How to clean Sand Bed
- Thread starter andy51632
- Start date
patrick8929
Active Member
the siphon shouldnt suck all the sand up at least mine doesnt
but there is also a sand sifting star and some gobys that filter the sand for you. my sleeper goby does an excelent jobin general you dont really need to clean your sand
unless you just want to
but there is also a sand sifting star and some gobys that filter the sand for you. my sleeper goby does an excelent jobin general you dont really need to clean your sand
unless you just want to
sepulatian
Moderator
You realy should not vacume the sand at all. If you have enough detrivores they will keep the bed clean for you.
psusocr1
Active Member
as stated you shoul dnever want to disturb your sandbed. You will cause alot of algae blooms as well as all kinds of levels in your tank to explode.
this will happen especially if you have a DSB. get snails and a cleanup crew to clean your sand so there is no need to disturb it..dont get me wrong if you need ot clean a little part of the top iot wont hurt you, but siphoning sand or digging in it is a very bad thing
this will happen especially if you have a DSB. get snails and a cleanup crew to clean your sand so there is no need to disturb it..dont get me wrong if you need ot clean a little part of the top iot wont hurt you, but siphoning sand or digging in it is a very bad thing
seasalt101
Active Member
not trying to steal thread, but what if you have a shallow sb and fish move sand in 1 area of the tank and make a dsb, can you move that sand around and level it back out w/out consequence? the area is only 8 in.x 4 in. in a 150 gal. tank
oceanists
Active Member
Originally Posted by seasalt101
not trying to steal thread, but what if you have a shallow sb and fish move sand in 1 area of the tank and make a dsb, can you move that sand around and level it back out w/out consequence? the area is only 8 in.x 4 in. in a 150 gal. tank
Try a larger garin of sand I had the same problem but switched it out and my fish are still able to burrow .... I sold 3/4's of my previous sand which paid for all of my new sand and I still had a 1/4 of my live sand to seed with/.
not trying to steal thread, but what if you have a shallow sb and fish move sand in 1 area of the tank and make a dsb, can you move that sand around and level it back out w/out consequence? the area is only 8 in.x 4 in. in a 150 gal. tank
Try a larger garin of sand I had the same problem but switched it out and my fish are still able to burrow .... I sold 3/4's of my previous sand which paid for all of my new sand and I still had a 1/4 of my live sand to seed with/.
aztec reef
Active Member
i wouldn't syphon any type of sand bed. you should have enuf flow to go across the bed without stiring it. imo critters should do the dsb clean up if any..
newtankman
Member
Originally Posted by peckhead
yo dont really clean it i dont think. if you stir it up too much it could cause all sorts of problems..
What sort of problems can stirring up your sand bed cause? Because I have a new engineer goby that has moved half of my sand already.
yo dont really clean it i dont think. if you stir it up too much it could cause all sorts of problems..
What sort of problems can stirring up your sand bed cause? Because I have a new engineer goby that has moved half of my sand already.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by newtankman
What sort of problems can stirring up your sand bed cause? Because I have a new engineer goby that has moved half of my sand already.
These animals keep it stirred. It is when it sits for awhile then gets stirred that difficulties happen. The goby is doing a good job
What sort of problems can stirring up your sand bed cause? Because I have a new engineer goby that has moved half of my sand already.
These animals keep it stirred. It is when it sits for awhile then gets stirred that difficulties happen. The goby is doing a good job
mrsgoose
Member
Here's another question - if the sand shifting/sifting fish like gobies require well established sand beds with lots of pods etc., what do you do in the meantime? I have a 2" SB in my 29g with a bunch of hermits and snails and now a pair of clowns that seem to be digging a ditch in one corner every night. The tank is 6 weeks old with lots of live rock and I know I already have some pods. Would a goby be OK already? If the sand needs to get established, won't a bunch of bad stuff build up and then get released when I introduce a sand sifter?? How do I know if my flow across thesand is adequate? SHould I see it moving?? thanks!
stanlalee
Active Member
I have a shallow sand bed and stir it up frequently. Its ice white and I intend on keeping it that way. I dont have the fuana for sand sifters and perhaps when I get an adequate clean up crew I will stop but for now its the only way to keep if from getting dingy areas. I got the idea when that amazing tank Steve guy says on his site his sand is strictly for decoration so he vaccuums and replaces as needed. I knew then I wanted a shallow sand bed without any anearobic deep areas that will cause trouble if stirred. I tried powerhead positioning and only end up waking up to bare bottom areas. In a shallow sand bed this doesn't seem to have any ill effects except the sand itself blowing on corals which is not great for coral..