Issues with sand bed

[Fatjim]

So I recently upgraded a 3.7g reef to a 5g
I used to use a large reef chip but I opted to mix a very fine grain live sand with the chip... Long story short I have about a 2 inch sand bed that I cant gravel vac due to how fine the sand is (keeps getting sucked out by vac) now my question is do I bite the bullet and remove the sand or struggle with tryrimg to Turkey baste the sand every week... The tank is still new and I figure now is the time to remove it before its too bedded with beneficial bacteria...

What should I do?

 

[JonoB]

I would either suck it out now and make it how you want it, or add stirring it into your daily or at least semi regular maintenance.

 

[AlkCalmist]

I don't even gravel vac mine. Some people do it with there water changes some not at all. I do take a long handle scraper and stir my bed around. You can hold the vac off the surface, stir up the sand and let the vac suck out the detritus cloud. Eheim also makes a hoseless gravel vac that has filters in it. I've never used one, I hear there hit and miss. But a friend uses one and he loves it. My personal preference is a mixture with crushed coral, usually becomes heavy enough The power heads don't blow it around. The extra flow keeps things from growing or building up on it.

 

[Fatjim]

I don't even gravel vac mine. Some people do it with there water changes some not at all. I do take a long handle scraper and stir my bed around. You can hold the vac off the surface, stir up the sand and let the vac suck out the detritus cloud. Eheim also makes a hoseless gravel vac that has filters in it. I've never used one, I hear there hit and miss. But a friend uses one and he loves it. My personal preference is a mixture with crushed coral, usually becomes heavy enough The power heads don't blow it around. The extra flow keeps things from growing or building up on it.

I'm using a mix to keep it weighed down which works but looks like I'll prolly stir it around as needed but in tye future will deff stick to the chips

 

[Fatjim]

I do have a hosless fluval vac but like you said its a love-hate relationship

 

[AlkCalmist]

What's the main issue with it? I've considered getting one more than once.

 

[Copingwithpods]

I vacuum my fine sandbed every now and then it just takes practice and a little technique. It is 100% possible to vacuum with minimal loss of sand.

Start by pushing the tube all the way to the bottom while pinching the hose shut. Now release until the sand storm reaches the top of the tube, now pinch the tube enough for the sand particles to tumble back down while allowing enough flow for the fine dust to be collected. Once most of the sand has settle down gently lift the tube above the sand (1-2 inches) and release the pinch allow full flow to clear the chamber of dusty water. Repeat.

 

[brandon429]

it might be helpful to know that when you use any degree of live rock in a nano reef, the sandbed bacteria can go instantly missing and nothing will happen. the live rock bacteria are always enough, unless you are only using a pebble amount of live rock.

any typical amounts will run twice the fish loading easy, that the tank will ever see, even without sand and even if you removed skimming and any canister filters too. Removing accessory bacteria does not make live rock lack what is needed.

this means you're free to do whatever you want to your sandbed regarding removal, replacement etc.

 

[Fatjim]

it might be helpful to know that when you use any degree of live rock in a nano reef, the sandbed bacteria can go instantly missing and nothing will happen. the live rock bacteria are always enough, unless you are only using a pebble amount of live rock.

any typical amounts will run twice the fish loading easy, that the tank will ever see, even without sand and even if you removed skimming and any canister filters too. Removing accessory bacteria does not make live rock lack what is needed.

this means you're free to do whatever you want to your sandbed regarding removal, replacement etc.

Shweeeeet thats what I wanted to hear... My bio load should be pretty low, the only live stock is 2 itty bitty baby clowns, serpent sea star, pistol shrimp and goby and iv got about 9lb of rock... So you think id be good to pull the sand when ever?

 

[Fatjim]

The 3.7

 

[Fatjim]

The new 5