Dirty Sand Bed

philip_r5 · 01-15-2007, 11:41 AM

So it seems as if im collecting fish poop and other stuff as a hobby now. You look at my tank and it looks good untill you look at the sand bed. It just seems to be collecting all the old food and fish poop and everything else. I try to get it out with the syphoon when i clean the tank but it doesn't do anything. I got some emerald crabs x4, zebra crabs x9, and some turbo snails, they dont seem to want to go on the sand bed. What can I do to get rid of this nasty stuff? Take note I got very fine sands so I can't put power heads on it to move it around as it blows the sand all over.

Diver_1298 · 01-15-2007, 12:24 PM

I know you are probably not looking to here this.........
Don't overfeed, once every other day and then only what they eat in less than a minute. OK, off the soapbox.
There are some sand dwelling snails that are carnivorous, ILYANASSA OBSOLETA I believe, but make sure you get the ones that are warm water snails. Try a serpent star or two. Continue to use the siphon when you do water changes.
I'm not sure about all those crabs that you have, I never really met a crab that I liked. They are too opportunistic and get into places where I don't want them. That being said, I have about 7 small blue legged hermits in my tank. So, remember this is just my opinion and I am not preaching to you, like your signature says I'm just giving suggestions.

Enjoy!!!!

Jim

Blade_Runner · 01-15-2007, 02:18 PM

Cerith snails are good too. I'm also not too big on crabs and like Jim said I have a few crabs in my tanks. Basically a small mix of blue legs and emeralds. I had some Velonia that the emeralds took care of and the blue legs have been around for years. There are probably less than 12 in all my tanks combined. I have no plans on replacing them once they die off.

I looked at your gallery. Take this for what it is worth. With your power heads at the top of the tank, there isn't good circulation around the base of the rocks and in the caves. Between a lack of circulation and potentially over feeding you get a build up of poop and uneaten food. The first thing I'd do is try and reduce the size of the feedings. Next I'd address the circulation problem. You need a way to getting some current down there so the poop will get into suspension so that the filter can get to it. A repositioned power head or a diffuser that doesn't start a sand storm may be in order.

Birchell · 01-15-2007, 03:24 PM

Just a thought, but I think shrimps are great scavengers. They will eat anything. I just got a couple conches and they are great at digging in the sand. Add this too all the above and you should be good to go.

philip_r5 · 01-15-2007, 03:40 PM

I moved the power heads down a little more to where they moved a little of the stuff and it moves a little of the sand. However, once doing this the water got dirty and I can see that how I place the ph's are going to work out good. I put the two small ones on the bottom on the right and put the bigger one on the top blowing towards the front glass this pushes the garbage back to the top where the overflow is. While looking at it I can see that some spots are still not getting affected I think this is where the Ceriths and some other kind of animal could help. Any other suggestions guys? Thanks Blade Runner +1 I wish I could give more then +1. The fish seem to like the powerheads down there also they are playing in the flow and for some odd reason my biggest Emerald finaly came out in the day to get some food (OFF THE SAND)

:0

Blade_Runner · 01-15-2007, 04:22 PM

You are welcome. I've got a little DIY project in the back of my mind you might be interested in, but you have to watch out for me when I start building stuff. (Just look at my gallery. Those are the successes. Other projects didn't make it...

)

We all have dead spots. Typically in the rocks and toward the back bottom of the tank. Like you said, it is hard to get a ph in there. They dig holes in the sand and are hard to place. Many are using Tunez(sp?) or other diffused powerheads to get increased flow in these areas. Personally, I think they are massively over priced.

On the other hand, PVC is cheap and easy to work with. I'm sure this has been done, but why not just cut some PVC to run along the back bottom of the tank behind the LR. Cut or slice some holes in it. Cap one end and put a barb fitting on the other end into a ph or one of the returns from the sump. That way you gently force water and poop away from the rock and into the tank so it can be removed by the over flow.

What am I missing as I'm thinking of doing something like this in my 300 at some point as I don't use any powerheads in it? Of course, it will be a royal pain to move all the existing LR and corals to install the PVC. Maybe I'll start with my 90 as it already has a closed loop to plumb into. I've got a better idea. You do it and tell me if it works.

philip_r5 · 01-16-2007, 07:36 AM

Does anyone have any idea of some sand shifters that will help reduce this junk and/or that eat it?

Tangster · 01-16-2007, 07:49 AM

I'd have to ask what influenced you to go with a sand bed and how deep is it what type and grade of sand did you use ?

philip_r5 · 01-16-2007, 02:11 PM

Well I got sand as I like the natural look and the fine sand was recommended. The lfs employee/owner told me to go with fine. He said that the finer it is the less air that can be trapped in the rocks turning into gas that is bad for the tank when amitted.

nemo79 · 01-16-2007, 04:16 PM

Hey, no one mentioned nassarius snails. These snails live in your substrate, eat everything and sift the bed really well. You could try a cucumber when your tank is stable (not sure how long it's been set up).

I love my hermit crabs they do a good job but I can say that the scarlet ones are not troublesome at all! Also cleaner shrimp and peppermint shrimp are great additions to the reef and you may want to consider a goby as they sift the sand and keep it real clean...I read one of Matts threads on his diamond goby and he said his sand has never been so clean.