I have a 3 inch live sand bed and i have coraline growing on it and it discolors as well. i never vacuum my tank when doing water changes i have lots of hermits and nassries snails but still when i look at all of your pictures they have peferctly white sand bed.. itsnot fair what is the secret to a pure white sand bed?
How do you keep your live sand so white???
- Thread starter frezel
- Start date
imransyed18
New member
good question
NewSchool04
New member
Circulation, flow and skimming I think will def. have a effect but size of sand particles I think is more important. Smaller sizes will not discolor as much as larger. If you have a crushed coral SB, you'll more likely see coraline build up then if you have a southdown. I would think it was because of movement, smaller particles move much more than bigger.
PinkFloydReefer
New member
I keep 3 sand sifting stars in my tank. They keep the sand bed Beautiful and totally clean of any of your problems. I know some people say they may eat too much out of your sand bed, but they have been great for me. It also allows me to do just quick water changes instead of siphon cleaning the gravel. try them out!
TwentyFivePSI
New member
I can't speak for anyone else but my sandbed always looks whiter in pictures than it does in real life.
Leopardshark
New member
Queen conch is the answer.
Maple Leafs
New member
I agree with the conch and the sand sifting stars all the way. Nassarius snails also do a good job turning over the sand.
romunov
New member
Queen conch will grow to the size of a football if not starve to death first. I would use a fighting conch (Strombus alatus) instead. Columbellids that readily reproduce in our tanks would be useful.
Conch needs about two square feet of open sand per inch of snail shell to survive.
Sand sifting star will void sand of life in no time and starve to death. I would spend my money elsewhere.
Nassarius are carrion eaters and will do nothing other than stirring it. If you got the guts you could try a cucumber.
Conch needs about two square feet of open sand per inch of snail shell to survive.
Sand sifting star will void sand of life in no time and starve to death. I would spend my money elsewhere.
Nassarius are carrion eaters and will do nothing other than stirring it. If you got the guts you could try a cucumber.
whosjohnny
Premium Member
I used to have algae covered sand problem until I got this BIG Yellow Head Goby. Never thought he's such as house keeper, constantly shifting sand and poking at Live Rocks to get rid of particles. I have a colony of bristle worms in the right corner and this goby eats them everyday for food.
I love my yellow head. I have scores of different pods and specimens all over the sand bed and goby's huge apetite can never keep up with the sand bed.
This is a dream come true for Live Sand Bed, super white and clean sand, while supporting scores if not hundreds of different specimens in Live Rocks and Live Sand.
I love my yellow head. I have scores of different pods and specimens all over the sand bed and goby's huge apetite can never keep up with the sand bed.
This is a dream come true for Live Sand Bed, super white and clean sand, while supporting scores if not hundreds of different specimens in Live Rocks and Live Sand.
My cuke turns over the sand, but he leaves little rabbit pellet shaped sand-turds all over.
Saltz Creep
New member
If you try a cucumber, you'll have the guts :lol:romunov said:
