Reef Tank Brainstorming
- Thread starter apache73
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brandon429
Well-known member
The sand bears absolutely no factor or impact in reef cycling.
It's surface area and bacteria aren't a requisite link in the system they're instantly removable at any phase without ramp down because the system only needs it's rock bac and surface area
You would cycle the same with or without sand. I have a thread where we've removed the sandbed in twenty thousand dollar sps reefs instantly, and put the systems back without sand same day/ no losses page after page. Handy to know
It's surface area and bacteria aren't a requisite link in the system they're instantly removable at any phase without ramp down because the system only needs it's rock bac and surface area
You would cycle the same with or without sand. I have a thread where we've removed the sandbed in twenty thousand dollar sps reefs instantly, and put the systems back without sand same day/ no losses page after page. Handy to know
I’ve only gone bare bottom once, which is actually right now. I didn’t do anything different to compensate. I personally feel that bacteria finds a way to balance itself out. As Brandon mentioned, there’s plenty of systems where the sandbed has been removed with no ill effects. Many just reccomend going slow when removing a sandbed due to the believed possibility of harmful gases trapped in the sand bed.
brandon429
Well-known member
Agreed, the loss risk is in the cloud that erupts from removal. In every single case without variance we took down the tank, pulled rocks fish corals and tossed water, then pulled sand all at once so no clouding could erupt. Then reassembled with all new water and each tank was a skip cycle because it was clean reassembly. There's no time that removing a sandbed from a full tank is safe; it's only done in giant systems for practicality.
It's ironic that taking the system apart fully is the safe mode and leaving it full with partial removal is the dangerous mode, but I can understand why people with 300g setups don't want to spend ten hours on the job so partial vacuum is the best option given the risks. We were catching folks right when they were moving homes, so a takedown was imminent anyway we just guided the process. Here's thread for examples
www.reef2reef.com
Most of these are rinsed sandbeds using tap water and put back clean. They're neutralized same effect as total removal. In many cases we just went bare bottom on the new setup.
It's ironic that taking the system apart fully is the safe mode and leaving it full with partial removal is the dangerous mode, but I can understand why people with 300g setups don't want to spend ten hours on the job so partial vacuum is the best option given the risks. We were catching folks right when they were moving homes, so a takedown was imminent anyway we just guided the process. Here's thread for examples
Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread
If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...
www.reef2reef.com
Most of these are rinsed sandbeds using tap water and put back clean. They're neutralized same effect as total removal. In many cases we just went bare bottom on the new setup.
While cycling is not an issue, at the end of the day, when you don’t employ sand, you give up a ton of surface area for your water processors. This may result in less ability for waste conversion, and, potentially higher nitrate levels in the water.
Yes this a bad thing…no….but you may find it necessary to employ other waste reduction techniques at least in the first 6 months.
It also limits any wrasse which buries itself. If your not keeping these then again, no real issue.
There’s always a trade off!
Enjoy.
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