Should you stir up a live sand bed every once and a while?

[skimmer]

Will it hurt anything?

 

[b_ball12_99]

You really should every now and then. Get a sand shifter and they will do it for you.

 

[fender]

Actually I have read to leave a DSB alone and let the critters move things around on their own. For a DSB to be effective anaerobic(sp) bacteria have to build up. Stirring things up lets O2 in, killing the bacteria.
Just my .02
[ August 23, 2001: Message edited by: fender ]

 

[tbmoore]

Ok. I have been fighting some red slime on my sand bed. I have been stirring it up every night with a 10gal water change for over a week now. (110 gal reef set up for 2-3 mo. the red slime is now about cut in half.
Am I doing more good or hurting the sand bed? terry http://www.cableone.net/tbmoore/reef.htm

 

[whipit]

B_ball has very good point I had same problem when my tank was newer I purchased some sand stars they go just beneath the surface of the sand move all around and stir's bottom up. I also added some 2 golpies i beleive they are but they pick some sand up and the sand trickles out there gills pretty funny watching but works very very well never had anymore problems since they were introduced. Jeff