Advice on Nitrate/Phosphate problems

[Quagmire]

Originally Posted by molybdenumman

So getting back to my problem. I have had my sandbed (~3in) for 2.5 years. Could it be at the end of its life cycle/usefullness?

I'll be honest, the esthetics of the bb tank frighten me. I believe (mostly my wife) I would rather continue with a sandbed. What is the best way to clean up my sandbed and get my tank back to a prosperous moneysink?

Its hard to say without seeing it.But if its grey colored ontop its toast.Or take your hand and wave it over the sand bed.Just hard enough to disturb the surface.If alot of crap comes up when you do this its time to change.
I have what was a 2" sand bed( flow and goby have piled it in places and made BB in others)I do water changes each week,and I'll spread the sand out again before syphoning.This stirs the crap up into the warer column along with turkey basting the rocks.When I syphon I get alot of it out.If its realy bad I'll set up the aqua clear and let it run with a sponge for a couple hrs before taking the water out.