Sand pushed off bottom

[BigBearMD]

Does this drive anyone else crazy.

 

[sfin52]

Not anymore.

 

[Greybeard]

Crazy? No... it happens. Sufficient flow for most corals can certainly cause this sort of thing. I just push it back once a week or so.

I tried putting eggcrate (or light diffusing panels, if you will) under the sand. It looked worse than the bare patches.

Had a friend that took a 1/4" piece of starboard, cut to the size of the tank bottom, coated it with a heavy layer of silicone, and dumped a bag of sand on it. Pressed it in, and let it cure. He installed that, and then put a normal sand bed over it. That was the _only_ solution I've ever seen that really worked well.

Of course, many go with a bare bottom these days... I just never really liked the look, and I do so love my sand dwelling critters.

 

[BigBearMD]

Not anymore.

Fair enough.

 

[BigBearMD]

Crazy? No... it happens. Sufficient flow for most corals can certainly cause this sort of thing. I just push it back once a week or so.

I tried putting eggcrate (or light diffusing panels, if you will) under the sand. It looked worse than the bare patches.

Had a friend that took a 1/4" piece of starboard, cut to the size of the tank bottom, coated it with a heavy layer of silicone, and dumped a bag of sand on it. Pressed it in, and let it cure. He installed that, and then put a normal sand bed over it. That was the _only_ solution I've ever seen that really worked well.

Of course, many go with a bare bottom these days... I just never really liked the look, and I do so love my sand dwelling critters.

I have some egg crate in my Biocube and won't likely do that again.

I have 2 Wavs on either side of the 72" tank. I'm still trying to dial in flow. Maybe its a touch too much right now but its something to play with while cycling the tank.

 

[sfin52]

It use to drive me crazy but I let it pile up and be done with it now. Took to long trying to fix and the next back to the way it was going to be.

In places it has give me nice views from the bottom of the tank. It’s a completely different perspective. I was also able to get some nice shots of my brittle star.

Yep just use to it. Too many other stuff to worry about. And nobody really notices but me.

 

[Greybeard]

...while cycling the tank.

You just gave another clue. As time goes by, some of this will calm down. Bio film will coat the sand particles, and make them less apt to move around.

 

[jpcrash1]

Does this drive anyone else crazy.

I'm with you . I have the same problem. Very frustrating.

 

[skiergd011013]

Does this drive anyone else crazy.

yes, big time. A big reason i went bare bottom

 

[sfin52]

I have it happen around a particular rock. I fix next back to bare bottom in that spot. I don’t mind now has given me another viewing perspective from bottom of the tank. I’ve been able to get some really nice photos of my brittle star. Too many other issues to worry about. Just one spot.

I believe @Amoo was having this problem and added sand colored tile to the bottom of his tank.

 

[andyg1960]

Happened to me. I covered the bare areas with crushed coral. Worked like a charm

 

[BigBearMD]

Happened to me. I covered the bare areas with crushed coral. Worked like a charm

Nice idea. I might try that.

 

[BigBearMD]

You just gave another clue. As time goes by, some of this will calm down. Bio film will coat the sand particles, and make them less apt to move around.

Good to know. I didn’t think about that.

 

[andyg1960]

Nice idea. I might try that.

This is what i used:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/fl-crushed-coral-arag-alive-live-reef-sand.html