My 105g mixed reef is approaching 6.5 years since establishment. Wow, time really flies. It needs a serious going-over, including the sandbed. Over the years the sand has been reduced gradually through removal during cleaning/water changes and possibly low pH in the past. After reading a lot of posts by members, I am hoping to clean the remaining sand and add additional sand. I intend to keep a sandbed because I like it, want students to see sand, and keep some sand dwellers.
Over the years I have done many (but not nearly enough!) water changes by blasting top layer of sand with turkey baster and removing water with 1" or so tubing. The sand always has detritus or silt, especially in hard to reach areas. I have not been diligent with cleaning it! I have never had many fish but we have fed corals and nems with plankton and meaty bits. I would like to start stocking fish soon. I was shocked to discover the sand is less than 1" deep in some areas! I have to check, but it might be 2-3" in other areas.
Think it is safe to disturb and siphon clean the sand since it is not deep, then start adding additional sand weekly through a tube?
Should I concentrate on small areas at a time with the cleaning and new sand? Or clean everywhere first, then gradually add thin layers of sand everywhere?
Over the years I have done many (but not nearly enough!) water changes by blasting top layer of sand with turkey baster and removing water with 1" or so tubing. The sand always has detritus or silt, especially in hard to reach areas. I have not been diligent with cleaning it! I have never had many fish but we have fed corals and nems with plankton and meaty bits. I would like to start stocking fish soon. I was shocked to discover the sand is less than 1" deep in some areas! I have to check, but it might be 2-3" in other areas.
Think it is safe to disturb and siphon clean the sand since it is not deep, then start adding additional sand weekly through a tube?
Should I concentrate on small areas at a time with the cleaning and new sand? Or clean everywhere first, then gradually add thin layers of sand everywhere?