Disturbance of deep sand bed

[Chip]

One of my carpet anemones is host to a maroon clown fish. The clown constantly digs up the sand bed with his tail fin. He has created a creator around the anemone and piled the sand up about 7" deep. I can see many worm tracks and tunnels where he has disturbed the sand bed. Is this having a negative effect on the sand bed and it's inhabitants? My sand bed is mostly olitic aragonite 4" to 5" deep.

 

[Blown 346]

I dont see a problem with that, unless you disturb it all at once that is when you have enough of the bad stuff leach out and cause problems.

 

[Julio]

it actually is good that he is doing so as he keep the sand bed from compacting.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Shouldn't be a problem. I stir mine up all the time. In my big tank, I have a bunch of snails as well that dig thru the sand to stir it up. Keeps it healthy I think and may keep you from having problems later on.

 

[jonnyb60]

It can cause problems if you have anaerobic areas in your bed. If the sand is black, or their are black areas in the sand, then you might have problems. I think the best indicator will be if you start having health issues with the other inhabitance in the tank or your water quality parameters start going out of wack.

 

[gussy]

Mine does that too. It's not a problem as the clown fish only "disturb" a small area...it's not the whole tank!

 

[Chizad]

lol if you see the bubbles forming in the sand bed then dont stir it up.. this is a working DSB and shouldnt be messed with except for turning the surface sand, but you should have enough sand sifters like cucumbers and conchs and snails to do this naturally.

 

[billsreef]

Never had a problem with critters digging in my sand beds

 

[999fire999]

My two dig under my slipper coral and lay eggs all the time... they will pile the sand up a bit, but its just so they can protect there young .......

 

[pro99line]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6658599#post6658599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blown63chevy
Shouldn't be a problem. I stir mine up all the time. In my big tank, I have a bunch of snails as well that dig thru the sand to stir it up. Keeps it healthy I think and may keep you from having problems later on.

A buddy of mine has been stirring his for over 10 years with no problems. He makes sure all the bubbles "Methane gas pockets" are released so they do not build up and release one day all at once.

 

[Jon Evans]

I have a yellow tang that likes to dig a crater wherever he decides to sleep. I've never had any problems. Engineer gobies will do the same.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Well, the sandbed in that area probably won't be very productive (i.e. it won't work in that portion), but that's the only thing I'd worry about. Probably not that big of a deal.

Chris