Removed by SSB

[FB]

After doing a TON of reading about dsb and ssb I came to the conclusion that my sandbed was crap. I did not know how to set it up or maintain it. There was absolutely nothing living in it. None of my SPS were ever happy and could not stop battling bubble algae and small amounts of hair alge. I decided to try and remove it. After removing it I cannot believe how dirty it was and how bad it smelled. Anyway so far things look really good. My tank water and glass have never looked clearer. I have about 50X turnover so not much has been settling on the bottom. When it does I do a quick turkey baster to the bottom and it get pulled out.

My current values.

SG 1.025
Temp 80
Alk 10.8 dKH (Salifert)
Cal 600 (was 680) (Salifert)
Nitrate 0 - Clear (Hagen)
Phosphate 0 - Clear (Hagen)
MG 1260

I plan on replacing the Nitrate and Phosphate to Salifert very soon.

 

[Anonymous]

Good job getting it out. I am sure the filth was amazing, a non functioning sandbed is a foul beast indeed.

What did you do with all the old sand?

 

[Len]

Nice. I've been pretty diligent with my sandbed care, so mine has never been an issue

 

[FB]

Good job getting it out. I am sure the filth was amazing, a non functioning sandbed is a foul beast indeed.

What did you do with all the old sand?

It is currently sitting in a rubbermaid container with a power head and some water. I sucked up a lot of my snails so as they climb out of the sand I put them back in my display. I also put some macroalgae in to see what happens.

 

[FB]

Nice. I've been pretty diligent with my sandbed care, so mine has never been an issue

Got any pictures of your well maintained sand bed

:lol:

 

[edacsac]

I know this an old thread, but I'm curious as to what is, or how a sand bed becomes non-functioning?

I'm still planning my first reef tank and I'm battling between DSB, SSB, or BB. I would rather have some sand for looks, but I still can't decide.

 

[Anonymous]

600 CA - Seems really high.

I tried it all - DSB, SSB, BB , - just got to find what works for you.

 

[ChrisRD]

I never saw any real benefit with a DSB. I've never had nitrate problems with/without sand, so I consider the whole denitrification thing a non-issue. I found the super fine sand that is recommended with DSB to be very annoying and I felt it limited flow options. Unless I planned on keeping critters that required it for habitat, I would not put a lot of sand in any future tank.

I find BB setups the easiest to maintain. I always seem to gravitate back to BB setups. SSB is a happy medium IMO and I would do another one, but again, I'd avoid the super fine sand. I prefer something with a particle size in the 1 to 2 mm range (and well rinsed).

 

[dadstank]

uh, this sounds like a dumb question to me(or at least something i should already know), but how or what do you do to maintain your sand bed? i have had mine in almost the same position for nearly three years...

could this be the reason that i too am dealing with bubbling algae and some slight hair growth?

(almost all of my bed is covered up by rock. to get it out i would have to break down 90% of the tank... and there is a 10"-12" convict blenny living in there...)

 

[mr_X]

i moved this to my own thread :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Nice. I've been pretty diligent with my sandbed care, so mine has never been an issue

Pics...

 

[Katfsh]

pis of Len's tank?!?!?!? Yeah Right! :lol: