" MY WHITE SAND METHOD "
- Thread starter blusop
- Start date
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Eutrophication
This is when algae grow out of control due to nutrient issues. Oxygen gets deprived and the ecosystem gets out of balance. Too much algae means youve got a eutrophic aquarium. But most people mask their eutrophic tanks. How? They use protein skimmers to provide oxygen (see borneman study), they grow algae turf, or dose vodka, or grow macroalgae, or use gfo, all in an effort to stop the effects of eutrophication. But guess what? Its fake. Our tanks arnt function ecosystems, they only mimick it.
I love sand, but since this is what my diy swirl filter collects daily, i won't contribute eutrophication to my tank by having a sand bed. I run a bb tank (substrate free) because it makes sense.
Most of the food you feed your fish daily will be excreted and 35% can be available as po4 immediately and 40% as fish poo that will break down into po4/no3. (Various studies)
You are featuring in that video the prevention of 80% of today's posted cyano/spirulina problem tanks. look how that sand has zero cloud, this isn't catch-up stirring after mos of allowance
Any problem tank out there if stirred will make quite a waste cloud as indication. Low waste sandbed=balanced sandbed that is a great vid
My DSB is about 6" depth and it w pass same test for clouding.
Any problem tank out there if stirred will make quite a waste cloud as indication. Low waste sandbed=balanced sandbed that is a great vid
My DSB is about 6" depth and it w pass same test for clouding.
Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
I wonder if daily stirring is necessary. What if it was a week?
Rick.45cal
2500 Club Member
I've been doing this for a week now. I generally vacuum all my sand once a week when I do a waterchange. This has made a significant change in my sandbed. I did my weekly waterchange yesterday and there was almost no detritus. My sandbed stays white all day, everywhere now. I am definitely making this a part of my daily routine. Thanks for sharing!
themcnertney
Valuable Member
On my setup I have a hose siphon that goes down to a drain in my basement. When I do water changes (once a week), I siphon the sand stirring it up as was shown in the video. Some sand gets sucked up and I am okay with that. I have been doing this since I started in this hobby (even my older tanks I had). Never had any issues. I think its very important to stir the bed quite frequently.
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blusop
Active Member
Thanx for your insight @Dan McNertney
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blusop
Active Member
Glad I could help @Rick.45cal
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blusop
Active Member
@brandon429 thanx man...you're the voice of reason concerning my method on this post...i appreciate that...I'm only trying to contribute a lil something to the hobby of what I've learned over the years.
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blusop
Active Member
@mdbannister I've noticed going anymore than 3 days that the bubbles in the sand builds up and algae begins to populate again after 7-10 days (that detritus green fueled algae at the front glass YUCK ) so skipping a day is not too bad .....but 7 days is pushing it to small spikes
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blusop
Active Member
I'm so glad to see this thread is still going...sorry if it took me a minute to get a response to some of you but I'm very busy at the moment working a turnaround ...84 hrs a week smh...but i have to make coral $$$$ so it's o.k.
I know this is an old thread but I've talked with blusop on a facebook page we both frequent and wanted to contribute my experience with his method. I admit I was somewhat skeptical but I'm at the end of my 3 week regime and my sand bed has never looked so good. Thanks Lorenzo!
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
It's actually " Lazy A$& Reefer Syndrome" or LARS. Lol
MrineLfRlz
Community Member
Great thread!
Ive been fighting keeping a clean sand bed for some time now and just came across this on a search. Im going to try this out, as of now i dont have this tool but will very soon be purchasing one i will until then use a long piece of 1/2" pvc for the job. Ive just started the 21 day process this morning.
Can you please tell me though what type of sand you are using my SB is barley 2" in some places and the front middle section is partially bare and i need to add more thanks.
Ive been fighting keeping a clean sand bed for some time now and just came across this on a search. Im going to try this out, as of now i dont have this tool but will very soon be purchasing one i will until then use a long piece of 1/2" pvc for the job. Ive just started the 21 day process this morning.
Can you please tell me though what type of sand you are using my SB is barley 2" in some places and the front middle section is partially bare and i need to add more thanks.
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blusop
Active Member
I'm using CaribSea Pink Fiji...if you need any tips hmu on here or fb my name is Lorenzo White @MrineLfRlz
MrineLfRlz
Community Member
thanks again i know what type im getting next lol
Im usually on RC and havent been around R2R much but i think im going to start looking around the site more
Thats right before i forget to ask ive found the petco type of gardener on #bay (dont know if i can use the name on here yet?) anyone tried these?
Im usually on RC and havent been around R2R much but i think im going to start looking around the site more
Thats right before i forget to ask ive found the petco type of gardener on #bay (dont know if i can use the name on here yet?) anyone tried these?
