Keeping Sand clean?

essmaker · 11-21-2003, 10:57 AM

I have a CC covered with sand bottom, and I frequesntly have to stir up the sand due to a brown algea growing on it.

I just purchased a sand-sifting star to help with this.

After looking at the pictures of everyones nice white sand bottoms, I ask myself what am I doing wrong?

Any ideas?

Curtswearing · 11-21-2003, 11:07 AM

It sounds like a diatom bloom. This is very common in new tanks. How long has it been set up and did you use RO/DI water when you set up?

Travis · 11-21-2003, 11:07 AM

There are other things that will help. A couple suggestions:

Nassarius Snails
Serpent Stars
Fighting/Queen Conchs
Cerith Snails
Hermits (Sorry wit

)

General opinion is the sand-sifting star does a nice job of keeping the sand purty but wipes out your sand bed critters at the same time, in which case your sand bed doesn't function properly as a method of filtration.

Of course, you will hear mixed opinions on that but I would say the majority believe sand-sifting stars are not a good idea for a live sand bed.

T

Flipper · 11-21-2003, 11:45 AM

My key to keeping my sand perfect in my 55 is in how much I feed, I think. I definately don't do enough water changes. Nitrates are 25 ppm, phosphates I don't have a kit for, and my cleanup crew is minimal, with just a brittle star and 3 hermits (yes, three!). My sand is immaculate, and algae grows only slowly on my glass. The thing is, my fish are fed only 4 times a week. No one is starving or withering, and they've been on this feeding program for well over a year. I believe the amount of food introduced to a system make a big difference.

essmaker · 11-21-2003, 12:06 PM

The tank has been setup for a year now. I only lately began using RO water for my water changes and replacement.

I have been trying to get somemore nassarius snails (no one seems to have any near me).

I think by using the RO water rather than treated tap, along wiht my new star things will begin to shape up.

I see there are some who don't like hermits. Whats the reason for this? aggresive to others?

Flipper · 11-21-2003, 12:17 PM

I've never had a problem with hermits...

EdgeKrusher · 11-21-2003, 01:46 PM

I've never had a problem with hermits, but I know they tend to fight over shells, I've seen this. Some people claim that they attack and kill snails for thier shells, but I figure if you go to a craft store and buy a bag of shells (which I did) and drop some empty ones in there, they wont fight or kill your snails.

The RO water will help with keeping your sand cleaner, there's alot of stuff in tap that isn't good for the tank. Obviously you know that cuz you just switched to RO.
Nassarius Snails I found where very hard to find, unless you want to pay $1.50 per snail and then deal with the shipping. I got lucky and a guy in my reef club here, ordered 50 and got 150 so he sold me 10 for $10, great deal. They are very fast, and burrow in the SB, when they "smell" food they pop out of the SB, and go straight at it. I don't think I would have a reef tank without them now, they are too fun to watch.

Curtswearing · 11-21-2003, 07:29 PM

I agree with all of the above. I also want to point out that I absolutely love my fighting conchs. I have 2 and they are amazing.

The nassarious snails are amazing and the cerith snails are good especially at keeping the glass clean at the sand line.

jks1 · 11-21-2003, 08:20 PM

Curt stole my thunder, i also have 2 fighting conchs, i think they were about $6 apiece and were money well spent. Valencienna gobies (Valencienna puellaris and strigata) also do a pretty good job stirring up your sand bed and are interesting to watch.

Reef Geek · 11-21-2003, 08:36 PM

I have a sleeper goby that sifts through the sand looking for worms and stuff ... benefit is that he also keeps the top layer very clean and white.

SunnyX · 11-22-2003, 02:21 AM

Try an Orange spotted Diamond goby.

SunnyX · 11-22-2003, 02:22 AM

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...=21&pCatId=220

There you go. I picked one up today from my LFS for only 14.99. Big one too.

jimeluiz · 11-22-2003, 12:15 PM

Dare I say I have a Sand Sifting star. I've read all the warnings, debated with several LFS staff I admire and tried to calm my partner who insisted we get one to keep the sandbed white. The jury is still out for me. I have no problem understanding the logic of the star depleting the good critters in the sandbed, but I also notice that she really only travels around where she can lay totally flat and burrow in. That leaves A LOT of area where the sand surface is smaller than her body where she does not go grazing. Plus all the sand below the one inch or so she burrows down. Might the sand life live to breed another day in all the areas she does not reach and thus keep the filtration properties alive and kickin'? And she is not eating the bacteria...

I've told Luiz we may have to say goodbye to our cleanin' girl if she takes a big bite out of our filtration system, but like I said - the jury is out as yet.

Any thoughts? Be nice - I know I am swimming up stream on this one...

NaH2O · 11-22-2003, 01:32 PM

I would really work on getting RO/DI water...you want to make sure all the silicates are removed from it....I think you will see a big difference. How is the water flow in your tank?

wooddood · 11-24-2003, 05:33 AM

great info all, thanks.

11-21-2003, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
essmaker Midas Blenny Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 110 View Gallery Karma Komment	Keeping Sand clean? I have a CC covered with sand bottom, and I frequesntly have to stir up the sand due to a brown algea growing on it. I just purchased a sand-sifting star to help with this. After looking at the pictures of everyones nice white sand bottoms, I ask myself what am I doing wrong? Any ideas?

11-21-2003, 11:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,596 View Gallery Karma Komment	It sounds like a diatom bloom. This is very common in new tanks. How long has it been set up and did you use RO/DI water when you set up? __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

11-21-2003, 11:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,557 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	There are other things that will help. A couple suggestions: Nassarius Snails Serpent Stars Fighting/Queen Conchs Cerith Snails Hermits (Sorry wit ) General opinion is the sand-sifting star does a nice job of keeping the sand purty but wipes out your sand bed critters at the same time, in which case your sand bed doesn't function properly as a method of filtration. Of course, you will hear mixed opinions on that but I would say the majority believe sand-sifting stars are not a good idea for a live sand bed. T __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

11-21-2003, 11:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Flipper Sturgeon General Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York Posts: 156 View Gallery Karma Komment	My key to keeping my sand perfect in my 55 is in how much I feed, I think. I definately don't do enough water changes. Nitrates are 25 ppm, phosphates I don't have a kit for, and my cleanup crew is minimal, with just a brittle star and 3 hermits (yes, three!). My sand is immaculate, and algae grows only slowly on my glass. The thing is, my fish are fed only 4 times a week. No one is starving or withering, and they've been on this feeding program for well over a year. I believe the amount of food introduced to a system make a big difference. __________________ View my photo gallery 55 Gallon, 80 lbs. Live Rock, 3.5" DSB, 1.024 @ 80 degrees, Yellow Tang, Goldbar Maroon Clownfish, Blue Velvet Damsel, 2 White-Bonnet Clownfish, 2 Scissortail Gobies, Royal Gramma, Echinaster luzonicus Star, Red Linkia Star, Brittle Star, Pepermint Shrimp, Green Mushrooms, Protopalythoa Button Polyp colony, Feather Duster. Ocean Futures

11-21-2003, 12:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
essmaker Midas Blenny Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 110 View Gallery Karma Komment	The tank has been setup for a year now. I only lately began using RO water for my water changes and replacement. I have been trying to get somemore nassarius snails (no one seems to have any near me). I think by using the RO water rather than treated tap, along wiht my new star things will begin to shape up. I see there are some who don't like hermits. Whats the reason for this? aggresive to others? __________________ ~~There was once an empty spot in the living room, and now....

11-21-2003, 12:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Flipper Sturgeon General Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York Posts: 156 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've never had a problem with hermits... __________________ View my photo gallery 55 Gallon, 80 lbs. Live Rock, 3.5" DSB, 1.024 @ 80 degrees, Yellow Tang, Goldbar Maroon Clownfish, Blue Velvet Damsel, 2 White-Bonnet Clownfish, 2 Scissortail Gobies, Royal Gramma, Echinaster luzonicus Star, Red Linkia Star, Brittle Star, Pepermint Shrimp, Green Mushrooms, Protopalythoa Button Polyp colony, Feather Duster. Ocean Futures

11-21-2003, 01:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
EdgeKrusher Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 716 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've never had a problem with hermits, but I know they tend to fight over shells, I've seen this. Some people claim that they attack and kill snails for thier shells, but I figure if you go to a craft store and buy a bag of shells (which I did) and drop some empty ones in there, they wont fight or kill your snails. The RO water will help with keeping your sand cleaner, there's alot of stuff in tap that isn't good for the tank. Obviously you know that cuz you just switched to RO. Nassarius Snails I found where very hard to find, unless you want to pay $1.50 per snail and then deal with the shipping. I got lucky and a guy in my reef club here, ordered 50 and got 150 so he sold me 10 for $10, great deal. They are very fast, and burrow in the SB, when they "smell" food they pop out of the SB, and go straight at it. I don't think I would have a reef tank without them now, they are too fun to watch. __________________ ((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸>< ((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸. `·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.

11-21-2003, 07:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,596 View Gallery Karma Komment	I agree with all of the above. I also want to point out that I absolutely love my fighting conchs. I have 2 and they are amazing. The nassarious snails are amazing and the cerith snails are good especially at keeping the glass clean at the sand line. __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

11-21-2003, 08:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	Curt stole my thunder, i also have 2 fighting conchs, i think they were about $6 apiece and were money well spent. Valencienna gobies (Valencienna puellaris and strigata) also do a pretty good job stirring up your sand bed and are interesting to watch. __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

11-21-2003, 08:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Reef Geek Reefus Geekus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 325 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have a sleeper goby that sifts through the sand looking for worms and stuff ... benefit is that he also keeps the top layer very clean and white. __________________ Justin Stealth Reefer

11-22-2003, 02:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
SunnyX Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dearborn,MI Posts: 429 View Gallery Karma Komment	Try an Orange spotted Diamond goby. __________________ 225gl Starphire(60Lx36Wx24H) Reef Deltec AP851 GEO Calcium Reactor Sequence DART TUNZE 6100 Stream SEIO 1500 2xAquaclear 270 Powerheads 3x250w MH ROIII+ Pheonix 14K DE HQI *2x110w VHO URi Super Actinic

11-22-2003, 02:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
SunnyX Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dearborn,MI Posts: 429 View Gallery Karma Komment	http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...=21&pCatId=220 There you go. I picked one up today from my LFS for only 14.99. Big one too. __________________ 225gl Starphire(60Lx36Wx24H) Reef Deltec AP851 GEO Calcium Reactor Sequence DART TUNZE 6100 Stream SEIO 1500 2xAquaclear 270 Powerheads 3x250w MH ROIII+ Pheonix 14K DE HQI *2x110w VHO URi Super Actinic

11-22-2003, 12:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Dare I say I have a Sand Sifting star. I've read all the warnings, debated with several LFS staff I admire and tried to calm my partner who insisted we get one to keep the sandbed white. The jury is still out for me. I have no problem understanding the logic of the star depleting the good critters in the sandbed, but I also notice that she really only travels around where she can lay totally flat and burrow in. That leaves A LOT of area where the sand surface is smaller than her body where she does not go grazing. Plus all the sand below the one inch or so she burrows down. Might the sand life live to breed another day in all the areas she does not reach and thus keep the filtration properties alive and kickin'? And she is not eating the bacteria... I've told Luiz we may have to say goodbye to our cleanin' girl if she takes a big bite out of our filtration system, but like I said - the jury is out as yet. Any thoughts? Be nice - I know I am swimming up stream on this one... __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

11-22-2003, 01:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	I would really work on getting RO/DI water...you want to make sure all the silicates are removed from it....I think you will see a big difference. How is the water flow in your tank? __________________ ~Nikki~

11-24-2003, 05:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	great info all, thanks. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

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