cleaning sand bed
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22048
Printed Date: July 29 2025 at 9:46am
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Topic: cleaning sand bed
Posted By: john hill
Subject: cleaning sand bed
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 12:55pm
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has anyone vacumed there sand bed i have a tank that has been up and runing for over 5 years and has been way over feed for a long time so i think i have some build up in the sand good idea or bad ? ------------- out with the large and in with the nano |
Replies:
Posted By: dkle
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 12:57pm
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It depends on whether your sandbed is deep or shallow. I wouldn't stir up a DSB. I used to have a shallow sandbed in my old tank (3''). I used to vacuum it with every water change.
------------- If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs! Dinhkim Le - Procrastinator extra-ordinare |
Posted By: john hill
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 1:00pm
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it is 3 or 4 inchs deep i just dont want to kill every thing i have stired some of it up and there is a big clowed of stuff that comes out ------------- out with the large and in with the nano |
Posted By: dkle
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 1:02pm
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How about starting out by vacuuming just a portion of the sand bed, see how your tank reacts. Then you can do it on a bigger scale.
------------- If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs! Dinhkim Le - Procrastinator extra-ordinare |
Posted By: john hill
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 1:06pm
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sounds good i will give it a try on just a small part where there is alge growing on the sand and see what hapens thanks ------------- out with the large and in with the nano |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 1:38pm
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Vacuum up to 1/4 of the sandbed only 1" deep.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 2:03pm
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Eventually, you should change out some of the sand. The detritus that accumulates and the biofilm that covers each particle of aragonite kind of stagnates the sand bed. Julian Sprung, when he was last here a few years ago called it "old tank syndrome"; The problem that occurs in tanks as old as yours that have not had a sand bed rejuventaion. I was glad to hear Julian talk about it because it verified my long used method for maintaining a sand bed. I create a storm in the tank from time to time by running my stick or my hand through small sections of the sand to stir up the crud. Sometimes I go shallow and sometimes deep. This benefits all the inverts, including coral that like to eat the bugs and bacteria which get released into the water column by the little storm. In an established tank it may still take an hour for the storm to clear. I regularly give away large amounts of LS to new hobbyists or use it to start new tanks and replace it with new aragonite sand.
Hope this helps. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: November 25 2007 at 5:20pm
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I just cleaned my 4 yo 125.
http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22044 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22044 ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: LordMaximo
Date Posted: November 26 2007 at 10:46am
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In years past, I found 1" of crushed coral, a very fine mesh, to seperate, 3" to 4" of fine sand worked best. I will not go into my studies on this post......its' too long of a paper to add and breaks down the flow of this question. The very fine mesh will help keep your sand from settling under the coral. It also helps to stir the tank once a month to loosen the first 0.25 layer of debris. I would use my Mag350 once a month anywas on the fisrt 0.5" to 0.75" anyways, it help to keep the tank clean. Good luck, and do hope you find your solution
 Maximo ------------- Trigger Master |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 26 2007 at 7:54pm
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To me that's a plenum simply supported by the crushed coral rather than eggcrate. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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