Remove sand bed to help with nitrates?

[Mjandy]

Has anybody removed their sandbed? I think I would like a bare bottom tank. Couple reasons....I want to increase my flow without blowing sand everywhere and so I can target anything on the bottom when doing water changes. My ultimate goal is to have my nitrates come down which are currently at 16-32 ppm right now. What were the effects when you removed it? Do I have to remove it over time? Any other input would be greatly appreciated

 

[Brew12]

Has anybody removed their sandbed? I think I would like a bare bottom tank. Couple reasons....I want to increase my flow without blowing sand everywhere and so I can target anything on the bottom when doing water changes. My ultimate goal is to have my nitrates come down which are currently at 16-32 ppm right now. What were the effects when you removed it? Do I have to remove it over time? Any other input would be greatly appreciated

I like my sand bed but many people gradually remove them over time with no issues. Just do it slow unless you keep it very clean.

I'm not sure why you feel that removing it will help your nitrates, though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I removed the deep sand bed in my refugium years ago because I thought it did nothing, and noticed no difference when I removed it. I always kept a thin sand bed in my display because I liked the look.

 

[GoVols]

I used to slowly change out my sand bed once a year to help keep phosphates down over the long haul.
One spring I pulled out the sand over a few weeks and just never got around to replacing it.
Been Bare Bottom ever since

Used to run deep sand beds but got to scared to disturb them

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

If you have the room for some cheato in the sump that would help also.

 

[JimmyV]

I like sand on the bottom. I was battling high nitrates , then I started Dosing vodka after reading and following this article http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/. followed it to the tee . Now I have O detectable Nitrates and I am still enjoying my sand bottom. as far as blowing sand from pumps just keep adjusting until you find the sweet spot where it is not blowing around.

 

[lbacha]

I really like my bare bottom DT. My MP10's crank up for 10 min or so a day which blows all detritus into the water column to head to the sump were I have Xenia and cheato to deal with the organically. My display tank stays spotless