hot, ich'y problem

[GaryP]

Gary, according to the thread starter, it is the sandbed itself that produces most of the waste. After removing it, the skimmer and liverock actually dont have to work nearly as hard.

That's an interesting theory but I can't see the logic of it. I guess I will have to read the thread. The same logic would say that LR creates waste and we need to eliminate it too.

[don-n-sa]

I guess I will have to read the thread.

I hope you have an hour or so...the thread started in August of 2003 and is now 149 pages...thats alot of next buttons.

I read most of it and it makes sense to me for the most, part but you must have a low bio load to pull it off IMO.

The basic theory is to go bare bottom with vigorous flow in the display to keep organics/detritus in suspension until it reaches the sump, which is low flow, where it can settle and either be picked up by the skimmer of syphoned out manually.

I personally like the look of sand beds and I think fish and other livestock prefer it but I can't get a strait answer from them. I do want to say this though...I do not like the looks or smell of a DSB that is just left alone without any sandsifting critters to keep it from getting funky like Dr. Ron from R.C. says to do.

In my tank, I keep the sand bed stirred up and it stays clean.

[jaded]

UPDATE:

levels are on the downswing after holding steady at high levels for 3-4 days (30g water changes each day). All life in the tank loks happy and healthy

ammonia <.25
Nitrare: .5

I think I have the temp under control... now I need to mount fans to make it permanent, but its pretty stable for now. The new sump is in and the upgraded aqua turbo baffles are installed (I'll start the pumps in about an hour and an half) I cant wait to see what happens!!!

thanks for all the advise during this thread!!!

[GaryP]

Good Job! Congrats. I always say that crisis management is what really shows a good aquarist. We all go through it at one time or another. You did what you needed to do and got it under control. Now, just keep a close eye on it to make sure it stays that way. Let us know what we can do to help.

[jaded]

thanks for that!!! I will

[NaCl_H2O]

Congrats, it is nice to see when these threads conclude and things are on the mend.

You just learned more than you learned in the past 6 months! One or two more major screw ups (like the rest of us ;) ) and you will be "Experienced" ;) ;)

[gjuarez]

Gary, your second assumption was correct. Bomber's thoery was to take everything out before it actually becomes a problem. All the flow keeps the detritus in suspension and then it gathers in the flow where there is less flow. The detritus is then siphoned out from the sump.

[GaryP]

Gary, your second assumption was correct. Bomber's thoery was to take everything out before it actually becomes a problem. All the flow keeps the detritus in suspension and then it gathers in the flow where there is less flow. The detritus is then siphoned out from the sump.

That sounds like a pretty high maintenance option. I know I'm doing good to siphon every two weeks. I don't even want to think about doing it every day. The other things is that the sand bed does other things besides denitrification such as breeding places for beneficial critters.

[gjuarez]

Yup, you are right. I am very lazy and honestly I dont know how to maintain a sand bed. I also did not want to deal with sand storms. With just one powerhead, I would have sand all over my corals and that annoyed me. Now that I have close to 2000gph in my 29g tank it would be even worse. It is really not that high maintainence really. I pretty much have the same setup. BTW, did you continue to read the thread? It was pretty cool right? Did you see the carribean corals. They are illegal to own but he got them from doing research on them.