Remove entire sand bed to clean

[Thaxxx]

I’m surprised Brandon didn’t smell the old sand in this post ...

Oh no, please don't encourage him.
This thread will turn into a 1000 post thread. 950 of them his.

 

[Rmckoy]

Oh no, please don't encourage him.
This thread will turn into a 1000 post thread. 950 of them his.

There are pages and pages of documented cases ........

 

[Thaxxx]

They are work threads.
Just read these 24,927 post and you'll have your answer.

 

[arcticfox]

What is a good sand shift crew to use to keep sand clean? I have a 200 gallon that is about 4 months old and I really don’t want to clean or disturb the sand bed. All previous tanks I always cleaned sand this time I want the bacteria to sustain itself and not keep changing it do to vacuuming substrate all the time.

 

[CavalierReef]

What is a good sand shift crew to use to keep sand clean? I have a 200 gallon that is about 4 months old and I really don’t want to clean or disturb the sand bed. All previous tanks I always cleaned sand this time I want the bacteria to sustain itself and not keep changing it do to vacuuming substrate all the time.

IMHO, conches, nassarius snails, sand sifting gobies to cleans and a pistol shrimp to move it around.

 

[arcticfox]

IMHO, conches, nassarius snails, sand sifting gobies to cleans and a pistol shrimp to move it around.

Is it okay to have them in a 4 month old tank?

 

[jmichaelh7]

Is it okay to have them in a 4 month old tank?

Why not?

 

[arcticfox]

Why not?

Wasn’t sure if the tank had to mature a little longer. Now I think it was a dumb question

 

[jskoms]

I did Brandon’s rip clean method a week ago, well worth the effort.

 

[Thaxxx]

I did Brandon’s rip clean method a week ago, well worth the effort.

First of all.
It's not "his" method.
When you boil it down, it just cleaning your sand.
There is not much that can go wrong if you use common sense.
People have been doing it for decades,
long before AL Gore invented the internet.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Wasn’t sure if the tank had to mature a little longer. Now I think it was a dumb question

No dumb questions in reefing, IMO. I’ve wondered the exact same thing - it’s logical that you’d want there to be enough for them to eat, but they’re hardy little guys & they’ll have more than enough to eat in a 4 month old tank.

 

[JCM]

i Agree with HB AL except for the not touching the sand part . Look at your tank and visualize the bottom sand in quarters , then start vacuuming each quadrant really well while trying not to stir the detritus into the water column while doing your regular water changes . In a month or so your sand bed should be clean . There are bacteria products u can use to help break down the detritus as well . After you’ve clean the sand, conch snails , and nassarius snails will help keep the sand bed clean .

Agreed with HB AL and CoralB. Ripping your whole sandbed out for cyano is crazy. Do small sections at a time to clean your sandbed, but it's most likely not the cause of your cyano.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’m on the other side of the fence .
after many water changes cleaning the sand bed .
a lot has been sucked out .
Adding more sand is needed soon .

is it safe to add new sand in a established system ?

will it mess with any parameters ?

 

[JCM]

I’m on the other side of the fence .
after many water changes cleaning the sand bed .
a lot has been sucked out .
Adding more sand is needed soon .

is it safe to add new sand in a established system ?

will it mess with any parameters ?

Rinse it well and add small amounts at a time. It'll be fine.

 

[Rmckoy]

Rinse it well and add small amounts at a time. It'll be fine.

Thank you !

 

[CoralB]

I’d also run a UV sterilizer, add a good bacteria , keep your parameters in check with a big emphasis on your phosphates and nitrates . All while sucking out the cyno

 

[CoralB]

But Don’t let your phosphates and nitrates zero out

 

[LardLad]

I am a strong proponent of RIP cleaning. You can look up my Death Rip Clean thread if you like.

My beliefs regarding the previous posts:

1. Bare bottom is silly unless that is the aesthetic that is pleasing to you. But what you are presenting is NOT a good reason to go bare bottom.
2. The little bit at a time method is not good. For many reasons.

Do the Death Rip method ONCE and get it over with. Enjoy your tank.

 

[Thaxxx]

I am a strong proponent of RIP cleaning. You can look up my Death Rip Clean thread if you like.

My beliefs regarding the previous posts:

1. Bare bottom is silly unless that is the aesthetic that is pleasing to you. But what you are presenting is NOT a good reason to go bare bottom.
2. The little bit at a time method is not good. For many reasons.

Do the Death Rip method ONCE and get it over with. Enjoy your tank.

Lol.
Dont you have cookie jar tank?
Try it on a 200g + tank.

 

[Brady4000]

Is it okay to have them in a 4 month old tank?

My tank was started about 5-6 months ago. I got a tiger conch snail that seems to be doing just fine in my 32g biocube. But I definitely can only have one. It also turned my “ special grade” thick sand that was starting to grow green algae, nice and white.

A few should do great in a 200g tank. They don’t just eat algae. They eat whatever’s in the sand as well, and whatever they can reach on the walls and rocks.