My sanbed - hard packed

[Carl C]

Hello . all
My sand bed after 2 years or so is now VERY hard ; I tried to dig a hole and it was nearly impossible,
Has anyone else experienced this hard packed sand situation
My sand is medium courseness

 

[Ippyroy]

Sounds like precipitation of Alk and/or Calcium.

 

[Viva'sReef]

Are you dosing bacteria of any sort? I remember when I was dosing Microbacter7 and vodka back in the day it eventually turned my sandbed hard. Whats your PH at as well?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Do you have any dedicated sand shifters to keep it stirred? I’d imagine that eventually the sand settles and calcifies in the sand bed without a goby or something to keep it active.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

What is your average ph? Are you dosing anything?

 

[Carl C]

Are you dosing bacteria of any sort? I remember when I was dosing Microbacter7 and vodka back in the day it eventually turned my sandbed hard. Whats your PH at as well?

No bacteria dosing thank you for the response

 

[Carl C]

Sounds like precipitation of Alk and/or Calcium.

I do dose alk and calc but not huge amounts very light throughout the day into sump through apex

 

[Carl C]

Do you have any dedicated sand shifters to keep it stirred? I’d imagine that eventually the sand settles and calcifies in the sand bed without a goby or something to keep it active.

I’ve got some gobys ; too little too late though lol

 

[SaltISlife]

Hello . all
My sand bed after 2 years or so is now VERY hard ; I tried to dig a hole and it was nearly impossible,
Has anyone else experienced this hard packed sand situation
My sand is medium courseness

It happens if you dont have sandsifters. Like gobies. Or blennies. Or some dottybacks. Or starfish. Crabs, and damzels.

I keep fish that blow sand around sometimes so this doesnt happen.


What id recomend is take the hard pack chunks out and replace it with new sand using cups gently so it doesnt cloud your tank.


Also note this is how Sandstone rock is made in the world

 

[Carl C]

What is your average ph? Are you dosing anything?

Alkalinity: 8
Dose calc alc

 

[SaltISlife]

Just take the chunks out and replace with new sand. Its as easy as that

 

[vetteguy53081]

Calcium and silicates. Loosen gently with siphon as not to stir up bedding

 

[Krixic]

+1 to the sandsifters bit. My 2 nassarius snails turn over all my sand at least once a day in my 45 cube. And I can tell because the one spot they can't get to due to some frags I've got in place has detritus growing around it! My two little work horses

Then theres that pistol shrimp I have who does not quit making renovations to his new home. Funny little dude.

 

[Krixic]

Just take the chunks out and replace with new sand. Its as easy as that

I would be careful doing that as you will remove the beneficial bacteria from that sand and screw up the biological balance of the tank. Although if you have a ton of live rock and some bio filter media in the sump it might be ok as long as you only take a few chunks.