Clumping sand - should I fight it or just accept it?

l8_apex_it · Jan 2, 2016

I set up a new 65 gallon tank about a year ago. In the beginning I had a bacterial bloom which I heard can accelerate sand bed clumping. I am moving rocks around at the moment and pulled a section out which is roughly 16" x 9" and 1" thick. I will replace it with more sand. I now have more Nassarius snails so maybe they will help keep this from reoccurring.?

I am dosing two part and do not keep my calcium or alk on the high end. Typically in the 400 to 420 and alk of 8 to 9 dkh.

Should I continue taking out the clumped bits when I can or just accept it and save my energy? Previously I had a bare bottom tank for the last 10 years. I do like the idea of having a sand-bed now.

JadeM · Jan 3, 2016

I think should let it be as it is probably detritus or worms, try vacuuming the sand though that can upset the bacteria living on the surface of the sand

melev · Jan 3, 2016

I do know if you pull it out, don't re-use it. I don't know why, but people that break it up end up with big problems. So pull out the solidified sand and replace with new clean sand. I think it's alk-related, but not positive. Your levels wouldn't cause it though.

250mixreef · Jan 3, 2016

I had the same problem when I was using brs two part don't break it in the tank it will release toxic gasses after I switched to a calcium reactor the sand stopped hardening

ApocalyptiCoral · Jan 3, 2016

I have the same problem in my 40B which is SPS dominate. I run Kalk in my ato and my cal and kh levels stay pretty high around 450 and 9 but I always figured the clumping sand was no good but never bothered to do anything about it. Good luck with yours in leaving mine as is for now adding maybe a sand sifting star could be another option or go back to bare bottom my tank is slowly turning bare bottom because every water change I remove a little bit of sand

brandon429 · Jan 3, 2016

L8
Do you have pics of the sandbed

In working a little experiment for my tank I was able to skip a water change and let waste build up, causing a few clumps on top where the organics compiled, and then reversed it by cleaning.

Your water params are like mine, many common mixes will be thereabouts or even higher and I am able to prevent clumping by working the sandbed clean regularly. Was wondering if you consider your sandbed well worked, or pretty left alone? Your precipitation potential seems low was wondering if yours is detritus/organics caused

Sabellafella · Jan 3, 2016

melev said:
I do know if you pull it out, don't re-use it. I don't know why, but people that break it up end up with big problems. So pull out the solidified sand and replace with new clean sand. I think it's alk-related, but not positive. Your levels wouldn't cause it though.

I acually was wondering about a bacterial/ burnt tip problem for the longest time and count to think of it, i was smashing all my clumped sand up, usually i just add a half of bag of dry sand everyyear because the sand i guess melts nd from syphning it out but i happened to run out

melev · Jan 3, 2016

Sabellafella said:
I acually was wondering about a bacterial/ burnt tip problem for the longest time and count to think of it, i was smashing all my clumped sand up, usually i just add a half of bag of dry sand everyyear because the sand i guess melts nd from syphning it out but i happened to run out

Yes, replacing it with new is best. When I ran my 280g reef, I'd put in one bag of livesand in the tank twice a year to replace what had dissolved away. I've never had a sand clumping problem in my reef.