First Post - Plant/Creature ID?
- Thread starter Michaels Mom
- Start date
Thanks! A LOT of stuff to think about! The crabs are just hermits - 3 black and 1 red. I was thinking about getting more hermit crabs since they help keep the tank clean. And maybe some small snails since the turbos are kinda large and can't get everywhere.
After the water change and vacuuming last night the nitrates went down below 20, and everything else was perfect. So, that's a good thing. I know that ideally you don't have any nitrates, but is less than 20 OK until we can get the sand in place?
After the water change and vacuuming last night the nitrates went down below 20, and everything else was perfect. So, that's a good thing. I know that ideally you don't have any nitrates, but is less than 20 OK until we can get the sand in place?
You're on the right track. One thing to try is removing the cc with a shop vac.......just an idea. You could also scoop it out into a bucket then rinse it really well with saltwater, any worms etc will be in the bucket and you can put them back into the tank. I have heard of people removing almost all the cc and putting some in a nylon stocking and placing that in the tank behind the rock to seed the sand bed with the good stuff that was in the cc. Changing out your substrate should not affect the live rock. Also, think twice about rinsing the sand, some do but most say that the fine grit in the sand is beneficial and will settle to the bottom of the sand bed making it more effective at reducing nitrates as it has more area to harbour the good beneficial bacteria.
We are going away for the weekend. I think I'll print out a few of the DSB articles and bring the books to read in the car. Then, when we get back we can decide when/how to proceed. I'm guessing that if we're going to be changing out the substrate, we shouldn't add any new friends until we're done? Even crabs/snails/brittle stars?
So, if we do decide to remove the CC, can we do it all at once, or should we do the 1/4 at a time over a few months? And, what is the best brand of sand to get?
So, if we do decide to remove the CC, can we do it all at once, or should we do the 1/4 at a time over a few months? And, what is the best brand of sand to get?
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Lorna said:
I do agree with this in a normal circumstance,
My train of though here though was that because the tank has inhabitant's.
Reducing the dust storm may be easier on there health.
As for nitrates, Under 20 should be fine for your fish and inverts.
Of course the less the better.
For future reference corals are more intolerant of nitrates.
DSB's are a bit of a controversy some claim they work great. Others including
Ronald L. Shimek, Ph. D. in marine biology say that are tanks are to small to reap any real benefits of a DSB.
The reason to remove the CC over time instead of all at once. Is that the bacteria that feeds off the nutrients in the tank live on the surface of the CC.
Removing to many at one time will unbalance the tank. So there is more nutrients being produced then the bacteria can eat. This can cause a "cycle" to occur.
Kabong said:
That makes sense. I was assuming the majority of the bacteria would be on the live rock, not the CC. The live rock has been in the tank for over 5 months, the CC is only a week old. Does that make a difference?
Kabong said:
It is know that it is not actually the nitrate that kills corals, but the nitric acid that can lower the Ph and that is what kills the corals.
I have actually tested this in a small nano, i had plate corals (Fungia), a fragged hammer coral and a few coral morphs in the tank.
Nitrate read 30ppm, and there was nothing wrong with them, but you do have to keep on top of the other parameters. and it is hard to keep them all balanced.
Michaels Mom said:
If you have a ammonia test kit i would go for it. With it only being in there for a week you could probably get away with pulling it all out. Just make sure to have enough pre-made saltwater to do water changes if the ammonia starts to rise. If all you have in there are the clowns, a few hermits and snails. You bio-load should be pretty low.
I would do it all at once. I would also try and obtain some live sand from someone if possible to seed the bed with. Some stores actually sell grunge off the bottom of their rock tanks that work great, a cup or two is all you would need. To add the sand without creating to much of a storm you could do the pvc method. Get a piece of pvc and pour the sand down the tube to the bottom (once you've removed 90% of the cc). The other option would be to remove the rock and the clowns and put them in buckets or tubs with the tank water and then take out the cc, replace the rock then add the sand (not rinsed) add live sand to the top then re-add the saved tank water......slowly put a dinnerplate on the sand and pour the water onto the place so as not to stir up the sand. I just did this moving everything from a 10 to a 20g this past weekend. I replaced the substrate with about 30lbs of new dry sand, then put the old 15-20lbs out of the old tank on top. I poured the water back in using a plate to diffuse the water. I did have some cloudiness that disapated and cleared within 12 hours. Now it is crystal clear and I have a nice 5 inch sand bed in a 20g.......
