How Often Do You Stir Your Sand And How?

[BigEZ77]

The title says it all. Also, any good techniques to keep the water from clouding? I'm using fine fiji pink live sand.

 

[jminick2]

never

 

[brianr24]

I stir mine usually once a month or so. If it looks like it needs it. I'll do it more or less. Nothing keeps water from clouding clears in an hour or so. You could alternate stirring small sections if water clouds too much when stirring the whole tank. Vivid aquarium shows how he does it. In one of there maintenance videos.

 

[cloak]

I usually stir up my sand bed once every month too. It's only about an inch deep, but a small power head allows me to turn the whole thing over with ease. It's amazing what can accumulate UNDER your rocks sometimes. Anyways, the water gets cloudy and then I siphon out about 10% of it. A filter sock is also used for a few hours to polish the water as well. I know I'm not going to get all this crap out, but after 8 years the tank shows no signs of slowing down.

 

[Blue spot]

Have you thought about a sand sifting goby. I have always had one and it's always kept the sand pristine, although they can create a pile of sand now and again. One less job for you then

 

[thomas.torode]

I only stir my sand when I notice its getting dirty. (month or so)

 

[BigEZ77]

I stir mine usually once a month or so. If it looks like it needs it. I'll do it more or less. Nothing keeps water from clouding clears in an hour or so. You could alternate stirring small sections if water clouds too much when stirring the whole tank. Vivid aquarium shows how he does it. In one of there maintenance videos.

Thanks, good vid.

 

[BigEZ77]

I have a diatom bloom on my sand right now. Should I stir it when this is happening?

 

[cloak]

You can stir up the top layer if you want, but until you limit the source it's just going to keep coming back. (Silicates, Phosphates) I'm not sure how old your tank is, but what your seeing is actually quite normal for new tanks to go through. The link below explains some of this in detail. GL.

http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

 

[BigEZ77]

Fairly new. Never really went thru a cycle because I put cycled rock in the tank.