Sand beds.

[boxfishpooalot]

Randy, I have been thinking that adding sand back into my tank can be a good idea for nitrate removal.

Fwiw, I have never heard of your take on the subject of sand beds.

If I were to put sand back in, I keep thinking about sand in the ocean being stirred. Moving and ending up in another place in the world.Hurricanes can move huge rocks! Most people dont touch their sand. Do you think frequent gravel cleaning would prevent much of the problems associated with them?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I have 4 refugia on my tank system now. Two have been up for years, and they have 6" oolitic aragonite on the bottom, along with live rock and macroalgae. When I first set those up, there was little macroalgae yet, and the sand beds did lots of bubbling, especially when poked, indicating denitrification.

After the macroalgae finally reached a high amount, the sand bubbles disappeared, and I now thing that the macroalgae carry most or all of the nitrogen export.

Then when I added the two new refugia last year, I added only macroalgae and excess live rock. No sand.

So I do not think the sand is hurting me, but I do not think it accomplishes much.

I have a inch or so of sand in the main tanks for looks.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

Do you ever get cyano on your sand? Since going bb, I have yet to see cyano in my tank. Just now I am getting short stands of hair algae on 10% of my rocks.

I have noticed that since removing my 400watt halide from the refugium did the hair start to come on the rocks. For now im using a 25watt light. But I dont see nearly as much growth as I used to with the 400watt light. I know you dose Iron, how fast does this iron dissapear(non measurable)? And is iron really that important to macro algae?

Also, I started dosing sugar to my tank(1tps a day for 3 days only). Perhaps the hair algae is taking advantage of the sugar some how?

Whats your take on this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The sand in my 120 and in the old 90 never had any cyano, except in the first week or so of the setup. The side glass of the 90 gets some cyano, as do some rocks.

, how fast does this iron dissapear(non measurable)?

I'm not sure. I'd like to know, but I think it is nonmeasurable or close to it even when first dosed.

Also, I started dosing sugar to my tank(1tps a day for 3 days only). Perhaps the hair algae is taking advantage of the sugar some how?

I don't think green algae (not cyano) can take up much sugar from the water.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

I guess sand when first set up leeches a lot of phophates?

When I first set up my tank with sand in it, I had no filtration-not even a skimmer. Soon my tank started with green pea soup phytoplankton! Could not see a thing. Then Red cyno came after I uv'd the phytoplankton out of my tank. The cyano covered the entire sand bed, in thick sheets I could peel off every week! Then when the cyano disssapeared after I put in 110# live rock. But then I noticed some hair algae. Now, with my bb tank I notice some hair creepin back but nothing serious.

Why do you suspect that cyano grows like this on newly set up sand beds? Its certainly not a mystery to a lot of aquarists.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I guess sand when first set up leeches a lot of phophates?

I don't think that's it. I think the tank when first set up has a lot of nutrients, and many surfaces, including sand, are a good place for cyano to attach.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

yea, im going to have to put sand back inside. I just tested my nitrates and they are 100ppm with salifert nitrate kit!! OUCH.

Any problem with re-using old sand? My plan is to rise it under warm tap water in a buck. This should warm it up also(its outside). Sound good?

 

[steve the plumb]

It should be fine once rinsed.I did the same when I moved to a lrger tank.I was thinking to go bb but I am to scared of removing all my crushed coral.I have 2 to 3 inches of crushed coral.I have heard this is a no-no.I have been running my tank for over two years.I have sand sifters wich is a must.Of course the crushed coral underneath the rocks doesn't get moved around.I have nesariath snails.My maroon cllwn likes to dig.I also have a goby.They are great for cleaning the sand.I would reccomend getting some of these types of animals.Nothing beats natures way of cleaning.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

I put my sand back in. If I notice any algae growing, I will just cover it with new sand :lol:

Fwiw, I would put in sugar fine sand Steve. The cc is too large and traps too much ditritus. Fine sand is less of a dirt trap.

I really like the sand ripples created by my wavebox. Looks really realistic. The wavebox appears to tumble the top layer. Perhaps this will help with ditritus from settling.

 

[steve the plumb]

Yea I want to put sand but Its going to be to much work.I am trying to get a larger tank.I have to convince my better half but its not so easy.