syphoning substrate

I am just starting my new tank and I was wondering about the need to syphon my substrate. I always syphoned my gravel in fresh water tanks, but I thought it was very undesirable in reef tanks. I'm really not there yet, but just wondering about down the road. Any help?

 

if you have sand It would be better to leave it undisturbed and instead get sand-sifters, like a sand-sifting starfish or sand-sifting gobies. If you have a deep sand bed, you might want to syphon it, but by sections, so that you don't get old tank syndrome.

 

Please educate me sir.... maybe Im about to learn something.... or this is a sarcasic statement.

 

It's not sarcastic. Eventually some tanks develop what is called "old tank syndrome." It's due in part to the build of hydrogen sulfide in the substrate. I have siphon my sand nearly every time I do a water change. I have also added new sand to replace the stuff I siphon out. I also mix it up occasionally. If you have some algae or cyno on the sand, you can just siphon it out, not biggy.

 

tatted4ever

Mike Palleta can describe it better than I ever could so

Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Feature Article: The "Old Tank" Syndrome

Steve

 

ahhhh i c.... I dont touch my sand bed at all. never seen any need to. Sand stays nice and clean.

Isnt it with a dsb you dont want to disturb it???? due to the hydrogen sulfide

 

not sarcastic, as others have explained. But it's always good to learn something new.

 

Which is why you only clean it by small sections at a time. Otherwise it could build up to deadly amounts.

 

ahhhhh i c thanks for clarifying

 

Mike Paleta explains it well