Reef Tank Water Change Method?

[Augusta99]

I'm new to reef tanks, but I've had fish only salt water tanks for many years.

When doing a water change for a reef tank with live sand, should I be placing the hose into the sand? With a fish only tank this is the method I would use during a water change, but would this method have a negative effect on the live sand?

For the last few months I've only been taking water without disturbing the sand, but I'm afraid this may be causing a nitrate build up :rolleye1: .

Any advise from experience reefers would be helpful!

Thanks

 

[Gdevine]

Many many threads on this topic. From my research and what I practice is a follows:

I syphon the upper level of the sand about 1/4" to 1) suck up detritus, waste and water from the lowest level in the tank and 2) only do 1/2 of the sand bed per weekly water change.

You got to remember, with a live sand bed and live rock there is a lot of spaces that you can not reach and "vacuum" the sand so it is what it is...but this seems to be one of the appropriate methods and works for me!

 

[Augusta99]

Thanks for the info Gdevine! Just wanted make sure that I was doing this correctly. I couldn't find anything specific to this using a general Google search.

ReefCenteral users to the rescue once again!

 

[Gdevine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11008026#post11008026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Augusta99
Thanks for the info Gdevine! Just wanted make sure that I was doing this correctly. I couldn't find anything specific to this using a general Google search.

ReefCenteral users to the rescue once again!

For information like this and other matters you can find a ton on www.wetwebmedia.com and do a site search on any subject...and then have fun

 

[Subliminal]

I certainly don't do that.

Actually, because I don't skim, I remove the very top layer of water from my tank, and other than the occasional bubble algae removal, I don't stray any further down.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

In my opinion if you are vaccuuming that much off the top of your sandbed, you dont have enough flow in your tank.

 

[pelochas]

also if you have corals, everytime that sandbed is moved and it starts a sand storm, all the corals start to stress and slime all over

 

[Alaska_Phil]

I use a straight 1/4" hose and vacuum off the rocks directly, just be very carefull about the corals. this creates enough suction to pull crud out of crevices. I don't vacuum the sand unless there's some visible detrius there. But then I'm only using a shallow sand bed.

I also recently made up a little sucktion tool using thin ridgid tubing and airline for removing flat worms. I've found it works great for cleaning out cracks and around the base of corals.

Phil

 

[uscharalph]

I vaccuum a protion of my sand. Only the part that I can easily get to. It's funny, my engineer goby is helping to keep other portions of my sandbed clean, by moving it around. LOL!!!

 

[Augusta99]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!