How often do you replace your sandbed??

[WilyGuy]

Plenum. Don't disturb....

My tank has been running for about 2.5 now.

Occasionally I'll sift off the top .5 inch and replace, but only for the pretty white color.

[pastina]

how do you know when the sand goes bad??
my 15 gallon mini reef has about 4" of sand with tons of worms and critters still alive in it.
the sand is about a year old or so

do things just start dying off? including the fish?
i have noticed an increase in nitrates the past few months, around 20ppm

all i know is that if i have to replace it i might as well just do it BB

[Geoff]

the biggest indicator is algae starting to grow where the sand bed meets the LR. those lower flow areas at these junctions first start growing algae.

another indicator is corals dieing off that their basses. this is more easily seen with SPS than the other corals.

a lack of coralline growth on the LR wth lots of algae growth can also be an indicator that the LR is now full of phosphates and should be cooked.

G~

[pastina]

ooo ok thnx

im algae free so i must still be good

[Deuter]

correct me if I'm wrong but it is my understanding that when you have snails and sand shifter critters that stir up the sand over time, the sand bed is less likely to be dangerous down the road for the animals in the tank? just currious