dsb cleaning?

[xxchris060]

I have about 2-3 inches of dsb. If it gets stirred up it make the water very cloudy. Should i clean my sand by sucking out the dirt or leave it.

 

[chevans]

You actually do not want to vacuum or clean the sand bed. That is were the bacterias are naturally cleaned. By stirring this up will only caused havoc to your tank and its parameters, can be very devastating. This is what I have learned from reading posts on this site and from books I've checked out.
Good Luck!

 

[fishman830]

what kind of sand are you using?

 

[xxchris060]

aragonite

 

[nm reef]

If its relatively new sand then there will be some cloudy effect...until it establishs and gets sufficient bacteria built up. Which will sort of weigh the fine particles down and keep it from getting in the water column. How much circulation are you running and are there any powerheads or returns close to the sand. The finer particles are very good for the sand bed and I'd just be patient ubtil they settle.:thinking:

 

[xxchris060]

It settles faily quickly. It is several years old. I am just not happy with it looking dirty and I wanted to clean it. I have 4 power heads in the tank and the circulation is very good.

 

[bang guy]

You need to add some high quality live sand like the Premium snd sold on this site. It will contain the animals required to keep your sand bed clean.

 

[xxchris060]

If and when i do that should i remove the sand i have in there now or just add it on top?

 

[reefpunk]

Well it depends on how much sand you have in there right now I would say keep about 1inch of the sand you have now and then put your new sand on top of that. i would say make you sand bed about 2-3inchs that should be good.

 

[bang guy]

Just add the sand on top. You don't need much, the 20 pound box should do just fine.