Phosphate build up in sand

[fizbin84]

I run a remote deep sand bed and it has been discussed that you want to replace the sand after a year or two because phosphates have the potential to build up. Is there any way to regenerate the sand by removing the built up phosphates so that the sand can be reused? Or is this sand now basically trash?

Thanks for responses!

 

[ShareReef]

I haven't heard of this, but I would be interested to know. I am not getting where people are getting that the sand is trash after a couple years. I am currently on the hunt to find the source of my recent and continued phosphate spike as well.

 

[HighlandReefer]

If sand and rock are exposed to high levels of phosphate in your water, then they can absorb the phosphate. The higher the level of the phosphate in your water, the higher the level the phosphate will be in your rock and sand. If you have high levels of phosphate in your water (above 0.03 ppm), then I would use a GFO product to remove the phosphate in your water. The built-up phosphate in your rock and sand will leach out into the water if the level of phosphate in your water is less than that of your rock and sand.

So to sum it up, I would not trash your rock or sand if you do have high phosphate levels, but would recommend the use of a GFO product.

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Iron Oxide Hydroxide (GFO) Phosphate Binders
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

 

[fizbin84]

Highlandreef - thank you for your reply. I am going to be starting running GFO activley on my tanks. You think that after a while it will be able to pull the built up phospates out of the sand? So run the RDSB to remove nitrates and then run the GFO to take the phosphates?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[chercm]

bros , i got the similar type of issue with no3 and po4 high issue. i removed the stupid sand which kept leeching no3 into my water.

Woww! now without the sand my no3 is 0...... (measured using Salifert)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

IMO, any discussion of the buildup of phosphate in sand that means the sand "needs" to be replaced is speculation. There may be many reasons to have or not have sand beds, and they may change over time, and some may collect organic detritus that eventually makes then less efficient or even inorganic nutrient sources, but I would not assume that such issues always happen.

That said, if you have a phosphate problem, using GFO to reduce it is a fine plan.

 

[fizbin84]

Randy - Thanks for sharing a drop of your wisdom

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.

 

[BlastoEric1589]

+1 for randy

if this was true, and its the sands fault, the ocean is screwed cuz how is it gunna replace its own sand???

true, over time organics build up in the sand bed and ALLOW nitrates and phos to build up, and its poosible that the sand and rock COULD leech out into the water, but this would mean that those levels were elevated long enough for the rock/sand to build up a higher level than the water is now. But to suggest that sand and rock can PRODUCE anything but useful biological filtration agents is not exactly a logical conclusion to the problem.

fresh sand is more efficient, but old sand isnt a nuisance

 

[ktweddle]

I am pretty interested in this subject. I know there are a lot of very well educated people on this site and I would like to read some of their answers to this topic. It is the advanced forum after all

I know enough from my own limited education that, in a natural system, organics become fixed in the substrate and are removed from the availability loop. That is basic ecology. In a natural environment Phosphate becomes fixed in rock and what we think of as "the sand bed" is new materials constantly being laid down. Elements are also fixed in other ways that are mini cycles to the main one. This is how sedimentary rock is formed.

A close system like our aquarium is totally different. I read some of the thread about long term maintenance and I don't know if this got touched on there, but even in books like "The Reef Aquarium" series, sand bed maintenance is mentioned. Other resources like Adey/Loveland "Dynamic Aquaria" also touch on this as well as writings my Mr. Robert Fenner.

I am not convinced that all detritus and the elements it contains are dealt with by water changes and a healthy benithic community. I think Sand bed maintenance needs to be applied with respect to successful long term maintenance of aquaria.