Cleaning your sand.

[SquidHC]

My tank is about two months old now. Everything seems to be very happy (although "everything" isnt really much =P). Anyway I have 3 large turbo snails, half dozen hermits, and half dozen bumblebee snails. Not to mention a ton of bristle worms.

Anyway I notice my sand is having abit of algea growth and such on it and I wanted to know the best way to clean it. I would love to have an animal of some sort to do it for me, but I dont know that my tank is established enough to support an animal that only scavanges. I have seen in the past sorts of vaccume hoses for cleaning sand but I dont know if I should do that or not? Any resolution here would be great! Thanks guys

 

[SquidHC]

/bump

 

[drummereef]

First, what kind of substrate do you have? Aragonite or crushed coral? I would vacuum crushed coral at water changes, I would not vacuum aragonite.

Algae blooms are common as the tank stabilizes after the cycle. It should go away on its own and with help from your cleanup crew.

How much flow do you have in there?

 

[SquidHC]

I have 2 powerheads rated at 650 gph each and also my skimmer. I have no sump system atm so thats it. The powerheads only have about 2 inches of piping before they open up so I would imagine Im probably getting 600ish gph out of them. I have no idea the flow of the skimmer. Its rated for a 125g tank. I actualy have a mix of substrate. One 25 lb bag of crushed coral, 1 25lb bag of medium sand, and 1 25lb bag of fine sand. Rigth now me tank being just less than 2 months old I dont have much of a cleaning crew because I didnt want to over do it. I have the following:

3 medium turbo snails
5 hermit crabs
6 bumblebee snails (dont know if they do any good but my daughter had to have them)

Im planning on adding four shrimp this weekend.
1 fire shrimp, 1 pepperment shrimp, and 2 small cleaner shrimp.

Is that an ok amount of cleaners for a tank with a low bio load? Also theres several tiny snails and a few slug looking things floating around. They have a very small shell on there back but they are much larger than the shell and I really dont know what they are.

 

[plummike]

I must be reading wrong. I don't see a fiter of any kind. Do you just run powerheads and a skimmer? There wouldn't be any bio treatment. Some hobbyist will disagree but I think new systems must also have full time carbon filtration.
Have you tested your water?

 

[BZEP]

Those "slug things" are probably stomatella, google it for a picture. if that is it, its a good thing to have in your tank. Your tank is still pretty new I think time should help out. Make sure your using RO/Di for your water changes

 

[ZiggyBuster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9471283#post9471283 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
First, what kind of substrate do you have? Aragonite or crushed coral? I would vacuum crushed coral at water changes, I would not vacuum aragonite.

Algae blooms are common as the tank stabilizes after the cycle. It should go away on its own and with help from your cleanup crew.

How much flow do you have in there?

sorry to hijack but,
why should you not vacuum aragonite? I have been during water changes. Should I stop?

 

[Zestay]

diamond back goby.

enough said.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9477095#post9477095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SquidHC
I have 2 powerheads rated at 650 gph each and also my skimmer. I have no sump system atm so thats it. The powerheads only have about 2 inches of piping before they open up so I would imagine Im probably getting 600ish gph out of them. I have no idea the flow of the skimmer. Its rated for a 125g tank. I actualy have a mix of substrate. One 25 lb bag of crushed coral, 1 25lb bag of medium sand, and 1 25lb bag of fine sand. Rigth now me tank being just less than 2 months old I dont have much of a cleaning crew because I didnt want to over do it. I have the following:

3 medium turbo snails
5 hermit crabs
6 bumblebee snails (dont know if they do any good but my daughter had to have them)

Im planning on adding four shrimp this weekend.
1 fire shrimp, 1 pepperment shrimp, and 2 small cleaner shrimp.

Is that an ok amount of cleaners for a tank with a low bio load? Also theres several tiny snails and a few slug looking things floating around. They have a very small shell on there back but they are much larger than the shell and I really dont know what they are.

I'd say you are ok on cleaners for now. The part of your system that is fuzzy is the substrate. Mixing crushed coral with a fine aragonite is usually a no-no. The crushed coral will gater detritus and cause a nitrate problem. But, it's going to be very hard to vacuum with the fine sand mixed in. So.... I really don't know what to tell you other than you might be better off switching out your sand with just aragonite. The crushed coral can be dealt with, but usually ends up being a pita.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9477768#post9477768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plummike
I must be reading wrong. I don't see a fiter of any kind. Do you just run powerheads and a skimmer? There wouldn't be any bio treatment. Some hobbyist will disagree but I think new systems must also have full time carbon filtration.
Have you tested your water?

As long as you have at least 1lb/gallon of live rock in your system there is no need for any other bio filtration.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9478651#post9478651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ZiggyBuster
sorry to hijack but,
why should you not vacuum aragonite? I have been during water changes. Should I stop?

I would stop. Your cleanup crew will take care of keeping the substrate clean. If you have crushed coral, I would vacuum at every water change.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9479112#post9479112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
diamond back goby.

enough said.

I had one until it took a flying leap. RIP poor little guy. I've found nassarius and cerith snails to be a safer alternative... Along with some eggcrate.

 

[SquidHC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9479886#post9479886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Mixing crushed coral with a fine aragonite is usually a no-no. The crushed coral will gater detritus and cause a nitrate problem. But, it's going to be very hard to vacuum with the fine sand mixed in. So.... I really don't know what to tell you other than you might be better off switching out your sand with just aragonite. The crushed coral can be dealt with, but usually ends up being a pita.

Wish someone would have told me this to start. The amount of coral rubble is pretty minimal however. Ill look into getting something that enjoys playing in the sand. Would be pretty hard to jump out of my tank between the hood and everything.

 

[SquidHC]

And yes Bzep, they are the "stomatella" snails you mentioned. Thanks. Oh and I am using premixed saltwater purchased from my local and well reputable saltwater specialty store for my water changes, and RO/DI water for my top offs.

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9480250#post9480250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SquidHC
Wish someone would have told me this to start. The amount of coral rubble is pretty minimal however. Ill look into getting something that enjoys playing in the sand. Would be pretty hard to jump out of my tank between the hood and everything.

I thought that too before my Diamond decided to meet his carpet death. They can find the smallest hole and hit it like a field goal.