In this Part 1 of 2 series i give you a more in-depth look at sand beds, what they are and how they work. Going over the details in how they actually provide such a great source of natual filtration for your tank. breaking down the different zones in the sand bed, and how each one functions.

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I also answer a few listner questions

<ul>
<li>Is ther eany danger in traning fish to be "hand fed"
<li>whats the best way to tear down a tank and replace it with a large on that has to go into the same place
</ul>

Show Links
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.reefkeeping.com">Reefkeeping.com</a>
<li><a href="http://www.reefindex.com">Reefindex.com</a>
<li><a href="http://www.reefpedia.com">Reefpedia.com</a>
</ul>

Rob,
Your info on how to move your tank was awesome. I have been thinking about switching out my 29 w/ a 45 gallon on the same stand and not sure how to go about it. You covered the topic with masterly detail. Now my wife is all excited about me spending a Saturday swapping tanks while she watches the kids all day. I just got my IPOD Monday and I have listened to about half your show and I really enjoy them. They are a cornucopia of knowledge!

great, im glad you found it useful.
if you have any questions about the move, please feel free post them.

How about a pod cast on fragging corals? I have to frag some xenia this week when I swap to the 45 gallon since it is attached to two seperate rocks. I have no clue how to do it. Any advice?

Rob has a good video on fragging... not sure if that transfered over to this website though...

But fragging Xenia is pretty easy.... you can either pull the xenia off the rock, or cut it with a knife/scissors at the bottom of the stalk and then take the piece and rubberband it to some rock- don't rubberband it too tight or it will come off, just enough for it to stay- and then it will be attached within a few days- week.

Because Xenia grows in the direction of the flow, some people will just put a rock next to it and it will spread onto the rock.

Some people also frag using wedding vail and wrap the coral to the rock with the vail.

You can also use a toothpick which prolly works better than the rubberband by itself. Put the toothpick through the stalk and then rubberband from the tips of the toothpick under the rock....

Maybe that helps?

yep.. the video should still be here...
actaully, i could release it in the podcast feed for everyone to get it?
good idea???bad idea??

Can you give me a link to the video

yep.. the video should still be here...
actaully, i could release it in the podcast feed for everyone to get it?
good idea???bad idea??

excellent idea!

Great idea for those who have video capability on their pods...
Good idea for those of us who can see it on our PC...

Always a good idea to pass information any time or any way we can.

Dave

yep.. the video should still be here...
actaully, i could release it in the podcast feed for everyone to get it?
good idea???bad idea??

BTW... I use dental floss to tied down Xenia and some other softies.

Dave

ok, i will work on getting that published for everyone...

Rob, were is that like to the video, i was hoping to frag some corals tonight.

will have it published in the feed tonight

Rob,

Question about recycling substrate...

While I was told (and think it's a good idea) to use some old substrate to seed new tanks, I was also told that using sand that was deep (anaerobic) may contain sulfite/sulfurous acids and could cause major problems in the new tank.

What is your take/understanding of this?

Dave

I have reused live sand when I went from a 12 to a 29 gallon and it worked fine. That stuff is expensive. I mean it's "live sand" so it was allways used before putting it in the tank technically. But I do not know if the sellers of LS do something to it before they bag it to take out "impurities per say" for a new tank.

Going from a smaller tank to a larger tank (where you are adding a LOT of new substrate) may not be as big an issue as it would be reusing a 6 inch sand bed from a 75G reef that was running for years.

Again, I'm clueless..and this is why I ask. There may be no problems at all.

There is a difference between bagged LS or that which is purchased at the LFS versus old, dirty LS in an established reef tank. Most LS at the LFS is kept in storage systems that does not represent a deep sand bed and it is always being moved and stirred about and rarely has any fish, corals or other larger living organisms in it. It doesn't really have the chance to build up N2 or N2O. Nor is it littered with detritus and other wastes.

The sand in my reef, for instance, was 6 inches deep and after the first couple few inches it was NEVER disturbed. You could easily see the bubbles of gas etc. in it. When I broke down the 75G I got REAL sick when removing the sand bed. Haven't felt like that since HIGH school ;)

For what it's worth...In all the time doing marine systems, I've NEVER used live sand to entirely create a sand bed. I've always used Southdown or what ever it is called today and seeded it with live sand from other tanks. This DRASTICALLY reduces the costs in setting up. See Podcast Episode 17.

Dave

PS... gotta love the button that says "Quick Reply". With David P...there is no such thing as a quick reply :P

yes, i agree that recycling, or seeding new sandbeds with mature sand is a good idea.
regarding the sulfar, its actually usually hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and not sulfuric acid. (hopefully... ;) )
the is a common accurance, and will apear as blackish bands or areas when looking through the depths of your sand bed through the side glass or from under the tank, or even if you move dense rocks you may see this black area under them.

now your questions of its saftey, if stired up or transfered. to my knowledge there is not much to worry about. while i have no facts to back this, i can say i have transfers sand, and (inadvertianly) stired up H2S rich areas of my tank and have not had any know problems from it.

i will do some further research and see what i can come up with for ya.

regarding the sulfar, its actually usually hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and not sulfuric acid. (hopefully... ;) )

That's right... H2S is sulfurous acid not sulfuric....Thanks for keeping me straight and such :D

D