Sand keeps blowing around! What am I doing wrong?!

[jayteerq]

I have a MP40 and a Gyre on either side of a 4’ tank. Both mounted close to the surface pointing upwards. Both under 30% power.

But for some reason Caribsea Fiji Pink sand still keeps finding currents to blow it into the water column. It’s not like the pumps are blowing piles of sand into the water column. It’s more so a few grains of sand from various parts of the tank get pushed into the water column.

Ive dropped the power but the issue persists. It’s a problem because I can’t get my water clear because all I see is particles floating all over.

Has anyone ever dealt with this? Any advice for me? Should I not have the pumps at the same height? Should I alternate when each pump pushes to avoid a clash of flow?

Im not sure what it is but I’m trying to chase crystal clear water and the particles are driving me nuts lol. Thanks for any help!

 

[Mark Whitaker]

You may want to use a corse sand ( larger particles) or get some rock rubble or life rock frag zone to layer on the parts of the sand that are moving on you. If you don’t wanna do that, you could always time the pumps to cut on and off on alternating pattern.

 

[Mark Whitaker]

You may want to use a corse sand ( larger particles) or get some rock rubble or life rock frag zone to layer on the parts of the sand that are moving on you. If you don’t wanna do that, you could always time the pumps to cut on and off on alternating pattern.

One of the main goals with flow is to push the detritus from the floor to the filter, so if you cut the flow too much, you’ll end up with nutrient spikes. That’s why I recommend using the rubble.

 

[jayteerq]

One of the main goals with flow is to push the detritus from the floor to the filter, so if you cut the flow too much, you’ll end up with nutrient spikes. That’s why I recommend using the rubble.

Yea I regret choosing this sand a lot lol. For esthetics I don’t think I want to add rubble over my sand. Would it be dangerous to try and replace my sand? With all that may be trapped underneath it?

 

[RoanokeReef]

Yea I regret choosing this sand a lot lol. For esthetics I don’t think I want to add rubble over my sand. Would it be dangerous to try and replace my sand? With all that may be trapped underneath it?

You can replace it; I would start with just syphoning out small sections with each water change. Not a rubble fan myself either, I would go with Tropic Eden Reef Flakes or Carib Sea Special Grade.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Are the pumps on the same side, or across from one another so the flow bounces off each other? Can you show a pic or a short video?

 

[jayteerq]

Are the pumps on the same side, or across from one another so the flow bounces off each other? Can you show a pic or a short video?

Across from each other. I’m thinking both flows bounce off each other and create a tsunami or something that kicks up the sand lol. But it’s not major kick up. It just blows a few grains around here and there. But definitely enough to keep my water column dusty

 

[bobnicaragua]

I have the same issue in my SPS tank. Two little fishies reborn calcium reactor media is the biggest crushed coral I know of.

It will stay in place much better than the smaller substrates.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

I have a MP40 and a Gyre on either side of a 4’ tank. Both mounted close to the surface pointing upwards. Both under 30% power.

But for some reason Caribsea Fiji Pink sand still keeps finding currents to blow it into the water column. It’s not like the pumps are blowing piles of sand into the water column. It’s more so a few grains of sand from various parts of the tank get pushed into the water column.

Ive dropped the power but the issue persists. It’s a problem because I can’t get my water clear because all I see is particles floating all over.

Has anyone ever dealt with this? Any advice for me? Should I not have the pumps at the same height? Should I alternate when each pump pushes to avoid a clash of flow?

Im not sure what it is but I’m trying to chase crystal clear water and the particles are driving me nuts lol. Thanks for any help!

Did you rinse the sand until the water coming out is clear? Are there bare spots on the bottom of the tank? If you have decent sand coverage on the bottom but have tiny pieces of sand kicking up and clouding the water. It’s likely because you didn’t rinse the sand before. I know it says “live sand” but it is a marketing scam. Always rinse.

 

[eggie]

Have you try shutting down the vortech and use the Gyre only. You could increase the flow and see if with only the gyre corals are happy.

With the right flow the Gyre should push water up to the other side and come back thru bottom softly