Sand Question

[Stidd]

My sand has become quite dirty... I siphon up what I can during water changes but is it possible to replace sand with new to keep the tank looking clean? Should I expect a cycle if I add sand?

Can I siphon an entire layer off the top and replace right away?

Guy

 

[Daniel]

Hi I use Horseshoe crabs in my sand bed and they kick but at keeping it clean ;D

 

[RichT]

Can I siphon an entire layer off the top and replace right away?

I've read where reefers have done just that. But you want to be careful that you don't encroach on the anaerobic area of the sand bed if your using a deep bed. If your using just enough for asthestics than I don't think it will be a problem. You'll need to make sure you've gotten all the silts out of the new sand as it will cloud your tank and possibly damage equipment if too many particles get floating. If I recall correctly, I read where people put the sand in ziploc, lowered them into the tank, and slowly turned them over letting out the sand without too much stirring up. I've never tried any of this but it sounded good at the time. HTH

 

[JohnS_323]

Removing the silt can be a dual edge sword. Yes it clouds the tank and could possibly damage some equipment but it's also a good media for housing beneficial organisims.

Another method for adding sand that we've tried is to lower one end of a piece of 2 or 3" PVC to the existing sand bed. Then slowly pour the new sand into the other end. It actually works pretty well. We got a little clouding but it wasn't too bad.

 

[agent007]

My sand has become quite dirty... I siphon up what I can during water changes but is it possible to replace sand with new to keep the tank looking clean? Should I expect a cycle if I add sand?

Can I siphon an entire layer off the top and replace right away?

Guy

I was just wondering the same thing myself. I am having an algae bloom: hair and bubble. I am taking measures to reduce nutrients and light. I am also increasing the clean up crew but the sand is absolutely unattractive and I believe saturated.
I usually churn the top 1/2" of the sand while doing water changes but it seems to be pretty well covered with hair and coralene algae. The white is disappearing.

Does anyone change the sand in their tank on a regular basis: once every 5 years or so?

... or should I just increase water changes and wait for the sand to clear up after I conquer the algae bloom???

 

[Phyl]

I use cucumbers to keep my sand white. They do a great job.

 

[harryk]

Nassaruis snails do a great job of cleaning detritus within the sand. I don't think in a reef tank that your sand will stay white, in nature it doesn't, it's only natural to change colors due to the accumulation of detritus and debris.

Harry

 

[Hawkeye]

Hi I use Horseshoe crabs in my sand bed and they kick but at keeping it clean ;D

These guys grow huge - really should not be kept in a reef tank in my humble opinion.

If I recall correctly, I read where people put the sand in ziploc, lowered them into the tank, and slowly turned them over letting out the sand without too much stirring up.

What I do (similar to what Rich posted) is rather than turn the bag, I snip a small corner off and pour thru the hole. There tends to be a lot of suspended particles no matter how much you wash the sand, allowing the sand to flow out from the bottom allows the suspended particles to remain in the bag.

Should I expect a cycle if I add sand?

Adding new sand does not create a new cycle.

What kind of cleanup crew do you have in your tank and how old is it? The situation may be temporary.

I usually churn the top 1/2" of the sand while doing water changes but it seems to be pretty well covered with hair and coralene algae.

Highly unlikely you'd have coralline algae on the surface of your sandbed unless it's completely caked...coralline will typically colonize glass and LR - but not sand.

 

[sgarron]

That's most likely cyano, not corraline.

 

[Daniel]

Hi I use Horseshoe crabs in my sand bed and they kick but at keeping it clean ;D

No I have what are called dwarf horseshoe crabs. In about four years the are as round as a 2" not very big. But very cool to look at and they clean awesome.

 

[Hawkeye]

No I have what are called dwarf horseshoe crabs. In about four years the are as round as a 2" not very big. But very cool to look at and they clean awesome.

Wow that is interesting - did they give you a scientific name for these crabs? I don't believe I've seen any horseshoe crab other than those king-sized ones on the east coast.

 

[blange3]

Can't believe a sand thread escaped my attention, twice!

For a cleanup crew I like a mix of a cucumber, cerith snails and nassarius snails.

I agree it's probably cyano and not coralline algae on top of the bed.

You have to be careful when you siphon sand from a deep bed, you can release pockets of sulphur dioxide. I make sure I'm running fresh carbon and do a water change when I mess around with a deep sand bed.

 

[harlequinreef]

Hi I use Horseshoe crabs in my sand bed and they kick but at keeping it clean ;D

Not to nit pick, but there are only 4 species (3 pacific and 1 atlantic species) of horseshoe crabs all of them being extremely ecologically important. None are to be considered dwarf as the the Atlantic species Limulus polyphemus is the smallest of the four. IMO your horseshoes may be finding enough microinvertebrate life to survive, but not enough to grow. I would definitly agree with Phyl, Blange and others that sand sifting cucumbers, cerith snails and nassaurius snails are far better choices as they feed on ogranic material (diatoms, poop and detritus). Many sand sifters (many gobies, stars and horseshoes) sift sand to feed on the many micro inverts that do actually eat detritus and poop.

 

[Demo]

I could be wrong, but wouldn't cucumbers also be more appropriate in larger tanks, say 125 or even more? The size of the sandbed being more important than the gallons of water of course. I'm pretty certain those of use with smaller tanks(like my 65 gallon) would probably suffice with a good collection of snails. I'd love a cuke or 2 but I'm going to hold out for my very near upgrade.

 

[harlequinreef]

there are several smaller species of sand sifters that would be fine in smaller tanks as long as their population densities are not too high...1 cuke for every 40 or 50 pounds of established live fine grade sand would be a good starting point imo

 

[agent007]

I do have some Cyrano also but I do see some purple particles - I presumed it was Coralline.
Though my wife says I am color blind

So the bottom line is, it's not necessary to change the sand on any regular basis.
I just need to keep up with my maintenance and clean up crew. I'll pick up a few more
nassarius snails this week. Thanks for the help.

 

[blange3]

I could be wrong, but wouldn't cucumbers also be more appropriate in larger tanks, say 125 or even more? The size of the sandbed being more important than the gallons of water of course. I'm pretty certain those of use with smaller tanks(like my 65 gallon) would probably suffice with a good collection of snails. I'd love a cuke or 2 but I'm going to hold out for my very near upgrade.

I have one cuke in my 75 and one in my 55 reef for over two years. I have the ones that Reeftopia sells.

Harlequinreef raises a great point about focusing on cleanup critters that don't eat the microfauna. A healthy population of microfauna is essential to running the deeper sandbeds.

 

[agent007]

I have beefed up my snail count: Added 5 Astreas, 5 Ceriths and 10 Nassarius snails.
I will likely add another 5 Ceriths this week.

Also stepping up the manual clean up off bubble algae and skimming off the caked up
gunk on top of the sand. I'm seeing improvements in sand quality already but bubble
and hair algae are still persistent.

My QT tank is just about ready for a new Kole Tang. Hope to pick this up within the week.

Cucumbers give me the willies. I read that they can wipe out a tank if they feel threatened.

 

[Hawkeye]

Cucumbers give me the willies. I read that they can wipe out a tank if they feel threatened.

Cuke-nukes are overstated/overblown...
Sea Cucumbers

Everyone talks about cukes as possible causes for tank wipe-outs like everyone talks about every single bristle worm as a coral eater. Just cannot generalize like that. Do you need a cuke? Nope. Personally I will be stocking my tank with at least one.