Urgh seriously.

[Bpb]

Hello my friends,

So I was chewing on an idea hmmm still am. When I set my tank up, I purchased live sand. Now I should have sifted it to get only the finest sand. I love the super nice soft sand beds. Well since I didn’t do that I have some areas that are nice and smooth, where others have old pieces of crushed coral, or rocks or whatever.

What’s the best way to get rid of this with out blowing my tank up? Stirring the sand bed is never really a good idea, I thought of moving my sand bed corals into a separate tub etc then scope it out, and sift it in a strainer and rinse with salt water.

Option B. Can I buy some really live fine sand, sift it and then added it to my current bed? Will the rocks and large particles that are there now just resurface again? Any advice would be great. I just don’t want to crash or spike my tank. But I really want the bugs bunny scene at pismo beach where all the clams you can eat. Super soft smooth silky sand

Replacing a sandbed can be super tricky. Crushed coral is safer to replace than finer sands. I would decide what kind of sand you actually want and pick up enough to replace your sandbed with. Simply pouring new sand on top will just cause it to mix very soon.

Ensure the new sand is rinsed. Now use a large siphon and plunge it in the new sand. Try not to make a mess. Siphon out a portion of the sandbed down to the glass. Try to keep it as neat as possible.

Now with a pvc pipe, and a funnel on the top, plunge the pipe in the water down to the bare spot. Pour sand down the funnel and it will go right where it needs with zero dust storm. This will take a while and maybe require another helper. The sand will be wet so it almost needs to be flushed down the funnel.

Do about 20% or so of the sandbed every few weeks to allow the micro fauna to to begin to the restablish.

Two disclaimers. Don’t do this if you have a deep sand bed. If your sandbed is more than a couple inches, I’m out. I don’t know what to do there but the process will be different. Second. When I did this, I did cause some acropora tissue necrosis due to the rapidly changing bacteria levels. Fish and soft corals were totally unaffected

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

So maybe just maybe I will get to bring my new critter home today. It’s exciting do to the fact it will be a first for me, but also depends if I get off work in time.

As much as I panicked about my nephews urinating in my sump tank, I’m finding that it’s a common thing. Makes me wonder lol why, other than when nature calls it calls. But with that said, and others it doesn’t really seem to affect the tank at all. I guess it would also depend on the size of it, but still would be interesting to see or conduct experiments. (No just to save the time, I will never ever urinate in my sump tank to do an experiment lol, nor will I allow my nephews to) but from a scientific stand point, I’m curious if any experiments have been conducted.

As far as my sand bed, it’s over three inches deep, but I did find a nice Dora the explorer tiny Long Beach rake. I have tried a small spot. So I just move my corals to the side and gentle scape the top. Anything that’s big comes with the rake and I just scope it up w my hands. I’m thinking of getting one of my large 30 gallon tubs, and when I do my water change tomorrow, drain all that water in there. Then place my sand bed corals in the water, rake the bottom, then put them back in. I won’t disturb the sand bed too much since the rake ends are maybe 1/4 inch deep. Any suggestions on this? It’s the one way I have thought that won’t disturb it too much. I don’t wanna slide my corals in the tank, afraid they will sting each other.

Sarah

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

So here are some update photos taking today of my reef. Lol still waiting for my lfs to open, since it’s Sunday. But I turned my orbit pros down to 60% brights and still 100% blues.

 

[NY_Caveman]

It is beautiful (despite the fact that I always think “pee tank” in my head).

 

[Sarah24!]

Lol your killing me, I should officially name it the pee tank lol. The best part is my nephews would never get to live it down.

 

[Sarah24!]

So the time has come yippie,

A few weeks ago, I went out of my shell of only having tangs and a pair of clowns. So I asked my local fish store what kind of fish could I put in and it would be epic, yet safe with all of my fish. Well, they suggested the Bellus Angelfish in which I had to go with the female version.

As of the moment she gets along great except for my paired ocellariois clowns. Lol the two most peaceful fish in my tank have issues. I’m curious if they are trying to do a pecking order, but this is my only angelfish. But she is super pretty which means I have to come up with a name, suggestions?

 

[Brew12]

Lol your killing me, I should officially name it the pee tank lol. The best part is my nephews would never get to live it down.

I think you should call it the Uri tank.

That way your fans can be Uri-nation. ;Woot

 

[2Wheelsonly]

A 5 year old should know better, his parents should be held accountable for that failure.

Time to ban him from the home! If I caught my nephew doing that his little world would change instantly.

 

[tangtime]

A 5 year old should know better, his parents should be held accountable for that failure.

Time to ban him from the home! If I caught my nephew doing that his little world would change instantly.

Hmm and how would it change tough guy?

 

[cracker]

Your tank is stunning & I'm jealous . You & nephews may have come across a new technique .

 

[Jeff Hall]

Nice to know

I agree, test the water, see where you nutrients are at and go from there.

Just an FYI. Ammonia in your blood is caused by the breakdown of proteins. Your liver then converts ammonia to Urea (which is why people with liver disease will often have high ammonia levels in the blood, which makes them crazy by the way). Urea is then expelled by the body via your urine. So though urine may not contain ammonia itself in most cases, all urine has urea in it which is made from ammonia. I'm an RN and no for a fact that MD's are not always right. With that being said, I would much rather have someone pee in my tank the drop a deuce.

 

[Mark Gray]

Hello,

So to update the tank, it’s doing really good I haven’t had any signs of it being angry still. I have been testing my water about every other day and this week is my week for a water change anyway.

I choose wisely lol not to help their mother do to the fact, that this is the third time for the same offense. Plus I would rather spend my money on my niece and nephews, or st least my kiddos (meaning my tank). My niece does like to help with the tank, and she enjoys watching it with me as well. My nephews lol they would rather play Lego’s and super hero’s and what not. They keep asking me to be a super hero with them, yet when I ask who they want me to be, it’s always dog wonder. (Who the heck is dog wonder, is that even a super hero)? I asked them if they mean scooby doo, Nope dog wonder!



Thank you for the amazing compliment, and with how my life is, plus working in the ER, hmmm a blog idea wouldn’t be super terrible idea. Heavens knows between my brother and my tank, his children, and the ER, I could write forever.
I will say, it’s really bad when an 85 year old man asks me to marry him, as I staple the top of his head closed. It was kinda funny until I realized his wife who is even older was in the room also. Not only did security have to prevent her from hitting him with her cane, but she was trying to hit me. Gosh all I did was stop the bleeding that’s it. Now my co workers as much as we all love each other, keep asking me when our wedding is.

In regards to a build thread I have considered it, lol I still have tons of requests to do a writing on my coral grave yard that I tuned into a mini Egypt. If it would ever stop raining and or snowing (I mean seriously it’s April, go away snow) I could find all my Lincoln logs and awesome heads stones that floated half way down my back yard. But yes I will try and do a build thread of my tank. I’m still trying to find the pictures of me taking a nap in it, while it was dry. It wasn’t super comfty,but adding a favorite purple pillow and a few finding Nemo blankets, and I felt right at home.

I have not taken any super super recent pics, but here are some that I have taken about the time of me catching my nephews peeing in my sump tank. For those wondering, yes I’m still having those stickers made. I’m just searching for this thing called time, I never seem to have enough.

Sarah

Your tank looks fantastic glad everything came out well for the tank at least, You are a great sister wish I had a sister like you. Good Luck

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello ,

Thank you for all the lovely comments, it means the world. Lol my tank is doing great except, now I added a Bellus female angel, and the only fish in my tank that don’t like her are my clowns. Really. Even my semi aggressive tangs lol don’t care, but nope my clowns have to pester my first angel. Normally it’s my Double banned tang aka Lt. tang (his name is major axxhoxx) from the movie space balls. He is fine now but, not sure why my clowns are freaking out over an angel fish.

 

[Mark Gray]

Hello ,

Thank you for all the lovely comments, it means the world. Lol my tank is doing great except, now I added a Bellus female angel, and the only fish in my tank that don’t like her are my clowns. Really. Even my semi aggressive tangs lol don’t care, but nope my clowns have to pester my first angel. Normally it’s my Double banned tang aka Lt. tang (his name is major axxhoxx) from the movie space balls. He is fine now but, not sure why my clowns are freaking out over an angel fish.

I love angels yeah not sure why the clowns have chosen to pick on your angel, If you can keep the angel eating well should be ok, if you can give it a little live food like black worms or white worms once they try them they will love them. Good Luck

 

[ca1ore]

I just came home and found out that my nephews have been urinating in my sump tank.

I know this is an older question, but it's really no different that a fish excreting into the water. Think of your nephew as a really big fish. As long as your filtration system is robust, I would think it would have little impact (though I did not read through the thread to know for sure).

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello all,

So did some tank maintenance today and everything seems to be amazing except Urgh! I have a very small section on one of my rocks that has a little bit of bubble alage. Any good suggestions on how to get rid of it. I know definitely not to puncture it. I was told emeralds carbs are good, but also bad, and that we can cut them out. Would like the something kinda easy because it’s towards the bottom of my tank. In regards to that my smurfette arms won’t reach.

 

[Brew12]

Hello all,

So did some tank maintenance today and everything seems to be amazing except Urgh! I have a very small section on one of my rocks that has a little bit of bubble alage. Any good suggestions on how to get rid of it. I know definitely not to puncture it. I was told emeralds carbs are good, but also bad, and that we can cut them out. Would like the something kinda easy because it’s towards the bottom of my tank. In regards to that my smurfette arms won’t reach.

You can puncture it, not a problem. If it isn't mature, it won't spread by popping it. If its just a small outbreak I would scrape them off and use a small syringe to shoot a little H2O2 on the roots that remain. Just make sure you don't add more than 1ml of H2O2 per 10g of total water volume per day. You may need to do it over a few days for larger outbreaks.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

How do I know if it’s mature or not. I will try and attach a pic of it for others to see.

 

[Brew12]

Hello,

How do I know if it’s mature or not. I will try and attach a pic of it for others to see.

Check to see if it is shaving yet. Oh wait.. n/m...

You really can't tell by looking, but if they are firm they likely won't pop. They will get mushy when they are ready to pop on their own and the seeds inside are viable.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Okay so can I use some tweezers to pull them off, then?