[dori9941]

are u suposed to change ur sand. mines 2 months old thanks

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I cant think of any reason you should.

[dhboyd1]

No, your sand is part of your bio filter and possibly contains pockets of nasty stuff still being broken down so don't touch it.

[dori9941]

Thanks, the reason is my puffer fish and a sucky debri remover. H loves his snails so much but there is a grave yard of fully eaten shells daily i could lessen giving him them but he does eat it and it looks like like he i hunting all the time. We'll my puffer stand up against the damsel more if i lessen the snails? Not! to hurt it but to get the guts to swim through whole tank like he use to or is that territorial? I can't see that the fish have bites of any kind, but I don't like things messing with puff. If they are not chasing each other and have been together with no change in caves, rock, decor and r ok so far do u think they can stay together ok. I approch my tank slowly hoping one's not floating

[dhboyd1]

Inch for inch, damsels are more aggressive than sharks and will keep any other fish cowed. As long as the damsels aren't attacking your puffer keep feeding him what he likes. He will find his place where he is comfortable with his surroundings as long as the damsels aren't attacking him.

[Tonz of fun]

Messing with your sand bed could release dangerous elements that could harm your tank big time. You dont ever ever ever want to mess with it. Syphoning and going to deep could also release those elements. Bad Bad Bad.

[mrmyrtle75]

Tonz,

Is it ok too lightly vaccuum the top of your sand bed if it starts too accumalate waste or is it best just too let everything get broken down biologically??

I ask because this is one of those things I see mixed opinions on.


Thanks in advance for your input on it.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by mrmyrtle75

Tonz,

Is it ok too lightly vaccuum the top of your sand bed if it starts too accumalate waste or is it best just too let everything get broken down biologically??

I ask because this is one of those things I see mixed opinions on.


Thanks in advance for your input on it.

If its just surface vacuming thats fine. You dont want to get into a pocket of something getting broken down and have it released. I personally have a syphon and never use it once I found all this out later. If I get a build up of stuff I now pick it out by hand. Everything else will get broken down or eating by your cleaners.

[wesley6610]

I have noticed that I have some blackish stuff a few inches below my sand. I don't mess with that, but honestly when my powerheads blow away my sand to keep DOC's from collecting, I stir just a little bit more of the sand up before water changes. Since I do weekly 10%, I cover a different area each time and I siphon water from the area were I'm stirring to do my best to capture what I'm stirring up. I haven't had an incident yet, but it seems to help rid my tank of whatever could be down there since my powerheads uncover it anyway.

[dhboyd1]

I know you asked Tonz but I will add my personal opinion here. Don't touch it in any way let nature take its course unless it becomes a mud pit on the bottom. Think about getting a sand sifting cucumber to clean the gunk. I just love seeing the little piles of clean sand he leaves behind. Just be patient and nature will run its course and your sand will look better over time.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by dhboyd1

I know you asked Tonz but I will add my personal opinion here. Don't touch it in any way let nature take its course unless it becomes a mud pit on the bottom. Think about getting a sand sifting cucumber to clean the gunk. I just love seeing the little piles of clean sand he leaves behind. Just be patient and nature will run its course and your sand will look better over time.

Hey were family here man thats what makes this site grand. Dont even worry about stepping on my toes for sure. I got a diamond goby to help keep clean.

[dhboyd1]

The blackish stuff is the bacteria breaking down ammonia, nitrites and some nitrates. If it is a couple of inches down then you must have a DSB and your power heads should be readjusted to not disturb the deep layers of the sand. The nastiest stuff in your tank is down there and at the same time the best things in your tank are there breaking down the nasties. Let them do their work.

[mrmyrtle75]

Thanks for the input. I usually just let everything break down. I try too keep everything as natural as possible.

This site has been great in helping in the pataince department!

[mrmyrtle75]

Originally Posted by dhboyd1

Inch for inch, damsels are more aggressive than sharks and will keep any other fish cowed. As long as the damsels aren't attacking your puffer keep feeding him what he likes. He will find his place where he is comfortable with his surroundings as long as the damsels aren't attacking him.

Hmmm...not so sure. I put a trigger in my tank once and even though the damsel would test it often it was usually tail first ready too take off. The trigger did whatever he pleased though like the damsel was a fly........I eventually brought the damsel too my lfs and dropped it in a tank with 3 triggers, a spotted flounder and a lion fish.....he wasen't soo tough then.....actually lasted less then a minute before he was in the flounders stomach!

Loved every minute of it too......I hated that fish.

[dori9941]

Originally Posted by dhboyd1

Inch for inch, damsels are more aggressive than sharks and will keep any other fish cowed. As long as the damsels aren't attacking your puffer keep feeding him what he likes. He will find his place where he is comfortable with his surroundings as long as the damsels aren't attacking him.

He stayes in a dicth in the back he made. the damsel is very small but when it gets bigger I'll be sure to seperate, thanks

[dori9941]

Originally Posted by mrmyrtle75

Hmmm...not so sure. I put a trigger in my tank once and even though the damsel would test it often it was usually tail first ready too take off. The trigger did whatever he pleased though like the damsel was a fly........I eventually brought the damsel too my lfs and dropped it in a tank with 3 triggers, a spotted flounder and a lion fish.....he wasen't soo tough then.....actually lasted less then a minute before he was in the flounders stomach!

Loved every minute of it too......I hated that fish.

I hear u on that. the damsel was going back but i can't catch the dang thing

[dori9941]

Originally Posted by Tonz of fun

If its just surface vacuming thats fine. You dont want to get into a pocket of something getting broken down and have it released. I personally have a syphon and never use it once I found all this out later. If I get a build up of stuff I now pick it out by hand. Everything else will get broken down or eating by your cleaners.

i read about the toxic gas bubbles and it told me to prevent it never use more then an inch of sand, so I need to get more sand now. A lot more because even though I do have a little bact. under it, It's not near enough if it what I see in pictures. I have 3 or 5 lbs i'll go put in. shame it just now cleared

[dori9941]

How much do I wash the sand, the new sand? It's dry not live, I know not to wash that

[Joan]

I have a horseshoe crab that regulary rakes the very top of the sand but of course it hides in the sand. very good sand cleaner eats evrything on the bottom.

[wesley6610]

how big do they get?

[tonycip]

Originally Posted by dori9941

i read about the toxic gas bubbles and it told me to prevent it never use more then an inch of sand, so I need to get more sand now. A lot more because even though I do have a little bact. under it, It's not near enough if it what I see in pictures. I have 3 or 5 lbs i'll go put in. shame it just now cleared

O.K guys so what are you saying? If you have less then 2" of a sand bottom you can clean it all the way down without worry. But if you have a deep sand bed you should leave it alone. I was planning on a deep sand bed in the refugium.and less in the tank..

[NATIVEVAMAN]

DSB article - CALFO

[NATIVEVAMAN]

http://www.reefbuilders.com/blog/200...ottom-aquaria/

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Deep Sand Beds

[Joan]

HorseshoeCrab

Family - Limulidae

Order - Xiphosurida

Length - 1 to 24 inches

Recognition - Brownish white circular body with long spine tail. The shell is very hard and has spines to help protect it from predators. On its underside, the horseshoe crab has legs that it uses for digging under sand in search of food or protection.

Habitat - Tropical saltwater in shallow areas

Behavior - Omnivore

Residency - Eastern United States and Southeast Asia

Life Span - Up to 30 years