vacuming sand substrate

[jwill]

I've had a recent spike in my nitrates after 5 months of virtually none. I'm in the process of removing my bio-balls and I've been told to vacumn my sand substrate. The sand is fine and I was wondering if - 1. Is this something I should consider, if so what is the best way?

thanks

tank - 125 gal reef with 4 fishes
parameters Amonia 0 / Nitrite 0 / Nitrate 20-25 / Calcium 420 / dkh 10.77
temp 78 / lighting - 2 96w pc with 10K 50/50.

I plan on upgrading my lighting to the Nova Extreme Pro T5's

[JWarren]

Your Nitrates are not super high. I wouldn't vacuum the sand, but increase flow in the tank and do a 50 gal. water change. Not knowing your system, thats all I can recommend for ya.

Welcome to RS!

[Woodstock]

Unless you have 4 huge fish and feed a LOT, I don't understand why the nitrAtes are so high. Shoot for 10 ppm or less.

What test kit are you using?
What size/type of fish?
How often do you feed?
How often and what percentage of water change do you perform?
Do you use tap water or filtered water? Check it for nitrAtes to see if it is contributing to it.
Have you added anything recently that might have died? Snails, starfish, etc.?
How deep is your sand bed?

Remember that the denitrifying bacteria live deep in the anerobic (oxygen free) sections of the sand bed and porous rock. They convert the nitrAtes into harmless gas that will eventually bubble up and out of the water. When you disturb the sandbed, it disturbs the denitrifying bacteria.


With all of that said, I occassionally (every 4-6 months or so) vacuum a small section of sand bed during a water change. I have a 2-3" fine sandbed in my reef. Vacuuming it without removing sand takes a bit of finesse and a slow-medium water flow (I use a Python for mine).
My nitrates stay at zero (salifert test kit).

[msbdiving]

Thanks woodstock. There are sooo many variables that could be a contributing factor. I applaude the original posting as having water parameters but there is so much more.

As for the sand vacuuming, I have two sand sifting gobies that keep the top layer turned over. My yellowtail damsel also helps to contribute in the corner and swishes sand away with its tail.

I used to vacuum when I had cc but stopped when I switched the tank over to sand.

[rDr4g0n]

Nassarius snails and queen conchs do a good job of moving the sand around. Best cure for nitrates is water change thouhg

[jwill]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

Unless you have 4 huge fish and feed a LOT, I don't understand why the nitrAtes are so high. Shoot for 10 ppm or less.

What test kit are you using? [b]AMI[
]What size/type of fish? tomato clown, sailfin tang, flame hawkfish, hippo tang - all 2-4 inches
How often do you feed? twice a day, now down to one!
How often and what percentage of water change do you perform? been doing 10-15% per week using ro/di
Do you use tap water or filtered water? Check it for nitrAtes to see if it is contributing to it. no
Have you added anything recently that might have died? Snails, starfish, etc.? I suspect part of my problem has been the loss of two snails in the last week-- not certain that is 100% of my problem.
How deep is your sand bed? 1.5 - 2 inches with 110lbs LR

Remember that the denitrifying bacteria live deep in the anerobic (oxygen free) sections of the sand bed and porous rock. They convert the nitrAtes into harmless gas that will eventually bubble up and out of the water. When you disturb the sandbed, it disturbs the denitrifying bacteria.


With all of that said, I occassionally (every 4-6 months or so) vacuum a small section of sand bed during a water change. I have a 2-3" fine sandbed in my reef. Vacuuming it without removing sand takes a bit of finesse and a slow-medium water flow (I use a Python for mine).
My nitrates stay at zero (salifert test kit).