Stir up sand ?

[zibnata]

When the sand starts looking dirty against the glass do you stir it up ? Or do you leave it alone ?

 

[bullshark]

What kinda sand? If I were to stir mine up, it would be 'Cluod City'.

 

[zibnata]

I just changed out the CC for natures ocean aragonite a couple of weeks ago

 

[crcoachm]

I just did the same thing a few weeks ago also.
A couple of the snails have been digging along the glass to get the algae. But I still have some there. Doesn't seem to be a problem. It is not growing.
If it bothers you go ahead a pull the sand out slowly and then scrub along the glass.

 

[zibnata]

thanks, I didnt know if the sand should be disturbed

 

[luvnluk]

I would avoid disturbing the sand bed, especially, if you have a deep sand bed.....you will risk an ammonia spike.

 

[reefnut]

As a general rule the sand should not be disturbed. Is it a DSB?

 

[zibnata]

I dont understand this DSB thing.There is about 50 lbs of aragonite and it is a couple of inches. I am going to add 20 more lbs this weekend.Its a 55 gallon. Thanks

 

[luvnluk]

A DSB is about 3-5 " deep (at least) and provides a source of biological filtration....I would do a search on DSB's - you will get lots of info!!!!

 

[dburr]

If that "dirty stuff" is below the top layer of sand, don't mess with it. It's the bacteria doing it's job, you mess it up and it will stop until it recultures. You will also see an ammonia spike like stated above.
HTH, Dan

 

[zibnata]

Thanks for the help.

 

[timsedwards]

dont stir the sand!
if it is dirty, solve the cause not the effect. Get a better clean up crew or address your levels, i spiked my tank by disturbing the sand when i was a rookie, caused major probs.
Tim.

 

[zibnata]

Tim, What should I get for cleanup. I have 2 small serpant stars and about 30 hermits and 10 snails. Thanks

 

[fshhub]

what kind of snails do you have?

 

[zibnata]

turbos

 

[peacetypes]

buy some conchs they do the job for me in my ive got 1 queen and two fighters. peace robert

 

[zibnata]

how many for a 55? thanks

 

[timsedwards]

well firstly when you say the sandbed is dirty, dirty with what? algae? if so what colour/type etc? each individual snail/crab has its own favourites to chomp on
Tim.

 

[zibnata]

Against the glass it is brown.

 

[dburr]

Thats bacteria working in the bed breaking down nitrites and nitrates. don't do anything with that or you will have a spike.
It is unsightly, I supose if you don't like it you could cover it up with somthing on the outside of the glass, be creative.