How do you guys do it?

Sean · #1 08-06-2010, 05:50 PM

Guys I had a few aquariums over the years and I have to ask. How the hell do you guys keep your sand/tank soo clean with all that live rock. My first setup had the recomended amount of live rock in it, but I was always worried that if I can't see all the waste behind the rock that it would get extremly dirty and crash the system. My solution was to move my live rock around every now and then and suck it up. Of course this would cause stress on the locals. now I have only 3 peices of rocks that make a tower with lots of open space to suck up all the junk. I'm curious only because im considering upgrading to a larger tank and I just don't see myself being able to move that much live rock without causing problems.

viperfish · #2 08-06-2010, 06:03 PM

Tons of flow, I've spent as much time adjusting flow as I have doing anything else with my tank. Intermittent flow from a wavemaker such as Tunzes or Vortechs is best but the new Koralia Evos work good on a timer as well. Make sure every square inch of tank real estate has water movement to keep food particles and fish waste suspended.
Good husbandry practices are most important. Be sure not to overfeed and slow down the flow when feeding so you are feeding the fish and not the tank.
Be sure to include scavengers such as shrimp, crabs, snails, and bottom sifting fish as part of your livestock.

Gooly001 · #3 08-06-2010, 06:13 PM

Nassarius Snails are good at cleaning up your Sand bed as well as Conchs.

The only downside to them is that they will out compete your corals if you are target feeding them. They will climb over anything and everything to get at the food being fed, but Nassarius's do an amazing job of keeping the SB clean.

Cheers,

Paul

viperfish · #4 08-06-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Paul-

Nassarius Snails are good at cleaning up your Sand bed as well as Conchs.

The only downside to them is that they will out compete your corals if you are target feeding them. They will climb over anything and everything to get at the food being fed, but Nassarius's do an amazing job of keeping the SB clean.

Cheers,

Paul

I have a Bicolor Goatfish in my 180, it's like an eating machine! I have never seen any fish or invert that could outperform this guy when it comes to cleaning the sandbed. I have had sand sifting Gobies but they make too much mess spitting sand over my corals. The Goatfish does the same only without turning the tank into a snowglobe.

Zoaelite · #5 08-06-2010, 06:35 PM

I think it all comes down to maturity and your nitrogen cycle. A tank that is finally matured with a very healthy bacteria population and multiple nutrient sinks tends to have very little pest algae growth.

Cheato does a very good job of this, mangroves and liverock as well but the person who stated flow is vital is also onto something very important.
Levi

Sean · #6 08-06-2010, 07:14 PM

I was thinking of getting a cleanup crew, but i was scared that it would cause more waste in the tank.. So I should probbly look at the flow first and then maybe add a cleanup crew.

Thanks for all the advice guys

reefwars · #7 08-06-2010, 07:19 PM

a good cleanup crew is very important and should be added asap they clean waste etc. and i wouldnt worry about their bio load theyll do more good than harm and will get the places even flow cant get

amoreira · #8 08-06-2010, 07:21 PM

Repeat Post removed.

amoreira · #9 08-06-2010, 07:26 PM

I use a DSB (deep sand bed). It is a 4-6" depth of oolitic sugar sand. I also keep nassarius sand snails that hang around under the sand and pop up at feeding time. As well I have sand dollars and sea hedghogs. At night I flash a light on the sand and see a million critters crawing and scurrying about on it. The only problem I have is the odd patch of alge showing up on it.

With the DSB, I don't need to siphon any detrius. It's very low maintenance. It's not to be disturbed. It keeps my parameters at good levels (almost 0 NO3/PO4). I do run carbon (ROX 0.8 in a reactor) and GFO. Those help also. I also don't need tremendous flows in the tank. Big flows will cause a sand storm.

A DSB might also give you algae problems to some extent and a pH drop at night. To fix that I run a sump/refugium with macro algae on a lighting cycle reverse to that in the display tank. pH stays stable and the macro helps nutrient update. A good skimmer helps on that note too.

One note, my tank is not sterile. Every part of it has something growing on it ... from misc. corals to various algaes and unfortunately aptasia. Some people might look at it and think it not aesethically pleasing (i.e. as in neat and tidy). It's more a natural system and resembles true reefs IMO (being a SCUBA diver, I can attest to that LOL). Those who like the sterile look might prefer another system.

Sean · #10 08-06-2010, 08:00 PM

That will be my next purchase. Any suggestion on a cleanup crew for a 28g nano?