lando
Aquarium Advice Addict
Lang, Welcome to AquariumAdvice.com!!!
I suggest you invest in a good book on SW tanks. I like "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner.
CC is not really bad, but as you know it just takes more maintenance. LS is a better choice in that regard. In order to get the true benefits of an actual DSB it needs to be about 6inches in depth. Most people have sand beds of 2-4inches.First off I guess the general concensus is that CC is not the way to go and that a DSB is better
Yes, do not syphon the sand bed.if I try to syphon the sand it will get sucked up the tube and through my PYTHON into my drain?
Snails, reef hermit crabs, sand-sifting stars, etc...It is my understanding that I should buy some small 'critters' to clean my sand for me.
This is actually more a product of having excess nutrients in the water rather then lighting. PO4 and NO3 are common contributors to diatoms and cynobacteria algea that accumulate on the substrate. This is more likely the cause of your previous troubles. However, too long of lighting schedules, direct sunlight and old bulbs can also be a contributing factor.I don't want to have to worry about everything looking dirty in a week because the bright lights are creating too much algea and brown crap on the sand.
LR is simply the best biological filter media available. It works by being an environment for beneficial bacteria to grow. This bacteria keeps water parameters in normal limits. there is no substitution for regular water changes.I didn't have any LR in my set-up before but I guess I should put some in this time around. What does this LR do and will it mean that I won't have to do very many water changes any more?
I hope you are planning a multi-hundred gal. tank. These are difficult animals to keep and require A LOT of free swimming space and a soft and sand substrate to burrow in. Just not a good choice for the home tank.My plan is to eventually get 1 or 2 blue spotted stingrays.
I suggest you invest in a good book on SW tanks. I like "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner.