Help with clean sand bed/substrate

[method0075]

Good EVening everyone,

Recently I have been making efforts to get serious about my reefing hobby. I recently upgraded my lighting to 2 mH and 4 CFs on my 55 gallon tank. I have added a sump and placed my skimmer in the sump. My previous filter was an intank filter with mesh media.

So heres my problem, For years now my sandbead is always covered in detrius and brown I guess poo. I use to have a Fluval external canistar and it was nice but broke.

So I see in fish stores and aquariums on here the crystal clean sand beds. If there is detrius it is deep in the bed on the DSBs. So my question is how do I attain this in my aquarium? I am looking into another external canister. Oh and I already have a team of blue legs for the clean up crew.

Thanks in advance for the feedback and guidance...

 

[method0075]

No feedback?

 

[patsfan1130]

Good flow in the tank, a decent CUC, maybe a goby. A turkey baster does wonders also. I give my rock and sandbed a light "puffing" with a turkey baster pretty much every day to suspend particilate matter. My sandbed is pretty clean at all times

 

[method0075]

Thank you for the advice. I see the display tanks at the local fish stores and even the ones on here and Im amazed how clean their sandbed is. Instead, I have been dealing with what looks like ppo all over the sand floor.

Do most people have to stir up the tank? I was told not to vacum a saltwater because I will remove the good bacteria with the bad when doing so.

 

[patsfan1130]

I dont recommend stirring it up as this can cause problems. But giving it a light puffing makes quite a difference IMO. That in conjunction with having good flow to keep it suspended. I run an aquaclear PF to help grap up all the "poo" on all of my tanks as well.

 

[method0075]

I started stirring things up a couple days ago and that left sand sediment all over the LR. I concerned that sediment will impeed any coraline growth as the LR looks all dusty now.

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15470195#post15470195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patsfan1130
A turkey baster does wonders also. I give my rock and sandbed a light "puffing" with a turkey baster pretty much every day to suspend particilate matter.

+1 here.

 

[HighlandReef]

turkey baster, good flow and a sand sifter for the sand, i love my dragon goby, he dont burry corals

 

[method0075]

So maybe I should get a really good group of sand sifters. I have lots of Blue legs but thats about it. Any other recomendations??

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15471634#post15471634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by method0075
Any other recomendations??

Look below:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15471618#post15471618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CGRANT
turkey baster, good flow and a sand sifter for the sand

Sand sifters = Cerith, Nassarius, Super Tongan Nassarius, Bumble Bee snail (all snails), or a Fighting Conch.

 

[method0075]

I don`t have any snails...

I think I need to invest in some snails/sand sifters!

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15471740#post15471740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by method0075
I don`t have any snails...

I think I need to invest in some snails/sand sifters!

Well some, of the above, yes.


How big is your tank?

 

[method0075]

55 gal. currently FOWLR, stocked with damsels.

 

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15471774#post15471774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by method0075
55 gal. currently FOWLR, stocked with damsels.

I'd say 10-12 sand sifting snails would be good enough.

 

[method0075]

So these guys really do make a difference. I understand that there is going to be detrius but mine settles on the surface and not in the sand bed. I see on tanks with DSB the levels of detrius and bacteria deep down

 

[jbanks]

Meth,

I just had the diatom bloom from hell after cycling my new tank. I ordered a CUC from Reeftopia and 2 weeks later my tank looks spotless. A good CUC is a great addition to any tank. Go for it.

 

[DarG]

I run a plenum and DSB in the display. I agree with the others regarding good flow as well as clean up crew. But I do vacuum the sand bed at evey water change. Only the top layer though, not deep into the substrate. I have run a plenum for a long time and have always vacuumed the substrate. I also use a filter sock on the drain that is changed atleast twice a week. The sock catches a lot of particulate matter and detritus and helps keep the sump clean as well as substrate.

 

[HighlandReef]

my dragon goby is my vacuum

 

[method0075]

I have the powerheads for the flow. I need to get a filter, What I have now barely qualifies and I thought the skimmer and blue legs would take care of the detrius but they don`t.

I found a canister filter with a built in U/V sterelizer. I heard I should get the highest per gallon one available even though I have a 55 gal.

 

[HighlandReef]

i wouldnt bother with a canister filter, run a sump and that way you can also hide everything in it