Another Sand In Display Question

427HISS · Dec 17, 2019

I'm setting up another tank, a 125g mixed reef.
Because detritus can build up, cyno bacteria, etc. a lot of people are not using sand, but if you have sand sifters like fish, crabs, stars and you rake the sand if needed, why will it become a algae problem ?

I'm not talking a deep sand bed, just around 2". I want a gobbie with a host crab, as we love the symbiotic relationship's, and other critters to move the sand around so it doesn't get stagnate, creating a solid piece of sand, like a frickin cow patty.

Honestly, we think the bare bottom is ugly too, unless it's just a showcase of SPS's with not much for fish, I can see that.

Let us know your thoughts.

landlubber · Dec 17, 2019

it doesn't matter if its bare bottom, covered with a thin layer of sand or 3 miles of it, if you keep your nutrients too high, don't keep enough critters that feed on algae or offset it using a refugium or carbon dosing or control the input of the system via feeding you're going to be dealing with algae.

moz71 · Dec 17, 2019

I can’t even get my n and p up as I have zero nitrates and phosphates and have about 2.5 inches of sand. So don’t understand that as well. I too love the sand dwellers. Especially my two wrasses sleep in it so I will never go bare.

flsalty · Dec 18, 2019

A shallow sand bed versus bare bottom is just a matter of esthetics.

MixedFruitBasket · Dec 18, 2019

Black sand. Fixes most aesthetic issues with dirty sand.
Plus the colors look really good against it.

AlexG · Dec 18, 2019

I run a sand bed in my reef and do not have any major issues with cyano or algae. I do believe that a healthy sand bed relies on overall nutrient control, a proper cleanup crew, and micro fauna that lives in the sand bed. I seeded my system with live rock and actual live sand to kick start it. Clean up crews with brittle stars, hermit crabs, nassarius snails, cucumbers, conchs, sand stars are important to keep the sand turning. The micro fauna in the sand will act as their own cleanup crew while also providing extra food for the larger cleanup crew organisms that turn the sand and feed on detritus.

427HISS · Dec 18, 2019

Good to hear. With the packaged live sand from several company's, what kind of bacteria, micro fauna, etc, are found ? How do you chose between those company's, any mini miny moe, or is there a scientific approach listing between them ?

Twocoralsonetank · Dec 18, 2019

Keep a reef tank for a couple of years then go to move to another tank. Wait till you remove the sand bed and you will see everything that it holds. It is gross and the reason why I wont go back.

mfinn · Dec 18, 2019

I do like sand in my tanks. I always do about 2". Have been for decades.
To help keep it clean I use a pretty healthy clean up crew that consists of various crabs and snails from reefcleaners.org.
I do use a sand vacuum tube when I do water changes.

AlexG · Dec 18, 2019

427HISS said:
Good to hear. With the packaged live sand from several company's, what kind of bacteria, micro fauna, etc, are found ? How do you chose between those company's, any mini miny moe, or is there a scientific approach listing between them ?

Generally prepackaged live sand will only have bacteria and will not have micro fauna. Actual live sand should be purchased from a vendor that is collecting the live sand or if you know someone with established live sand be in their tank they might be willing to give you a few scoops to seed your tank to kick start the micro fauna. Generally you would want to have micro brittle stars, worms that live in the sand, various types of pods.

AcroNem · Dec 18, 2019

I always say go with sand aside from quarantine systems. I also like using black sand, the Hawaiian black is great. If you keep it stirred or vac it during water changes it won't give you issues down the road. Sand is better for your system overall and looks much better too.

427HISS · Dec 18, 2019

AlexG said:
Generally prepackaged live sand will only have bacteria and will not have micro fauna. Actual live sand should be purchased from a vendor that is collecting the live sand or if you know someone with established live sand be in their tank they might be willing to give you a few scoops to seed your tank to kick start the micro fauna. Generally you would want to have micro brittle stars, worms that live in the sand, various types of pods.

Who sells micro brittle stars, worms ?