partial DSB?

[pohtr]

My clarki keeps making mountains of sand by fanning his tail. I have been smoothing the sand back down every few days. This is getting old. If he keeps doing this and making the mountains in the same place would it work to leave them there and have little DSB areas? Under the largest of the mountains (about 4-5") there is a darker brownish area of sand. Is this already a little anerobic bacteria colony?

 

[mudplayerx]

My yellowtail damsel does this, but he usually does this in the same areas. I have never attempted to smooth the sand out, and I have the same brown patches under the top layer that you speak of.
I haven't run into and nitrate problems so I wouldn't worry about it. I would think that constantly smoothing the sand over would cause more harm than good. Just my opinion

 

[pohtr]

That's kindof what I was thinking. Plus its less work to leave it and it makes the bottom more interesting.
Anyone disagree?

 

[murph]

Yet another reason for a fuge. A nice undisturbed DSB you can easily stir the top layer of by hand on water change days.

 

[pohtr]

I'm definitely doing a fuge but I'm still in the research stage. Currently storing LR rubble in my wet/dry & under it.