How often do you replace your sandbed??

[thebulkhimself]

How often do you replace your substrate???

[Geoff]

i had to replace the DSB in my sump after about a year and a half. at about the 2 year mark i just got rid of the DSB in the display because it was being a pain. it could have gone another year or so. the added flow in the display kept it going quite well.

G~

[Hop]

Many different phylosophies here to nail it down. There are so many variables it makes my head spin

I like a bare bottom theory, but hate the looks of it! SO I use about 2" of sand and clean it regularly. I suck diatris out sometimes, somtimes I suck sand out. Sometimes I use a cannister filter to suck stuff out. Sometimes I suck a bunch of sand and diatris, poor the crud out and then put the sand back in the tank. Somtime, I pull a bunch out and replace it. I never do the whole tank at once and try to break the tank into three sections. For a smaller tank, I would probably do two.

It's extra work doing things this way, but I like a natural look and I like sand critters

I keep thinking of a couple tanks I know that used sand and quality flow principals and are very healthy. One of my favorite tanks of all time has a DSB and is going on it's 11th year. I wish I knew what he was doing right

[Tim224DT]

What sand?? hehee





ok last time i posted what sand someone posted a picture of my 10gallon with a 5" sand bed. But my 72 gallon is BB. i would say replace the sandbed when you strat to have problems. Why touch it before then IMO?

[motorslave]

BB so never! BUT..my next build (had to stop yet another build due to a pending move..again) will incorporate a SB. But it will not be like anythiong anyone has seen!

[fish.freak]

Never !!! Ha ha, but really never since it hasn't crashed yet, but sooner or later we'll see, but I keep adding more sand.

[toniell]

Secrets eh, I'm interested now.

Originally Posted by motorslave

BB so never! BUT..my next build (had to stop yet another build due to a pending move..again) will incorporate a SB. But it will not be like anythiong anyone has seen!

[fish.freak]

Originally Posted by toniell

Secrets eh, I'm interested now.

dont get your hopes up Motorslave is a tease

[motorslave]

Originally Posted by fish.freak

dont get your hopes up Motorslave is a tease

True, but not by choice. This is the second time Ive had to stop a build. Jobs, what a pain!
But back on subject, as said above I think it would be a tank by tank asis as for how often they are changed. Tons of variables.

[tabz]

with a BB tank never

[Loverotties]

Not yet so never.

[YLChik]

i started haveing problems with my tank after about 8 months. I had a mid sized grain sand i now have 3ish inches in my tank of fine grain. My tank is about a year and 2 months old.

[Sndwave80]

Never!

[Sndwave80]

I do have a thin sand bed (1-1.5") with a great clean up crew so...

[Twitterbait]

BB... I don need no stinkin sand...