cleaning the aquarium

[hobogato]

... I now believe that a DSB turns into a toxic nightmare over time, at any depth.....

fwiw, i have had my tank up since nov. of 2005 with the 8" DSB in the fuge and do not have any algae issues. i did have issues with the 3" sand bed in the display and those went away when i took out all but 1" there.

[fishforlife]

My sand bed is about 1-3 inches deep. I slopes a bit from back to front. So far, I have had no major algea outbreaks. I also have about 3 inches in my sump. things seem to be good so far... will probably only disturb the sand bed about 1/4 inch next time and see how that works.

[Ping]

Jack, the problems after 2 years is interesting. What size sand do you use.

Have all the DSB's been in your long chambered sump fuge system?

[Submariner]

From what I've read on wet web media, most favor a rotation where you vacuum a quarter of the sand each time you do your monthly water change. This way you don't eliminate all the favorable fauna completely, but at the same time do not allow (sulfur?) to build up. Anyways that's the way I remember it from when I read it way back.

[Kristy]

Sand sifting gobies should not be considered a cleaner of the sand bed. Often their life expectancy is shortened in the captive environment because over time they decimate the micro infauna. Instead, the Aquascaping should be designed around the needs of the Goby.

Hi Ping,
Thanks for your thoughts on this. Can you explain a little more what you mean by this comment? I am assuming that you are referring to a goby who only eats the life it forages in the sandbed, and that a goby that also eats prepared foods should be fairly safe? Also, I really have no idea what you mean about designing the aquascaping around the goby's needs... just caves and such? Thanks again.

[rocketeer]

The 120 gal I had from 2002 until 2006 had crushed coral between probably 2.5 inches and 3.5.

The 240 I set up in 2006 started with over 3.5 inches of sugar fine mixed with special reef or something like that, with a slightly larger grain than sugar fine. It's currently about 3 inches. It also has 4 inches of crushed coral in about a three square foot area of the sump.

I've always wondered if some of the florida aquacultured rock I bought early on may be leaching phosphates into the water. I think it's not scleractinian product, too heavy. Has anybody else had a problem with this?

Jack

[Goofball310]

DSB's are not supposed to be disturbed. You can clean a little on the surface but never the deeper bedding. If you feel that your sand is looking dirty look into increasing your cleanup crew (snails, hermit crabs, shrimp, starfish, etc.)

[secretweapons22]

I have a DSB about 7-8 deep and I only have to dose B Ionic and do water changes once avery month and a half to two months.. the Macro and DSB keep my water param perfect not matter when I test, sometimes I do the water changet o give me something to do, I like to test before and after.. Before I do a water change everything is at zero.. Ive just been told its good to replinish with "fresh" salt water

[fishforlife]

I have a DSB about 7-8 deep and I only have to dose B Ionic and do water changes once avery month and a half to two months.. the Macro and DSB keep my water param perfect not matter when I test, sometimes I do the water changet o give me something to do, I like to test before and after.. Before I do a water change everything is at zero.. Ive just been told its good to replinish with "fresh" salt water

Same here....I change water once every month-6 weeks. My water is always spot on before and after.

It seems that there are different events because each tank is, in itself, its own ecosystem. Different fish, substrate, live rock, ect....all effect the quality.