Tangs
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No sand bed but lots of live rock....My aquarium is so much cleaner with out it.
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Do you clean your sand bed and what technique do you use? (1 Viewer)
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If it’s a larger grain size like 3.5mm or so...I definitely clean it/vaccum it monthly. If it is sugar fine I’d just leave it alone and add beneficial critters from IPSF.com. If it was 2.0 to 3.0 size...that is kinda a hard one. I’d probably just stir it and maybe siphon it about twice a year to keep it from building up detritus, but also try to keep some life in there undisturbed.
I think the best thing for the tank is not to touch it, but then it looks like crap.
I think the best thing for the tank is not to touch it, but then it looks like crap.
RobertP
Guest
Mine is large sand and it doesn't get moved by the pumps. Good part is that corals have no problem growing right on the sand! Bad part is that it grows algae so have to stir it occasionally. I wont use this large grain in the next tank.
I don't touch my sand bed, that's my diamond goby and pistol shrimp's job.
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They have some at BB’s. They’re cool! I bought two when I had my big bubble coral and he ate them within 5 min. I think they thought he was a pillow. Oops lol.
For me there are 5 key benefits for sand.
1. Denitrification
2. Surface Area
3. Visual appeal
4. Habitat for critters
5. Reflection (hits underneath the corals better and lights up the room)
This is why I got away from sand. Siporax and other media’s give you all the denitrification you need and they have plenty of surface area on most of these media’s. Enough to be more than efficient. I don’t really keep wrasses anymore due to their life span. That leaves visual appeal which I really miss, but I’m a freak when it comes to my sandbed. I want it to look super OCD clean. This is not good for the biology of the tank and it’s hard work. When I went BB last year, I thought I was gonna hate it. Honestly, it was pretty darn nice not having to work the sand and being able to watch different corals base out on the glass along with coralline algae. I had the flow cranked and it was quite nice. Not gonna lie I do miss the white sand, but the flow I keep now it would blow. Even the 3.5mm would push to one side. For this reason I’m going BB again on this tank despite what Ryan at BRS is doing. Watch in about a year he’s gonna regret that decision (Acro guy) and try to siphon it all out. Been there done that and those little grains take months to get out. They keep appearing forever. So if you go with sand make sure you want it. If I had a LPS or Softie tank I’d probably do it again. Shoot, I may do it later anyway. You just never know until you get into that situation.
1. Denitrification
2. Surface Area
3. Visual appeal
4. Habitat for critters
5. Reflection (hits underneath the corals better and lights up the room)
This is why I got away from sand. Siporax and other media’s give you all the denitrification you need and they have plenty of surface area on most of these media’s. Enough to be more than efficient. I don’t really keep wrasses anymore due to their life span. That leaves visual appeal which I really miss, but I’m a freak when it comes to my sandbed. I want it to look super OCD clean. This is not good for the biology of the tank and it’s hard work. When I went BB last year, I thought I was gonna hate it. Honestly, it was pretty darn nice not having to work the sand and being able to watch different corals base out on the glass along with coralline algae. I had the flow cranked and it was quite nice. Not gonna lie I do miss the white sand, but the flow I keep now it would blow. Even the 3.5mm would push to one side. For this reason I’m going BB again on this tank despite what Ryan at BRS is doing. Watch in about a year he’s gonna regret that decision (Acro guy) and try to siphon it all out. Been there done that and those little grains take months to get out. They keep appearing forever. So if you go with sand make sure you want it. If I had a LPS or Softie tank I’d probably do it again. Shoot, I may do it later anyway. You just never know until you get into that situation.
I'm BB all the way but use a semi deep sand bed in a refugium with critters that dig thats attached to my sump. Keeps the tank super clean that way.For me there are 5 key benefits for sand.
1. Denitrification
2. Surface Area
3. Visual appeal
4. Habitat for critters
5. Reflection (hits underneath the corals better and lights up the room)
This is why I got away from sand. Siporax and other media’s give you all the denitrification you need and they have plenty of surface area on most of these media’s. Enough to be more than efficient. I don’t really keep wrasses anymore due to their life span. That leaves visual appeal which I really miss, but I’m a freak when it comes to my sandbed. I want it to look super OCD clean. This is not good for the biology of the tank and it’s hard work. When I went BB last year, I thought I was gonna hate it. Honestly, it was pretty darn nice not having to work the sand and being able to watch different corals base out on the glass along with coralline algae. I had the flow cranked and it was quite nice. Not gonna lie I do miss the white sand, but the flow I keep now it would blow. Even the 3.5mm would push to one side. For this reason I’m going BB again on this tank despite what Ryan at BRS is doing. Watch in about a year he’s gonna regret that decision (Acro guy) and try to siphon it all out. Been there done that and those little grains take months to get out. They keep appearing forever. So if you go with sand make sure you want it. If I had a LPS or Softie tank I’d probably do it again. Shoot, I may do it later anyway. You just never know until you get into that situation.
That’s a great way to do it if you really like sand and want some of the benefits.
DSB’s definitely work. I literally watched mine start eating nutrients very early on. I was pretty shocked how quick it got going.
I’ve thought about putting some in my sump before, but really don’t have a lot of room. I usually use a 36” sump like 40/B size. This new DIY sump I’m doing a 12”x11” fuge section. Maybe I’ll put some live sand in there under the Cheato.
