Well I like many others ended up w/ major problems that I think are related to my DSB. I was having major problems w/ cyno and some brown fuzzy algea. Then my corals growth slowed and stopped in some cases, and my LPS corals were starting to look withered. So the other night I cruized over to walmart and picked up a couple tubs. I pulled all my rocks and corals out and scrubbed a lot of them off. Drained out almost all of my water and busted out the shop vac and went to town. Everything went pretty good all in all. The entire process took about 4 hours. I had some xenia and zoa's that are growing on the top of the back of the tank, and they were out of water for the whole 4 hours. They have never looked better! I havn't lost any SPS colonies yet, but did experience a little RTN intially. All that seems to have stopped now and the LPS pieces seem to be very happy. The best of all is that I have seen no cyno growth yet, and it was being harvested almost daily. So all in all I am a happy guy again, now hopefully phosphates will no longer be a problem, SPS growth will return and hopefully everything will start to color up again. I am expecting the new tank to come together in the next month, so everything will get moved again, but that move should be less stressful. Well here is a pic, sorry I didn't take any pics during the process, It was a 1 man operation and I was very busy!
no more DSB for me
- Thread starter big t
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reefer
Well-known member
So what do you have on the tank bottom? Do you see the glass? I have an inch to inch and a half of sand on the bottom of mine, the only thing I wish I had done different was to use a coarser sand so that it cuts down on sand storms when the fish get friskey.
esmith
AQUAMANIAC
Looks great Tom, can't wait to move my tank and get rid of my sandbed 
.
Eliyah
.Eliyah
reefer
Well-known member
Tom, From the picture you did a great job of covering the bottom. Everything looks good.
Scooterman
Well-known member
LOL, you call that BB, looks awesome, & some worry about the looks. Congrats, way to go!
Hey the tank looks real clean. I hope all went well with the move and that you have no casualties. I got a couple questions for you if you have the time.
Why did you remove your DSB,? What was happening in your tank?
When you are moving the sand from the tank did you experienced a sulfur smell [rotten egg smell]. If so, how deep in the bed did you begin to smell that?
Did you notice a layer of sand that was darker than the top layer of sand? If so how deep under the surface did you notice it?
What kind of sand stirring critters did you maintain in the sand bed?
Mike
Why did you remove your DSB,? What was happening in your tank?
When you are moving the sand from the tank did you experienced a sulfur smell [rotten egg smell]. If so, how deep in the bed did you begin to smell that?
Did you notice a layer of sand that was darker than the top layer of sand? If so how deep under the surface did you notice it?
What kind of sand stirring critters did you maintain in the sand bed?
Mike
reedman
Well-known member
Looks good Tom. Glad to hear all went well. I hope I have the same luck on Saturday when I break mine down and move it.
Hey Mike,
Well the problems that I was having were described in my first post, i.e. algea, cyno, slowing of coral growth, certain corals not doing well anymore. I had been testing the water in the main water colum and all looked well, 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates, 425 cal, 10 dkh, ph 8.2-8.4.
So I tested 1 inch down into the sand like you said to mike, and the phosphates were over 1 ppm down there. I figured that since the sand was of unknown age and I have had it for 1.5 years, that it had run its useful course for me and was time to come out. I am a bit lazy when it came to sand stirring animals and didn't really have any besides some bristle worms at this point. In the past I have had some conch's that didn't make it, some nasserious snails who also didn't make it. My tank is pretty small in the front to back dimension so there isn't a lot of room in the sand for anything to do much strirring anyway. When I pulled out the sandbed I noticed that in certain areas the sand was kinda grey to blackish under some of the rocks, and smelled foul for sure. I would say taht this was about 10 % of it, other then that the sand was the normal whitish sand color all the way thru.
Well the problems that I was having were described in my first post, i.e. algea, cyno, slowing of coral growth, certain corals not doing well anymore. I had been testing the water in the main water colum and all looked well, 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates, 425 cal, 10 dkh, ph 8.2-8.4.
So I tested 1 inch down into the sand like you said to mike, and the phosphates were over 1 ppm down there. I figured that since the sand was of unknown age and I have had it for 1.5 years, that it had run its useful course for me and was time to come out. I am a bit lazy when it came to sand stirring animals and didn't really have any besides some bristle worms at this point. In the past I have had some conch's that didn't make it, some nasserious snails who also didn't make it. My tank is pretty small in the front to back dimension so there isn't a lot of room in the sand for anything to do much strirring anyway. When I pulled out the sandbed I noticed that in certain areas the sand was kinda grey to blackish under some of the rocks, and smelled foul for sure. I would say taht this was about 10 % of it, other then that the sand was the normal whitish sand color all the way thru.
Witfull
Well-known member
the BB club is growing...i didnt start this to be fashionalble, but i do feel thst DSBs are a problem, i too experienced the same probs with my tank.
if you do has a DSB, dont just jump on the wagon, but if you do have problems such as these, check your sand.
if you do has a DSB, dont just jump on the wagon, but if you do have problems such as these, check your sand.
Lol G~ I never really had a lot of rock anyway. I am planning on restacking it to have a little cove in the middle for my clam. I kinda just threw everything in there after I was done removing the sand bed, since it was 11:00pm and I had to get up at 5.
Witfull I agree that sandbeds can be a problem. I think that I am now somewhat against their use, but they sure do a great job of removing nitrates. I may try one again in a remote location that will have more surface area to be stirred up by critters and whatnot. I will not however ever have one again in my tank like this, it was way to much of a pain to keep currents flowing w/ out kicking up the sand. I personally think that a bare bottom after it has been encrusted w/ coralline looks great.
In my new tank I am planning on encouraging the growth of zoanthids all over the open areas on the bottom of my tank. They seem to grow great on the back so I am thinking they should do well on the bottom also.
Witfull I agree that sandbeds can be a problem. I think that I am now somewhat against their use, but they sure do a great job of removing nitrates. I may try one again in a remote location that will have more surface area to be stirred up by critters and whatnot. I will not however ever have one again in my tank like this, it was way to much of a pain to keep currents flowing w/ out kicking up the sand. I personally think that a bare bottom after it has been encrusted w/ coralline looks great.
In my new tank I am planning on encouraging the growth of zoanthids all over the open areas on the bottom of my tank. They seem to grow great on the back so I am thinking they should do well on the bottom also.
Macbeth417
Reef Monkey
Looks good Tom, alot less packed in there now as well. Good luck with the new tank and my offer still stands if you need a hand moving things over.
You didn't happen to break any of that Nice A. nana when you where moving things around did you ; ) ?
-Erik
You didn't happen to break any of that Nice A. nana when you where moving things around did you ; ) ?
-Erik
DonW
R.I.P.
Tom
How did you get the zoo's to start growing up the back, I forgot to ask or have you show me when I was over.
Don
How did you get the zoo's to start growing up the back, I forgot to ask or have you show me when I was over.
Don
scottman44
New member
looks great!!!
Hey Don,
The way I got my zoa's to grow on the back was actually accidental. I had a rock that was absolutely covered w/ them, and I had it leaned up against the back there. After about 2 months I noticed that the zoa's were growing off the rock onto the back glass. So when I got rid of that rock I just cut around the edge w/ a razor blade and it has taken off from there.
The way I got my zoa's to grow on the back was actually accidental. I had a rock that was absolutely covered w/ them, and I had it leaned up against the back there. After about 2 months I noticed that the zoa's were growing off the rock onto the back glass. So when I got rid of that rock I just cut around the edge w/ a razor blade and it has taken off from there.
johnsmb
Active member
Ok, I'm a newbie and don't know what I am talking about - but I always wondered why no one talks about a "moderate" sand bed It seems to be either bare bottom or DSB, not much talk of inbetween.
I have a one to maybe 2 inch sand bed. I am hoping it helps somewhat with nitrates, although, probably not to the degree that the DSB will - but that it won't have the problems associated with DSB and won't have the need to be "stirred" as much. But, mainly I look the look of some sand on the bottom so that's why it's there.
Anway, just wondering if a thinner layer of sand has any benefits or problems - why not just use a thin layer of sand as apposed to nothing. Beth.
It seems to be either bare bottom or DSB, not much talk of inbetween. I have a one to maybe 2 inch sand bed. I am hoping it helps somewhat with nitrates, although, probably not to the degree that the DSB will - but that it won't have the problems associated with DSB and won't have the need to be "stirred" as much. But, mainly I look the look of some sand on the bottom so that's why it's there.
Anway, just wondering if a thinner layer of sand has any benefits or problems - why not just use a thin layer of sand as apposed to nothing. Beth.
reefer
Well-known member
Good question johnsmb. I also gow with 1 to 1 1/2" SB. I'll lokk forward to hearing the responses. There seems to be a lot of contriversy about DSB vs SSB vs BB.
