Cleaning Gravel Under Live Rock - Is It Needed?

triton

triton

Member
Hello Folks,
I wanted to get your thoughts about cleaning my crushed coral under live rock, and in some places behind it.
I have heard you can develop poisonous dead areas under the rocks if you do not periodically move them and clean under them.
Does anyone have any experience in this area?
Thanks
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Triton
Hello Folks,
I wanted to get your thoughts about cleaning my crushed coral under live rock, and in some places behind it.
I have heard you can develop poisonous dead areas under the rocks if you do not periodically move them and clean under them.
Does anyone have any experience in this area?
Thanks
I do not have crushed coral and advise new hobbiests against it. There are people on these boards that swear by CC though. Keep bumping this untill you find someone who actually has success with CC.
 
triton

triton

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
I do not have crushed coral and advise new hobbiests against it. There are people on these boards that swear by CC though. Keep bumping this untill you find someone who actually has success with CC.
Hello Sepulatian,
What are some of the issues with CC? Does it raise nitrates?
Thanks
 
promisetbg

promisetbg

Active Member
The problems associated with CC are high nitrates and just a general dirty look. Nitrates will not reduce in CC as they will with a sandbed. Benthic beneficial organisms do not inhabit CC as they would a sandbed. If CC is going to be kept, then cleaning it diligently is a must. Have you considered removing it & replacing with sand?
 
triton

triton

Member
Originally Posted by promisetbg
The problems associated with CC are high nitrates and just a general dirty look. Nitrates will not reduce in CC as they will with a sandbed. Benthic beneficial organisms do not inhabit CC as they would a sandbed. If CC is going to be kept, then cleaning it diligently is a must. Have you considered removing it & replacing with sand?
I have thought about it, but it is kind of a pain. I would have to remove everything, and than scoop out all of the CC. How would you recommend doing that?
Does the live sand need to be cured?
 
promisetbg

promisetbg

Active Member
Remove all LR & tank inhabitants to large rubbermaid with heater & powerhead. Make some saltwater to put back what is displaced.Place new sand,cover with black trash bag or plate or something so that when water is replaced it won't disturb the sand. Replace rock, fish, etc. Monitor closely for a few days, and have change water on hand if needed. If you do this, and remove the bioballs, I think your system would be much healthier overall.
 
triton

triton

Member
Originally Posted by promisetbg
Remove all LR & tank inhabitants to large rubbermaid with heater & powerhead. Make some saltwater to put back what is displaced.Place new sand,cover with black trash bag or plate or something so that when water is replaced it won't disturb the sand. Replace rock, fish, etc. Monitor closely for a few days, and have change water on hand if needed. If you do this, and remove the bioballs, I think your system would be much healthier overall.
Do you mean put a cover over the sand in the tank? If you do not do this, what are the issues?
Also, are you looking for a sand bed 2" deep?
 
daddyjama

daddyjama

Member
I actually just switched over from Crushed Coral. It was mixed with white live sand. My tank did okay. I never had issues. It did look dirtier and just not as smooth as after i put the sand in. In hindsight, i could have put the coral on the bottom and then an inch of sand over it...i hear that's a good combination..i sure there are millions of ways to do it
I drained all the water into a giant tub.(55 gallons)...took all the live rock and just used a big cup to scoop it all out.
I replaced it with black calcite sand...with sprinkles of white live sand to give it .."the look" i wanted, replaced the rock filled with water then put the fish back in. Only problem is that i didt wash the calcite...and i got all this junk all over everything. It looked like ash al over..so i had to break it down again and wash the rocks and vaccum the top layer of sand to get rid of it. Still got a little ash here and there but i'm lookin to get a sand sifter..hopefuuly he will take care of it.
BA
 
thereefkeeper

thereefkeeper

Member
I have used CC for years. There is a lot more work to keeping it, and as promisetbg said it does nothing to help on nitrate issues. However, LR will offset this issue (high nitrates) if the tank is not overpopulated. I do have a tank with CC and a covering sandbed and that works fine as well. I must admit that with my last tank I went to LS only, as it frees up a bit of time in cleaning. My only suggestion is to take care of large detrius piles around LR. Happy Reefing!
 
promisetbg

promisetbg

Active Member
Sand will work it's way down through the CC eventually. This combo does not allow for proper denitrification the same as a sandbed with fine particle size.
 
hatessushi

hatessushi

Active Member
With just LS I found the best way is to let my diamond goby clean it out from around the rocks and thats what he does.
 
thereefkeeper

thereefkeeper

Member
Originally Posted by promisetbg
Sand will work it's way down through the CC eventually. This combo does not allow for proper denitrification the same as a sandbed with fine particle size.
Agreed, but for beginners it (CC and LS mix) eliminates the chance of sulfur dioxide contamination in the water that can occur without a plenum and a the use of a thick sand bed. Sand beds can be great, but to the beginner, can cause catastrophic damage if not properly cared for. The CC allows for enough water movement (hense aerobic nitrification) that a pure sandbed left unstired by external means (sand sifter) does not have.
I am sure you already are aware of this, just trying to help others. I agree the the pure sandbed is best, but beginners should be wary of the responsibility that comes with the SB.
 
triton

triton

Member
Originally Posted by TheReefKeeper
Agreed, but for beginners it (CC and LS mix) eliminates the chance of sulfur dioxide contamination in the water that can occur without a plenum and a the use of a thick sand bed. Sand beds can be great, but to the beginner, can cause catastrophic damage if not properly cared for. The CC allows for enough water movement (hense aerobic nitrification) that a pure sandbed left unstired by external means (sand sifter) does not have.
I am sure you already are aware of this, just trying to help others. I agree the the pure sandbed is best, but beginners should be wary of the responsibility that comes with the SB.

I am kind of confused about this statement. I thought SB were supposed to be virtually maintenance free, and not require vacuming?
What type of responsibility are your referring to?
 
thereefkeeper

thereefkeeper

Member
Very thick SB ( I am talking 5" and greater) can cause Sulfur dioxide to form from the anarobic (lack of oxygen) bacterial process. Sand beds are packed tightly and do not allow for much oxygen exchange (this is the whole purpose). However, if there are no sand sifters (stars, clams, CC) the sand can become completely void of oxygen and the sulfur contamination occur. I have not personally had this happen, but have friends who have (when SB just started becoming popular). You wake up (occurs most often in the morning due to low light levels and no oxygen production through photosynthisis) and you smell rotten eggs (not very strong but enough that you recognize it). By this time it is most likely too late for your fishy friends. I am making it sound worse that it is. Just keep in mind that a THICK sandbed that is great for removing nitrates can also have it's own drawbacks. I hope I explained that well enough. :thinking:
 
triton

triton

Member
Originally Posted by TheReefKeeper
Also, (sorry I forgot) you are correct that for the most part SB are semi-maintanance free. No vacuuming required. :joy:
Will a 2" sandbed offer some value at removing nitrates?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top