some dirty sand solutions

rusty-nail-z

AC Members
Apr 18, 2007
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San Diego
I have a pretty new tank < than two months old. And Ive heard of diatoms being a problem with new tanks and I assume these are what discolor my sand bed. THeyve been there for a while and I got a clean up crew, but recently the patches have been getting larger. My tank is also gettin better coloration, in terms of live rock. Back to the sand color, I know this is all normal, but I was wondering what more clean up crew I could add to help this out. I have plenty of the glass cleaning snails, but only three of the sand stirrers. Should I get more of these and or crabs?
 
there are some thigns such as nassarius snails which will help. msot things like sand sifting stars and cucumbers woudl starve in your tank. IMO, a lot of flow owuld be most beneficial.
 
Nassarius snails and / or cerith snails would be a good addition. Both will help stir up the sand, but nassarius snails are a little better at it since they pretty much live exclusively in the sand. I wouldn't go crazy and add a ton of them... start with a few more at a time and go from there.
 
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