Doing water changes wrong?

[Chrissy]

I was told by my LFS that I am doing my water changes wrong!

I use a siphon an push it into the bottom sediment to make it clean, the LFS said that will result in the growth of bad bacteria.

Is this true? And what will this bad bacteria do? How else to you clean the bottom sediment?

I have been doing this every week for the last 4 months and have not seen anything bad happen.

[Steve McKay]

What kind of substrate do you have sand or crushed coral?

[Chrissy]

Aragonite

[Steve McKay]

Is this aragonite,sand or crushed coral?

[Chrissy]

It is suppose to be sand but the pieces seem larger than what I would call sand.

[Steve McKay]

Is the size similar to freshwater gravel?Did the bag say Florida crushed coral?

[Chrissy]

The pieces are much smaller than fresh water gravel, larger than you typical sand box sand. I don't remember what was on the bag but I can check the LFS where I purchased it.

[Chrissy]

I added a image in my folder, my tank is a bow and I have not figured out to take a good picture yet, but you can kind of see my substrate

[Steve McKay]

I'll assume it is sand,you don't clean (siphon) sand.If you have enough circulation and a good skimmer most of the detritus will be exported via the skimmer.As far as cleaning the sand directly that's what a cleanup crew is for,a cleanup crew consists of different kinds of snails,hermit crabs,brittle stars,shrimp and other inverts.I personally won't have hermit crabs because they will kill snails for food or for their shells.Snails and brittle stars are most likely the most important.Don't believe to much the LFS tells you,find out if the info is correct before acting on it.

[Steve McKay]

Your setup looks nice,but I have some bad news.It looks like you have crushed coral.How long has your tank been setup and how big is it.?

[Chrissy]

I do have 1 snail I believe it is a turbo snail, a red star fish cant remember the name, a cleaner shrimp and a couple of hermit crabs, should I add more for a 46 gallon tank? It has been set up for about 4 months, 1 batttle with Ick ok now, currently having an issue with red algy almost cleared that up with RO water changes.

ph 8.2
Phosphates 0.0
Nitrate 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
ammonia 0.0
Salinity 1.025
Temp 75.2
Hardness 8
Calcium 380
mag 1350

[Steve McKay]

How long has your tank been setup?

[Chrissy]

4 Months

[Steve McKay]

What kind of filter do you have?Do you have a sump or refugium?

[Chrissy]

Sump I dont have room for a refugium, I have Aqua-c skimmer and 3 power heads

[Steve McKay]

Since you have crushed coral,I would continue to do what you have been doing.Hopefully you will be fine.

[Chrissy]

Is there a way I can switch over? And if things go bad what will happen?

[Doodaa]

If you have crushed coral, then vacuuming it is the best thing...just as you are doing.

[Doodaa]

Is there a way I can switch over? And if things go bad what will happen?

The only way to switch over is to remove all the crushed coral and replace it with fine sand...a time consuming job, but worthwhile I'd say. Take a lot of time now to replace a little bit here and there. You don't have to and shouldn't vacuum sand...just leave it be and the bacteria that your LFS was referring to will take care of some organics for you.

[Chrissy]

Will changing over to sand make the tank cycle again?