How to clean Dirty Sand?

[bang guy]

IMO you just need more sand bed infauna. Cirratulid, Terebellid, and Polychaete worms for starters. Mini-brittle stars can also help. A couple Fighting conch would be a great addition as well as a good conversation piece. The Queens don't eat detritus but will scour the bed clean of any cyano or diatoms.
I believe the worms to be the main need for you. I don't agree with keeping sand sifters in such a small area but as said before there are two sides of that fence.
Here's a good article to read, this guy is pretty much THE doctor of Sand beds: http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm

 

[wolffvet]

I think need to get a detrivoe kit because I haven't seen anything moving in my sand since I set the tank up. I even check at night with a flashlight. I am going to invest in some more smaller powerheads to place in different areas around the tank and different return pump and a seeding kit for my sandbed. I appreciate all the help from everyone

 

[bt_1999_66]

Queen Conchs....! Fighting Conchs.....! Black Sea Cucumbers...! Tiger Tail Cucumbers...!
Queen Conchs....! Fighting Conchs.....! Black Sea Cucumbers...! Tiger Tail Cucumbers...!
Queen Conchs....! Fighting Conchs.....! Black Sea Cucumbers...! Tiger Tail Cucumbers...!
And do not over feed....!

 

[reefin_with_jesus]

About cucumbers...can't they eviscerate and put alot of toxin in your tank? I would be afraid to leave town in case one did so while I was away and couldn't catch it in time. Is this in fact true?

 

[wolffvet]

Yes they can! I was lucky to catch mine when it did

 

[wolffvet]

just wanted to thank everyone for their help

 

[fshhub]

definitley look into circualtion, have over 1400 gph in our 75 gallon
also IMo, watchout for sand sifting stars(any sand sifting creature that sifts through looking for pods as food) as mentioned, but the conchs are great, i like fighting in smaller tanks, the queens get huge, and IMO do not do quite as well, nasarius snails also helped us alot, and as for the trochus, they are not the same as turbos(mexican or carribean, though some sites would let you believe it) and do NOT IMEO clean the sand, but do very well on glas and rock