Dirty Sandbed

[JoshHarpst]

I have had my tank up for almost 2 years now and everytime i go see someone else's tank, their sand is just as white as it was when they bought it. I have over 500 nassarius snails and a horseshoe crab and my sand is not even close to being as white as it once was. Is there any suggestions on how to bright back to white? I don't want to go buy more sand because i'm spent almost 200 bucks on the sand i've got now and i'm not real interested in spending another 30 bucks. Thanks.


~Josh

[Rob]

lets see a picture... and some more info on and recent problems and some parameters

there are many possibilities... i manage to keep mine pretty white, but i dont think i could give you advice without a bit more....lol

[JoshHarpst]

i already took pics last weekend when i was home but you can't tell really. It's white don't get me wrong but its no a clean white, more like a gray creamy white? One thing that i have noticed is that there is like green and red algae growing on the glass below the sand. Could that have something to do with it?

~Josh

[Rob]

no.. thats usually normal in the sand bed..

[Jimm]

I got so sick of struggling to keeping my sandbed clean that I gave up and bought a bunch of GARF grunge. Now my sandbed is covered in crushed live rock rubble with a 3 inch aragonite layer below that. I think it looks more realistic too.

[pham411]

hey josh,
if your tank is cycled and stable, you shouldnt mess with your sand too much. my sand bed isnt pearly white but its very effective in housing all the little critters that live in it and when you disturb your bed it disturbs the critters that help filter your water. the grunge is great for seeding your sand bed. i would just leave it be if its not super white. if you want it super white then i suggest you establish a deep sand bed refugium to use as a filter so you can constantly clean your display tank sand bed to get the look your after.

[gwen_o_lyn]

Have u tried bleaching it? j/k ;)

My sand bed gets chunky after awhile and I have sifted my sand and removed the larger chucks so that it's all the really small sugar sized sand- looks much better...

Ok here is the link- please ignore the fact that I kinda get outta control when I post on TRT- sorry!!
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62081&highlight=makeover

[DeviousDude]

Have u tried bleaching it? j/k ;)

My sand bed gets chunky after awhile and I have sifted my sand and removed the larger chucks so that it's all the really small sugar sized sand- looks much better...

Ok here is the link- please ignore the fact that I kinda get outta control when I post on TRT- sorry!!
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62081&highlight=makeover


ROFL....Gwen that was hilarious. Keep up the outta control.;)

[gwen_o_lyn]

LMFAO, don't worry, it comes natural!! But sometimes I go back and read my posts and I'm like "wtf was I thinking writing that $h#t!!" I got a few drunk posts on TRT too... omg... wow... lmao, all I can say is GOOD TIMES!! :mrgreen:

[Amphibious]

gwen_o_lyn,


please ignore the fact that I kinda get outta control when I post on TRT- sorry!!
You really don't have to explain or apologize, your avatar tells us a whole bunch.

:roll: :mrgreen: :razz: :cool:

[CrazyFishMan]

Gwen, what did you use to sift it with? It looks really nice. I wouldnt mind doing that to my sand bed. Im sure everyone in the tank would like a little spring cleaning!

[Rob]

keep in mind this is a major disruption to your sand bed. so if you have a DSB, this will impact its ability to function properly...
it will recover, but this is not something that should fall into "regular maintenance"

if your bio load is low, then it should make a huge impact. but i would make sure you monitor your water parameters and perform additional water chances as needed after this process

[DeviousDude]

iOne thing that i have noticed is that there is like green and red algae growing on the glass below the sand.
~Josh


Is it okay to clean that out? just the show side?:mrgreen: Or just leave it?:sad:

[Rob]

while most people will just leave it, i suppose if you contain your "stirring up of things' to just that front row, it shoudnt bother too much

[Amphibious]

DeviousDude


Is it okay to clean that out? just the show side? Or just leave it?
Here's how I look at the "dirty" against the front glass,acrylic. It proves to me the sand bed is working, in other words. it's supposed to look like that. That said, I have cleaned the front of mine easily with a credit card, preferably an expired one or your wife's. :mrgreen: How's that for devious, DeviousDude??? Anyway, push the card into the sand at an angle and slowly push it to the other end. Try a small area to get the hang ot it. I'm confident you will master the technique quickly.

Buy the way, all you Acrylic owners out there and you critics of Acrylic, using the credit card will remove coraline algae and diatoms from unwanted areas, too. As long as you can get your hand and arm in there of course.

I can hear some of you asking, "But, wont that scratch the Acrylic?" Not if you hold the credit card correctly and be careful. Keeping any aquarium scratch free is nearly impossible whether glass or Acrylic. It's a matter of knowing HOW to clean the product that determines your results. It's part of your research you did before you went into this hobby. You know your homework. Oh, you skipped that part, I see. Well now you know. :D

[Scott]

It's part of your research you did before you went into this hobby. You know your homework. Oh, you skipped that part, I see. Well now you know. :D

There was homework??

I guess this is where we cheat off of (err, help) each other.... :rolleyes:

[Amphibious]

You get it Scott. Remove the dunce cap and move to the front of the class, where I can keep a better eye on you. :lol:

[Scott]

You get it Scott. Remove the dunce cap and move to the front of the class, where I can keep a better eye on you. :lol:

I don't know....with this pic, you may want me in the front of the class....but keeping that dunce cap ON. :shock:

At least all the lawn covers up the dirty sandbed....

http://scottsplace.homeip.net/aquarium/dirty-sandbed.jpg

[Amphibious]

LM FREAKING AO

Get that cap back on and get to the back of the room, and from now on quit copying (cheating) other students work. I know you are capable of better work on your own merits!!!

By the way, aside from the trivial, that was a great come back. Thanks.

[Scott]

:mrgreen: Well it's one way of not seeing a dirty sandbed. :rolleyes:

[Amphibious]

I'm doing the plumbing on my 135 that needs to be set up very soon and I've had three cocktails. Which is to say, I'm in a very mellow mood right now. Wife is working a 16 hour shift and when the Queen is out, the King can do what ever he pleases. I think one more will take care of me for the evening. Ha ha ha!

[Scott]

Hmmm....cocktails and working on tank plumbing? I do hope you plan to leak test it another day. <G>

[Amphibious]

Hmmmm, no respect for the teach! Of course you don't know the teach's bachground. I spent 40 years as a pipefitter and I don't mean the type you get goofy on. Although..................well I wont go there. :rolleyes:

I'll post a pic in a few minutes.

[Amphibious]

OK, here's the plumbing pic as it stands right now. The distribution manifold I've been working on today.

http://www.theculturedreef.com/Plumbing-3.jpg

Pretty good for an old f&rt on cocktails, eah?

[Rob]

lmao...

first of, Dick.. great job... i am so glad i have all of you guys so i can copy from, er, i mean be inspired by....lol

second.. thank for the laughs.. i just spend the last 4 hours doing taxes.. i needed it... you guys rock...lol

also, dick, i would love to see how this all hooks up to the rest of the tank, so if you can please feel free to post more pictures in a tank journal for all of us.
so we can learn from the master pipe fitter... :D

[Scott]

Wow...that looks great! No wonder you are the teacher. :-)

[Reefbaby]

Oh man....you're just scoring right and left Amphibious!!! That looks great!

Well...now I can ask the master! Could you look in my gallery and let me know what you think of my design for a closed loop? Thanks!

[pham411]

nice pluming dick!!
i also like to see what the final result looks like

[Amphibious]

Thanks guys and girls,

I'm taking pics and will post em when there's progress.

[DeviousDude]

Oh, man that is awesome. You sure lay pipe.

[gwen_o_lyn]

Gwen, what did you use to sift it with? It looks really nice. I wouldnt mind doing that to my sand bed. Im sure everyone in the tank would like a little spring cleaning!

Welcome to TR Crazyfishman!!
I bought a little hand held sifter from the kitchen section at Wal-Mart- it was a metal one and only planned on using it a few times- I knew for the price I paid that it would rust and it did. The holes were too big in the plastic ones and that's why I didn't get one of those.

[Kassun]

You could purchase a sandsifter goby. It'll keep it clean and airate it.

-kassun

[dreams]

my sandbed is "dirty"....if it wasn't, i would freaking out that it wasn't do it's job