OK peoples what should I do about my substrate

[twilliard]

I just did a 20G water change and vacuumed up a portion of the bottom. All I can say is OMG did it stink.
Not just like dirty salt water but nasty foul garbage that I don't want in there.
Should I just ditch the sand ( I don't even know if I would call it that) more like powder.
Or should I replace it.
I think I found my algae problem. Can the problem come from the substrate?

What do I do? Everything is in there and I have no where to put them if I tear into the tank.

I'm at a loss!!!!!! HELP!!

 

[liveforphysics]

You need a complete exit system for your tank in order to maintain sand in a healthy state for long periods of time.

Skimming is a VERY incomplete method for a couple of reasons. First, only select types of things can be skimmed away. This means that around 1/3 of all proteins, debris, detritus etc are lacking an exit plan in most tanks, and therefore accumulate in the rock and sand bed. Secondly, high flow type skimming (not the sort of skimming that people like Mojo do, and not the sort of thing you can do correctly without an air driven unit) strips the water of phytoplankton. This is a large blow to the fauna population and variety in the tank. I belive to naturally have all types of detritus, debris, protiens etc naturally removed requires a very heavy and diverse population of fauna.

My personal method may cure your problem. I get lots of water flow through the substrate to keep a high O2 level. This creates a massive home and breeding ground for fauna. The fauna cycle is complete, because unlike a skimmed tank, my phytoplankton (foundation of all marine food cycles) is not removed, so the amount of animals available to process ALL types of waste (not just non-hydrophobic types). The goal is to eventually break down all types of proteins, debris, detritus to enter some state which the export tool can use. My export tool is chaetomorphia.

For me personally, the system is like the answer to my prayers. No more detritus, no more unwanted algae, no more buildup of things in the sand etc. When I kept tanks in a conventional method includeing skimming, I encountered the same type of sand bed problems you speak of.

best wishes to you,
Luke

 

[bpiermat]

I assume you use cheato in sump only....

 

[twilliard]

Hey Luke thanks. That actually makes a little sense to me.

But HOW does a person get flow through the substrate? That doesn't make sense to me.
Also are you stating that a "unskimmed" tank is in better balance?

I realy want to find the solution to this mess.

 

[twilliard]

I assume you use cheato in sump only....

Yes I do and I do the routine haircut

And all this time I thought it was because I fed heavy LOL NOT I think its in the sand

 

[liveforphysics]

Yes, my chaeto sits in my sump, which serves as my fuge as well. Totally unbaffled, just a 30gal tank packed with crushed coral, rubble, and chaeto. The return pump draws from it, and the overflows dump directly into it. Tons of proper algae growing light hitting it, because remember, chaeto can only be bennificial while its growing rapidly. Slow growth or no growth both mean its a pointless liability to have.

The return pump in my setups t-off into one path that connects to a RUGF, and the other to a spray bar across the top. I made the RUGF from lots of 1/2" pvc tubeing and tee's, along with a fiberglass window screan wrapped chunk of eggcrate to perch atop it all to hold the DSB/rock etc. The PVC tubes are drilled with very small holes every few inches, as is the spraybar.

 

[twilliard]

Gotchya

I will have to look into plans on changing my system.
I am starting to see why people go BB
Even in my 55G tank I had a problem with it. Time to solve this issue once and for all.
I can see I will HAVE to disturb the balance of my tank to correct this problem.

 

[Krish]

When I had sand, I use to vaccum it every week to prevent that from happeneing! That stuff is really nasty!! I finally found a solution...I went bare bottom and I'm loving it! Not very many people like the look so it's an acquired taste, but works for me

 

[twilliard]

I thought about BB but I just cant do the look. Thanks Luke again. I now know what to do with this problem.

 

[bpiermat]

I am try to go from 3" Sand to 1/2"....more managable.

 

[reefman23]

IMO, and IME, if you have adequate flow in your tank, you will get this detritus build-up in your diplay. When I had my 16g bow, I didnt have enough flow and always had to vacuum the crap out. Now that I have my 20L with manilfold, I get zero detritus build-up. I have almost 700 GPH going through the display tank, and this keeps all or most of the detritus in suspension so that it can be removed by my filter sock.

Jesse

 

[Paul B]

I thought I was the only one with a RUGF. I hope the secret is not out.
Paul

 

[burning2nd]

every few months there will be a spot or 2 in my tank that aquire more waste then the rest. i simple just stirr it up and the stuff settles in spots or just gets sucked in to the sump