Did another 50 litre WC tonight ..syphoned 95% of my sand bed out now ..dinos are a little less but still covering all my rocks and corals ...gonna do another 50 litre WC tomorrow and try and get the last of the sand out ....nitrates have fallen to about 50ppm now hoping that tomorrows test they are even less ....anybody any idea how long I should leave my sand out for ...???
Removing the sand removes their refuge. Pushing them to the rocks is what allows beneficial organisms to graze. Don't confuse organisms with microscopic organisms. Just organisms as a generalization. Pods, isopods, snails and other diverse and otherwise beneficial organisms have the opportunity to graze if conditions are fair for them. My suggestions in earlier posts of diversifying the tank still stands, as it seems your tank is lacking in that department. Shifting nutrient consumption to diatoms will help added diversity to consume and procreate. So, if you haven't considered probiotics, live phyto, pods, and rotifers, your battle will continue. Though, of course, lets get your water parameters in check.
When I battled coolia, I also added live rock pieces, heavy phyto, pods, bristleworms, and ocean mud. All of this helped tremendously.
As far as how long you should keep the sand out, depends on the tanks progression. Also, depends on how long its progression can be sustained. I think in the long run yoully be surprised at how much you tended to the tank compared to how much your really need to tend to it. Which isn't much at all, imo. The less we mess with our systems, the better off. Unless, nutrients get out of control. Typically means we over fed thus back to limited interaction helps more in most cases.
