I have 55 gallon tank that I started about 2 months ago and I can't seem to keep my live sand from getting dirty. I've purchased several hermit crabs and they died after about 3 weeks from nitrate toxins. So I went back to my LFS and purchased some more as well as a brittle star I also did a 25% water change out and that worked but, now I’m back to the same problem again and 'm just about ready to say that hell with it and take out all the sand and replace it with crushed coral. I've been assuming at this point I may not have enough hermit crabs I started with 30 and now I’m down to 10 or is something else that I can add to my tank to help stir around some of my sand?
Live Sand Question
- Thread starter davendx
- Start date
WHat do you mean "dirty?" Algae growth? If you get crushed coral, I guarantee it will only be worse.
If the tank is new, there will be a few phases of algae growth, starting with brown diatoms, and then red slimy cyanobacteria. It usually passes, especially if your water flow is good and nutrient levels are low.
If the tank is new, there will be a few phases of algae growth, starting with brown diatoms, and then red slimy cyanobacteria. It usually passes, especially if your water flow is good and nutrient levels are low.
Agreed, could be "new tank syndrom". Also how long are ur lights on for. Its recommened to leave them on for like 6-8hrs. daily. Excessive lighting can cause algea of all types. It also makes ur sand,rocks, and glass covered in brown algea.
Also you should post water parameters and what type of filtration/skimmer your using, if your having nitrate high enough to kill hermit crabs while using a DSB, using Crushed Coral will make it much worse. Ont big reason why the sand gets "dirty" is probably from algae feeding on excessive nutrients (mostly the high nitrate level, which is algae food)
live sand (IMO) may already be doing it's job,there could be waste in it that the sand is working on.I suspect any organics & waste could contribute to high nitrate or amonia. So I was thinking that live sand may have a cycle of it's own,see heres my theory.
The livesand can't denitrify your tank until it's used up it's own nitrate supply withing the sand.
once it starts to starve it will eagerly work the water .
Some live muck got in 1 of my filters & when I openned it finaly ,there was an unmistakable smell of nitrogen that I never smelled cleaning any filter in 30 years until I got live sand.
The sand I got though wasn't that sandy,meaning the sand settled & the top was very light weight like silt,easily disturbed.i've been crushing old snail shells to help keep the ligter surface down.
i tried gravel vaccuuming the live sand but that was removeing too much.
Im sure when the sand exhausts itself it will become benificial to the display tank so i'm waiting it out. I'm useing shrimps & snails to help cultivate the surface now.
I'm suggesting you hang in there 4 awhile. GL
The livesand can't denitrify your tank until it's used up it's own nitrate supply withing the sand.
once it starts to starve it will eagerly work the water .
Some live muck got in 1 of my filters & when I openned it finaly ,there was an unmistakable smell of nitrogen that I never smelled cleaning any filter in 30 years until I got live sand.
The sand I got though wasn't that sandy,meaning the sand settled & the top was very light weight like silt,easily disturbed.i've been crushing old snail shells to help keep the ligter surface down.
i tried gravel vaccuuming the live sand but that was removeing too much.
Im sure when the sand exhausts itself it will become benificial to the display tank so i'm waiting it out. I'm useing shrimps & snails to help cultivate the surface now.
I'm suggesting you hang in there 4 awhile. GL