Sand bed help......

cashman95

cashman95

New member
I currently have a 24x24x24 tank with a bare bottom. It used to have a 2-3 inch sand bed until I got a bad algae bloom and after many weeks of battleing the bloom I decided that maybe it was the sand bed causing the algae bloom, and after removing all the sand the bloom went away!

Now that I have a bare bottom my maintance has increased to keep the bottom free of detrtus and etc. I would really like to go back with sand but need some advice as to how to do it correctly. The maintance that is require to keep an algae bloom from reoccuring. What type of sand? How deep? All replys are welcome!!!!!!
 
My guess is if you are having algae sand bed or not then substrate is not the real issue here. Sounds like there is more nutrients going in than coming out. Feed less/rinse food better/skim more/ more waterchange/ macro/vodka/denitrator/phosban/etc/etc/etc


As for re adding sand just get a piece of pipe and pour the sand through to the bottom. It will need ot be rinsed and allowed to dry.
 
I personally just use play sand, its a lot cheaper than what you can buy at the LFS or even online. Its kind of an even debate on wether or not silicate based sands are going to cause problems in a reef. I haven't had any problems, and if you can find white play sand...man does it look good in a tank.
 
if you dont want to spend the money on sand, you can always just increase flow in your tank and that would keep from detritus building up.
 
I went three inches in my tank. Used bahamas oolite live sand. I wouldn't use play sand as it would cause a huge cycle as the sand doesn't contain live bacteria. Even using live sand could cause a small cycle, but probably not enough to cause an issue. never has in my tank when i decided to add sand to my up and running reef. did it a couple times until i felt like I had enough sand. I have read a couple scientific based articles about silica causing problems with corals dying, but the weren't looking at silica based sands in particular, just silica itself. Still, why take the risk?
 
Honestly, I have a 4 to 5 inch sand bed throughout my tank, and I have never had a reading of nitrates; they have always came back zero. It is a PITA having sugar grain sand, and some strong flow, but it can be worked out with proper flow adjustments.
 
So should I use more of an araganite mixed sand instead of suger grain????

Ya I dont think I will take a chance with play sand....I have seen friends go down that road before......

What grain size do you guys recommend for a 2-3 inch bed?
Will this depth of a bed need to be vaccumed frequently?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15394554#post15394554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by njdevilsfan
4 to 6 inches but i went 6
but you will need a diverse cc to go along with it
Click to expand...

Such as...and what size sand?
 
IMO I would go 1-2 inch sand bed max! If you don't frequently clean a 4-6 inch sand bed it will cause problems. I would go with the pink aragalive. I went from a 4" sand bed down to 1" and my tank has been almost perfect ever since. I would start shallow and if you don't like it you can always add a little at a time.
 
i think you should also go with the 1-2 inches, the 4-6 inch sand bed takes away a lot of space in your tank and also it traps a lot of harmful stuff that if it gets stirred up could cause some problems. i would go with a fine sand. i dont know the exact grain size
 
The debate on whether or not to use play sand has been going on forever. Silica is actually glass. There is silica in the walls of your tank. There is debate on whether or not it has been the cause of cancer, and so far has not been proven. Most people just hear the word cancer and have deemed it something that absolutely should not be near our aquariums.

I guess if it comes down to the choice between what comes from the ocean and what comes from walmart, I wouldn't blame you for choosing the ocean.

I went with play sand and have had it for over a year with no problems, I guess we'll see what happens.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15398389#post15398389 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryandlf
The debate on whether or not to use play sand has been going on forever. Silica is actually glass. There is silica in the walls of your tank. There is debate on whether or not it has been the cause of cancer, and so far has not been proven. Most people just hear the word cancer and have deemed it something that absolutely should not be near our aquariums.

I guess if it comes down to the choice between what comes from the ocean and what comes from walmart, I wouldn't blame you for choosing the ocean.

I went with play sand and have had it for over a year with no problems, I guess we'll see what happens.
Click to expand...

I can not argue with that!!!!

Seeing how my tank is only 24"x24" it would not be all that expensive to buy a 20-30lb bag of "non-silica" sand......so with that said the "chance" is not worth taking.....

if I was filling up a 300 gallon system, them maybe?!?!?!?

but thanks for your comments!!!!
 
Re: Sand bed help......

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15393391#post15393391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cashman95

Now that I have a bare bottom my maintance has increased to keep the bottom free of detrtus and etc.
Click to expand...

The additional maintenance of siphonig detritus is due to your rock shedding (being cleaned) due to the bacteria boring for phosphates in the rock.

To eliminate this partially, you can take out rock and swish it vigorously in salt water.

To reduce it GREATLY you can "cook" your rock.

Sean
 
My tank(reef) is over a year old and very mature and even though I have thought about it.... that would not be an option!

Thanks
 
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