To vacuum or not to vacuum

[Gbailey28]

I have been dealing with a diatom issue for several months now. My tank was started in June of 16. All water perimeters are ok. Nitrates could be better but are not totally off the grid. When I did my weekly water changes I would just vacuum up the gravel to stir it up and let drop back down. Within days my gravel bed would be brown again. I talked to my LFS and was advised to not stir the gravel bed up because I was bringing everything to the surface. He said that overtime it would dissipate. What is everyone else's thoughts?

 

[jsker]

What are you parameters? This will help on getting you answer.

 

[vic5hands]

Just vacuumed my sand today. Do it every 4 months with no problems. I do change my water weekly. 210 gallon. 50 gallon change.

 

[Gbailey28]

What are you parameters? This will help on getting you answer.

Temp 78 F, SG 1.024, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate .10ppm PH 8.2. Unsure on Alk,Cal, Mag.

 

[Roy 9121]

I use to vacuum my sand, but a few people here have told me that's not a good idea. So i think I'm going to stop for a while and see what happens. My sand gets a little brown now and then, but the CUC will usually clean it up.

 

[jsker]

Hmmm, have you checked you phosphates lately?

 

[Gbailey28]

Hmmm, have you checked you phosphates lately?

I had them checked at the LFS a week ago and they were within range.

 

[brandon429]

Straight from the desk of the invasion immune tank:


If you blasted anyone's common waste pent sandbed like that, it would cloud for half a day. Mine falls like snow globe flakes, immune. There is no waste

I clean it like this then set eleven yrs of rocks and corals back on top