Need some help!!!

Jep21

Jep21

Well-known member
so in my biocube 14 I have a pretty shallow sand bed... What I want to do is change the sand I have to either a carib sea aragomax sand or ocean direct caribbean live sand and I want a deep sand bed.. Was wondering can I siphon out all the sand in my tank.. Use a bucket with a powerhead or aquaclear 30 and place the sand in thier and put some live rock and salterwater frm my tank so I cycle it.. Then after its done cycling can I place the sand in my tank using a tube funnel... The only fish I have is a percula clown.. And some inverts.. Was wondering if this would work or do you guys have a better more safer way to do it.. Sorry if I confused you guys a bit...

thanks
jeff
 
In a small tank your size I would:

  1. Get three 5g buckets
  2. Suck out 90% of the water into the buckets without touching the sand bed.
  3. Put all of your rock, fish, coral in the buckets
  4. Scoop out the rest of the sand/water making sure to get 100% of the water out (don't want to have any filthy nutrient rich water left over).
  5. Put 15-20lbs of whatever rinsed sand (if using bagged live sand don't rinse) you want in the tank along with 1 cup of your old sand.
  6. Enjoy

In a larger tank I would tell you to do it in sections so you don't disturb too much of the sand, but in such a small tank it is much easier this way. Your single clownfish (very hardy) and inverts will be such a minimal bioload that the remaining bacteria from your rock, filtration system and cup of live sand should have no problem handling it.

I also recommend using wet bagged live sand when adding sand to an existing tank since much of the silicates will have already been consumed. I have never gotten a diatom bloom from adding bagged live sand to an existing tank.

If you choose to add fresh dry sand you will most likely get a diatom bloom no matter what you do was there will be so much new silicates for the diatoms to feast on. Don't worry. It will go away.
 
I don't know if it's advisable to have a deep sand bed in a nano. I would research in nanoreefs.com I think I've read over there that deep sand beds are not beneficial in nano's, but I would have you read that yourself, as it's kindoff a debate over there.
 
I saw the thread you were tlking about nino.. its 50/50.lol. SO im not sure.lol. the only thing is im probably gonna make it 2 or 3 or even 4 inches deep... and im gonna get a pistol shrimp and nassarius snails so it'll move the sand around i thnk it maybe ok... but what do u guys thnk..
 
jeppun21 said:
I saw the thread you were tlking about nino.. its 50/50.lol. SO im not sure.lol. the only thing is im probably gonna make it 2 or 3 or even 4 inches deep... and im gonna get a pistol shrimp and nassarius snails so it'll move the sand around i thnk it maybe ok... but what do u guys thnk..
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I would say no to a DSB in your 14gal tank. But yes to a RDSB connected to it. So this way you can remove it if needed and not disturb the bio in the 14 gal. IMO!!
 
jeppun21 said:
what is RDSB? if u dnt mind me asking.. i knw DSB idk the R lol
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Remote Deep Sand Bed. In an AIO nano it is not really necessary and difficult to put together. So much nutrient turnover occurs through water changes that there is no need to put a DSB together.
 
oh ic.. i just searched it up.. it seems like its too much work.. hmm.. should i just leave my sand the way it is or should i maybe add a little.. i only have about 1 to 2 inches of sand in my tank..
 
jeppun21 said:
oh ic.. i just searched it up.. it seems like its too much work.. hmm.. should i just leave my sand the way it is or should i maybe add a little.. i only have about 1 to 2 inches of sand in my tank..
Click to expand...

If you are happy with the grain size of your sand I would leave it alone. If you want to switch grain sizes I would remove all of it and start fresh with the grain size you want. I personally do not like the look of a mixed grain sand bed.
 
no i actually dnt like my sand.. its just something i picked at petsmart when i first was starting b4 i knw about all the forums. totall noob mistake..lol.. I kinda like the sand you have in your tank.. was wondering what kind is it if you dnt mind me asking.. thanks for all the advice by the way..

thanks
jeff
 
Just didn't want to tell you how to build your tank and seemed you were doing some research on it already. Was trying to point you another direction regarding DSB in a DT that size!! But like SkullV said "So much nutrient turnover occurs through water changes that there is no need to put a DSB together. " Very True :tea:

Keep us posted :itsme:
 
@lil bam bam.. Its ok bro.. I dnt mind.. im still new so any suggestion or new methods is more then welcome.. i just want to make a good living environment for my fish and inverts.. Do u have any suggestions for sand substrate.. like my thing is i dnt like the substrate i have now.. just would like to change it.. but im probably gonna stick with a shallow substrate.. thanks for all ur advice.. lil bam

thanks
jeff
 
darn.lol.. yeah.. i hear bad thngs about crushed coral.. its a no no.. plus my nassarius snails need a place to hide.lol and crushed coral wont help
 
jeppun21 said:
no i actually dnt like my sand.. its just something i picked at petsmart when i first was starting b4 i knw about all the forums. totall noob mistake..lol.. I kinda like the sand you have in your tank.. was wondering what kind is it if you dnt mind me asking.. thanks for all the advice by the way..

thanks
jeff
Click to expand...

I used this:

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/C-ARAG-L-RS.html

One bag would be more than enough for your tank. You would also like this:

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/TE-TE03616R30.html

Basically the same stuff with a little more pink to it.
 
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