noob: dirty sand bed

[cxr133]

whats the best to get to clean my dirty sand bed?
its starting to get bvlack in areas..

snails??
starfish?

help a newbie out


Thanks

 

[kraze3]

A sandsifting starfish and some snails(nassarius, turbo) should do the job

 

[bertoni]

I would avoid the sand-sifting stars because they tend to starve over time. A few cerith snails might help, but if the problem is cyanobacteria, you'll likely need to starve it out, since finding grazers that reliably eat cyanobacteria seems difficult.

 

[mbbuna]

i think we need to know more about your tank, filtration, sand&depth and what you are keeping too find out why its turning black

 

[cxr133]

90 gallon tank w/ eurofil sump (acrylic w/center overflow)
ASM g2 skimmer
activated carbon
filter sock

sand bed is about 3 inches deep
currently have lots of live rock (100+ lbs)
8 chromis
4 clarkii clowns
1 bar goby
1 sailfin blenny

assorted mushrooms grown on the rocks
and 2 snails (narc i think)

i bought this as an established tank from a member here and its been running about 3 weeks


just noticing in spots where the sand is starting to get black.

 

[bertoni]

If it's just been moved, it might still be resettling, so I wouldn't worry too much yet. How much are you feeding?

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7294114#post7294114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
If it's just been moved, it might still be resettling,

i agree with that but moving a sand bed can be very risky. watch your Ammonia and be prepared to do water changes.

 

[cxr133]

daily..... its starting to get unsightly i was just wondering if i should get a starfish?

or do snails clean it?

 

[cxr133]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7294134#post7294134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
i agree with that but moving a sand bed can be very risky. watch your Ammonia and be prepared to do water changes.

i have been doing 30-40 gal. water changes weekly to try to bring the nitrate levels down anyway

 

[Avast Marine]

I just moved a 29 with a DSB this past weekend. I did a 50% wc on moving day and have been doing 15% changes every single day since. My nitrate went from 0-5ppm to 160+ in less than 2 hours. I haven't had any ammonia spike yet but am testing and watching like a hawk. I have the nitrates back down to 80ppm and am wet skimming the tank. I don't think I will ever try to move a tank with a DSB again. The good news for me is that all livestock seems to be doing well.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7294137#post7294137 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cxr133
daily..... its starting to get unsightly i was just wondering if i should get a starfish?

or do snails clean it?

siphon it out with a hose and replace with new salt water mix

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7294267#post7294267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dandy7200
My nitrate went from 0-5ppm to 160+ in less than 2 hours.

good luck to you brother ive been there