Here is my question - why cant you just use a python and siphon x percent and 'rinse' the sand that way - once a week? If thats what you want to do. I mean - I have a 100+ gallon tank - and I can easily siphon (and rinse) all the sand taking out 5 gallons - which is what I do every week-2 weeks - associated with a water change. I do my sump less often - but perhaps every couple months. It doesnt cause a problem. Any 'bad stuff' - sulfur, etc - is sucked away with the water. I still don't get why someone would want to take all of their sand out - and 'rinse it' - when there seem to be much easier ways to do it. BTW - I turn off flow pumps - use my (gloved/clean) hands to sweep any stuff off the rock onto the sand - and then do the siphoning. With the python you can set the water flow so its just enough to suck up the sand - but not enough to siphon the sand away.
I don't understand this ?
This seems like the most logical solution for someone wishing to have any type of substrate but also keep nutrients low. Personally I find it much easier just to keep detritus suspended so it’s caught by the floss in my mechanical filter and can be removed periodically.
To me the easy part is I can just make 40 gallons of saltwater - overnight - Siphon the sand - so the sand stays in the tank - siphon the rock - etc. -and I know how much 40 gallons is - when I siphon my tank down - I just unscrew the python - and screw it on to my pump - which is in my salt water container - and the tank refills - its about 1/2 hour - every couple weeks. I only have about 1/4 inch of fine sand in the tank - so its not a big issue to clean it. In my discus tank (which is 200 gallons - I just drain it - so there is like an inch of water - after doing the same process with the sand - and then fill it up with fresh water from the tap (at 84 degrees) - I also add stress coat - periodically. Makes water changes simple - no buckets, etc. I don't mind detritus - I also am not sure its helpful.
I just thinned my sand bed from 3+ inches to about 1 inch as a part of resetting my system for a new phase.
www.reef2reef.com
I think a bare bottom tank looks 'bad' - unless its covered with coral (for example I've seen some with GSP, or LPS - such that you cant see the bottom. However, in those cases, you also run the risk of not being able to clean well at all (which some would consider a positive. I have taken a low-middle ground - I keep about 1/4 inch of sand on my tank bottom - which blows around sometimes - makes interesting patterns, is easy to clean/vacuum (takes 5 minutes every month) and looks great.good timing. recent whole tank cleaning example from Cook was very detailed in its sandbed rinse time. we can track his tank now onward with updates to see how ecosystem fares after the rip clean.
it certainly has no detritus now, 100+ gallon setup with pounds of live rock and eleven hours of sand rinsing, that's for darn sure.
Build Thread - Cook's 105 Planet Aquariums Crystaline Reef - 48x20
Thanks for the information it a good summary for reference without having to read through the big post. I couldn't read you replies though, I was too busy taking the tank apart. :) I didn't just go for it first thing, I had tested the GHA removal method several months with good results. The...
on this thread we got a little debated at times/that's fun/good for the hobby.
in the end we should all be documenting examples one way or another and see what comes out in the lead overall, highest # of happy reefers. = w help the hobby.
after eleven pages here, the one thing I'm certain on is the role of detritus in reefing is there to keep me busy with remote surgery jobs and live time feedback, so I like it.
