how long is the life period of sandbeds

Charles · 05-10-2007, 05:03 AM

Please advice how long can I use my sand before I start to change it.

PHIL GUY · 05-10-2007, 05:23 AM

you can use it forever..the longer you have it the better it is...see..theres a milllion,billion,lol.microscopic living creaturesliving in your live sand..its live, and right?......if not...as your tank matures it will turn into live sand

jenajet · 05-10-2007, 05:32 AM

Um not really phil. The sand can only go for so long before it is full. I can't go into the technical stuff, maybe Tom will stop by. You need to list age & size of tank, critters, test numbers, lighting and such. That will all play a part in how long you can keep the sandbed.

PHIL GUY · 05-10-2007, 05:38 AM

im curiuos now

i heard my info on another site swfcom.

hmmmm.let me know also please

theplatypus · 05-10-2007, 05:44 AM

Too many variables to really pinpoint when a dsb goes bad.

jenajet · 05-10-2007, 05:50 AM

I have to get ready, I am sure someone here has some info. I'll check back and do some research when I get home from daughters field trip.

PHIL GUY · 05-10-2007, 05:51 AM

THANKS JENA. ENJOY YOUR DAUGHTERS FIELD TRIP

Geoff · 05-10-2007, 09:29 AM

OK, i will try and make it quick.

sand is at the bottom of the tank. nutrients fall to the bottom of the tank. nutrients make thier way through the sand to the very bottom of the tank. this is where it stays. eventually it fills up and needs to be removed so that the process can start over again. you can tell when it is getting full by the amount of algae that will start showing up the lower flow areas of the tank.

that is an extremely simplied explaination. there is a lot more involved. the ability of Calcium carbonate to uptake phosphates. the amount of siphoning one can do to remove the detritus before it has chance to rot to much and release the phosphates into the sand bed. the amount of feeding you do. the amount of critters that poo in the tank.

in most cases a sand beds usefull life is around 3-4 years, if it is a DSB. the shallower it is the shorter the time frame. the more you feed the shorter the time frame also. a 2" sand bed in a tank that is fed heavily every day with a small skimmer could fill up within a year.

sorry, not sure what you have read, but those sand bed worms have not found a way to transport wastes through worm holes in space to another galaxy to keep our tanks clean. conservation of matter is a tough law, about as annoying as gravity sometimes.

G~

tiburon · 05-10-2007, 01:50 PM

Not unless you get a miniture worm guy like the ones in Dune.. that can fold space and stuff..

Charles · 05-12-2007, 01:24 AM

So how do we change sand beds??? in parts or one time changing? If one time changing, how about the "live" creatures living in the live sand, then we will just throw them away? Please advice.

Geoff · 05-12-2007, 07:22 AM

you take everything out of the tank.

grab your shop vacuum cleaner and vacuum out the sand.

put in a new batch of sand.

replace all of the critters/LR.

in other words a royal pain.

G~

Charles · 05-12-2007, 09:09 AM

Thanks Geoff.

salt-rookie · 05-12-2007, 10:19 AM

Mine in my fuge is 5 years old and doing GREAT! I think to accurately answer this question, one must FIRST know the age of the ocean floor.....This would be the ORIGINAL DSB.

I'm NOT a fan of DR. Shimmek.....what kind of a tool publishes his findings BEFORE he discovers his mistake? In the REAL world, he'd be UNEMPLOYABLE!

SPC · 05-12-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Mine in my fuge is 5 years old and doing GREAT! I think to accurately answer this question, one must FIRST know the age of the ocean floor.....This would be the ORIGINAL DSB.

Which area of the ocean floor?

Steve

medicdiver · 05-12-2007, 04:02 PM

Not trying to highjack, but I have a fairly shallow sandbed (sand/ crushed coral mix). Can I just siphon it or change it all??? And wouldnt sand sifting critters help extend the life of your bed????? hope this helps the origional thread....