kellymm7149
New member
what would cause my 3" sand bed to start clumping? my alk is around 11.0 and cal is at 400 ph runs at 8.3 daytime to 8.0 a night
sand bed clumps
- Thread starter kellymm7149
- Start date
The things that usually cause sand clumping are:
1. new sand/aquarium
2. High pH, usually from limewater
3. excessive calcium an alkalinity, and perhaps low magnesium
The clumping may be direct precipitation of calcium carbonate between grains, or it may be a bacterially driven process.
Is the tank new?
1. new sand/aquarium
2. High pH, usually from limewater
3. excessive calcium an alkalinity, and perhaps low magnesium
The clumping may be direct precipitation of calcium carbonate between grains, or it may be a bacterially driven process.
Is the tank new?
kellymm7149
New member
it been up for about 6 mths i found most of the clumping in a back corner and a little bit under some rock over hangs
kellymm7149
New member
the mag had been running low around 950 i have now within the last 3-4 weeks gotten it up to about 1250 with mag flake
what do you mean by clumping, My sand bed is hard in some places
That is what folks mean: it turns to a cement like solid as grains stick together.
the mag had been running low around 950
Hopefully, the magnesium boost will prevent it from getting worse. It won't undo what is already clumped, however.
That is what folks mean: it turns to a cement like solid as grains stick together.
the mag had been running low around 950
Hopefully, the magnesium boost will prevent it from getting worse. It won't undo what is already clumped, however.
reeflover2
New member
I have a new tank were the sand is clumping in some places. I am not addind any calcium at all. Is there comewhere I can read more about the bacterial affects on the sand?
I'm not aware of any articles that discuss the clumping in more detail. You may not be adding calcium, but there lots of calcium there. What salt mix are you using? Are you supplementing alkalinity?
JahReefster
Premium Member
Once sand is clumped, is there any way to unclump it?
Well, sometimes it is too hard for that by far. I've had clumps that were like cement. I am not sure if it breaks up on its own over along, long time, but if you feel that you need to break it up, removal may be the only method if it is to hard to just manually poke apart.
