Keeping Gravel Clean

Bigred0942 · 07-27-2008, 09:08 PM

I am looking for recomendations on keeping my gravel clean. My tank is a year old, and is cylced (also 55 gallons). I currently have 75 or more hermit crabs, 75 or more snails, a brittle sea star. My gravel gets grimmy after only a week. I want to vacume the gravel every week. Im looking for seggestions on how to keep the gravel cleaner for longer.

Thank You

**Ninong** · 07-27-2008, 09:40 PM

What do you mean by "gravel?" Is your substrate crushed coral or fine particle aragonite sand? What is the approximate depth of your substrate?

SomeHairyOldGuy · 07-28-2008, 01:34 AM

sounds like you have the clean up crew covered for sure. cucmber could be an addition. i agreee need to know what yuor substrate is made of though.

mine is @ 4" crushed coral and is always a little brownish white. which is normal. the stars, cucs and crabs keep it stirred healthy.

SHOG

Bigred0942 · 07-28-2008, 03:21 PM

I have about 2"-2.5" of agaronite as my gravel.

**Ninong** · 07-28-2008, 03:54 PM

There are two different approaches to this topic and you will get two entirely different answers depending on whom you ask.

In my 120-gal tank, I had a 6" deep sand bed composed of fine particle aragonite sand. I seeded it during the first five or six months with approximately $600 worth of "critters" and "live sand" from five different vendors. To say that it was extremely lively would be an understatement. My approach was based on the advice put forth by Dr. Ron Shimek here, here and here and Dr. Rob Toonen here and here. Both Shimek and Toonen recommend that the sand bed be left undisturbed by the aquarist. Janitorial chores and bioturbation will be accomplished by the animals that inhabit the sand bed.

The other approach, the one employed by most LFS employees, is that the sand bed should be vac'ed weekly and deeply. Their sand beds are virtually lifeless.

Bigred0942 · 07-29-2008, 10:34 PM

So you think I should 'go live' by adding some live sand???

**Ninong** · 07-29-2008, 11:15 PM

These are personal decisions. I favor live sand beds. Read the various articles and see what you think.

SomeHairyOldGuy · 07-31-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigred0942

So you think I should 'go live' by adding some live sand???

live is less maintenance on the whole tank. live is better for the tank too imo.

**Ninong** · 07-31-2008, 01:59 PM

Also, if you read Dr. Shimek's articles, you will realize that "going live" involves more than just "adding some live sand."

07-27-2008, 09:08 PM	#1
Bigred0942 Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 18	Keeping Gravel Clean I am looking for recomendations on keeping my gravel clean. My tank is a year old, and is cylced (also 55 gallons). I currently have 75 or more hermit crabs, 75 or more snails, a brittle sea star. My gravel gets grimmy after only a week. I want to vacume the gravel every week. Im looking for seggestions on how to keep the gravel cleaner for longer. Thank You

07-27-2008, 09:40 PM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean What do you mean by "gravel?" Is your substrate crushed coral or fine particle aragonite sand? What is the approximate depth of your substrate? __________________ Ninong

07-28-2008, 01:34 AM	#3
SomeHairyOldGuy Mayor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: OU Posts: 736	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean sounds like you have the clean up crew covered for sure. cucmber could be an addition. i agreee need to know what yuor substrate is made of though. mine is @ 4" crushed coral and is always a little brownish white. which is normal. the stars, cucs and crabs keep it stirred healthy. SHOG __________________ BOOMER SOONER!!!!

07-28-2008, 03:21 PM	#4
Bigred0942 Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 18	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean I have about 2"-2.5" of agaronite as my gravel.

07-28-2008, 03:54 PM	#5
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean There are two different approaches to this topic and you will get two entirely different answers depending on whom you ask. In my 120-gal tank, I had a 6" deep sand bed composed of fine particle aragonite sand. I seeded it during the first five or six months with approximately $600 worth of "critters" and "live sand" from five different vendors. To say that it was extremely lively would be an understatement. My approach was based on the advice put forth by Dr. Ron Shimek here, here and here and Dr. Rob Toonen here and here. Both Shimek and Toonen recommend that the sand bed be left undisturbed by the aquarist. Janitorial chores and bioturbation will be accomplished by the animals that inhabit the sand bed. The other approach, the one employed by most LFS employees, is that the sand bed should be vac'ed weekly and deeply. Their sand beds are virtually lifeless. __________________ Ninong

07-29-2008, 10:34 PM	#6
Bigred0942 Just Moved In Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 18	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean So you think I should 'go live' by adding some live sand???

07-29-2008, 11:15 PM	#7
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean These are personal decisions. I favor live sand beds. Read the various articles and see what you think. __________________ Ninong

07-31-2008, 01:59 PM	#9
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	Re: Keeping Gravel Clean Also, if you read Dr. Shimek's articles, you will realize that "going live" involves more than just "adding some live sand." __________________ Ninong

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