build-up on sand

[coolisjade]

sand sifting - my tank seems to be building up lots of algae/debris on teh bottom of tank. most of it is comming off of the liverock. what is the best way to get this cleaned? i've got 20 astreas, 2 nassarius, 2 hermits. what is a good sand sifting creature/fish?

thanks

 

[yothereyo]

pump up on the nassarius, i find that they are the best for sand.

 

[Reefscape]

if your getting a build up of debris on the sand bed, it means that you dont really have enough flow going over it..The reason we have light flow over the sand bed is to keep the particles in the water column so they are removed by filtration or skimming..Can you try adjusting a powerhead to allow more flow over it?

You can just syphon the gunk out when you next do a water change..

Niko

 

[5xevy]

I started getting this lately ever since my timer broke and the lights have been staying on much too long.

How new is your tank and how long do you keep your lights on (and what kind of lights)?

what is a good sand sifting creature/fish?

thanks

Personally, I love the sandsifting gobies and how they take the sand into their mouths and "shoot" it out of their gills. My absolute favorite of these is the "bullet" goby, or Amblygobius phalaena.

There are more here...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=1851

I'd listen to the other two responses too, in case it's a flow problem.