a diamond sleeper goby but they seem like they do a great job cleaning the sand but make a mess in the process? There is roughly 60 lbs of fiji live sand, probably an inch and a half deep sand bed. I feed frozen foods three times a week, but it never seems like it goes to waste. There are tons of hermits and sand snails... |
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#8
06/25/2007, 02:31 PM
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Quote:
Increasing flow and better nutrient export (skimmer/chaeto/chemical filtration) are usually the best way to take care of it. |
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#9
06/25/2007, 02:31 PM
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Is it there in the morning before your lights come on in the same density?
If so, then the next question would be how much flow do you have in the tank. powerheads, sump returns, etc.. gallons/hour... -M |
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#10
06/25/2007, 02:39 PM
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why don't you just vaccum it off the next time you do a water change? that or +1 on a dragon goby. mine cleaned my brown sand bed in one day and made it white again.
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#12
06/25/2007, 05:32 PM
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My diamond goby takes care of mine. But i would look at flow as well. I just got the goby so I don't have to worry about it. I had so much flow it pushed all the sand in the corners of the tank.
__________________
Please QT your new purchases. |
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#13
06/26/2007, 09:48 AM
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My filtration is a 18g sump/refugium. The refugium is full of calupra algea. I also have a UV sterilizer, phosban reactor, and skimmer. A mag 5 pump for return. Three maxi jet powerheads for circulation.
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#14
06/26/2007, 11:26 AM
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what sized maxi-jets? 600? 900? 1200?
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#15
06/26/2007, 12:04 PM
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You may have about 15X turnover at best.
If you have the money to spend I would suggest you replace your MJ's with two SEIO 620's The flow is much better.
__________________
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. |
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#16
06/26/2007, 12:49 PM
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Quote:
I would love to, trust me!  it's on my list, but I just bought a new home and have a baby on the way in Sept. so, we are trying to cut back on costs., and I need to upgrade my skimmer badly before I buy new powerheads. |
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#18
06/26/2007, 09:04 PM
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__________________
Cincinnati? Where's that? :D |
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#19
06/26/2007, 11:22 PM
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Quote:
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#20
06/27/2007, 12:38 AM
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Quote:
__________________
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. |
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#21
06/27/2007, 08:17 PM
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Quote:
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#22
06/27/2007, 09:18 PM
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Flow, flow, flow, and an adequate skimmer or a regularly cleaned filter sock. Did I mention flow?
__________________
The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers. All statements have been peer reviewed. |
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#23
06/27/2007, 09:48 PM
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Mallyk, I know how you feel...I went through this post about a month ago. I have an overrated skimmer for my tank, and lately I switch my Hydor's direction daily. The junk gets sent up, and the skimmer does it's job.
I myself have: 5 nassarius snails 3 hermits 2 Zebra Turbos 6 Margarite Snails I will just continue on my current path until "This sand is clean"
__________________
A quote from my daughter Logan (after discussing "salt in wounds") "Yeah, and that's why you don't go swimming after you get bit by a shark" |
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