Tropic eden reef flakes sand

[jonnyu]

I use reef flakes mixed with miniflakes in my current tank. I've had a Sand bed with pure reefflakes and had the same issue. Right now my Sand bed is looking pretty good, which I give all the credit to my Fighting Conch. Sifts the substrate all day long.


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Nice do you have any pics ? How long did it take to look good with reefflakes ?


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[jonnyu]

I just realized my post could have easily been misinterpreted. What I meant is that if all you want to wait is another month or 2 don't waste your time and just pull the sand now because it will likely take longer for it to establish. There is nothing wrong with the sand, it just needs to become established. You have a ton more sand than I had and mine took a good 6-8 months, just like my rocks did before all the crap started to go away. Even then I still see it here and there. Realistically with a sandbed that big, some maintenance will be needed. Its great sand, but anytime you start with anything "dry" rock or sand it takes 10 times longer for it to settle in.

I agree I just don't remember having this much a problem with smaller grain sand. I love my Fiji pink sand but opted to change it up a little when I seen someone else with reefflakes mixed with mini flakes. I just want a clean looking sand bed. I'm okay with vacuum but not okay with the green algae being stuck in my sand all the time. If you think it will clear then I'm okay with it. I'm going to try to sell off all the sps in the sand to allow me to stir sand up without moving 60 pieces around.


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[rovster]

You also have to realize you started this tank with mostly if not all dry rock and not a lot either. The whole tank maturing process is going to take a ton extra time. My tank took 8 months. My Zeo tank is similar to yours but I used WELL cured tonga and it's been 3 months. Rocks are just now starting to show hints of color but there is minimal micro life in that tank. I don't have sand but if I did I have no doubt it would be ugly now. Have you ever done a tank with this much dry substrate (rocks and sand)?

 

[isaacalves]

I use reefflakes on my build. You can see my build thread. It's just the nature of sand in general. You need to dial in: light schedule, nutrient export, flow, maturation time, micro fauna generation, your clean up crew, and consistent husbandry, e.g., filter sock and water changes as well as feeding schedule. If you have a refugium that can host algae growth and take nutrients it would help a lot. Also, if you've got good micro fauna then start looking at a good clean up crew that fits with your aquarium's goals.

Last, I haven't implemented this but an algae scrubber might be worth looking into.


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[jonnyu]

I use reefflakes on my build. You can see my build thread. It's just the nature of sand in general. You need to dial in: light schedule, nutrient export, flow, maturation time, micro fauna generation, your clean up crew, and consistent husbandry, e.g., filter sock and water changes as well as feeding schedule. If you have a refugium that can host algae growth and take nutrients it would help a lot. Also, if you've got good micro fauna then start looking at a good clean up crew that fits with your aquarium's goals.

Last, I haven't implemented this but an algae scrubber might be worth looking into.


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Running fuge and a decent clean up crew. I'm running 0.00 phosphate with Hanna. And 0.01 nitrates. Do you have a link to your build thread ?


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[jonnyu]

You also have to realize you started this tank with mostly if not all dry rock and not a lot either. The whole tank maturing process is going to take a ton extra time. My tank took 8 months. My Zeo tank is similar to yours but I used WELL cured tonga and it's been 3 months. Rocks are just now starting to show hints of color but there is minimal micro life in that tank. I don't have sand but if I did I have no doubt it would be ugly now. Have you ever done a tank with this much dry substrate (rocks and sand)?

I did this once for a short period of time with a 75 but used a different sand but tank was up and running for a couple months. Then went back to a 180. So not sure if sand would have looked like this. I'm starting to get color on the back wall. So I hope soon the rocks will color up as well. You know if there is anyway to dose coralline ?


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[dadummy]

try a sand sifting goby, but run filter socks. A buddy took down his tank and offered me his fish. Can never say no to free fish. One of them was a diamond goby, knowing better, I put it in anyway. That sucker stirred up the sand and everything that was in it. Had to dig out the filter socks and clean the sump.. Phosphate went through the roof, chalice were buried daily. Took a couple months and quite a bit of lanthanum but things have settled down and sand is clean
If you do add one keep an eye on the corals in the sand, they may get buried