sand sifters

[Anonymous]

Purchased from the store? Some people have and issue with that because they say that some distilled water has copper in it from the lines.

You can actually get a decent ro system pretty cheap. I got mine used, but I've seen some great recommendations around here. You don't need to buy the whole ro/di at once. One is much more expensive than the other (I think the di part) - start with the cheaper one and see what happens.

 

[SPC]

Bill, the problem with city water is you never know what you are getting from day to day. Some systems are high in phosphate, silicate, nitrate etc... which of course can all lead to algae. Also food can contribute alot to the phosphates in ones tank. If it were me I would look into a 4 or 5 stage RO/DI unit, the prices on some are quite resonable, you can also use it as an excuse to give your family good healthy drinking water.

Steve

 

[2poor2reef]

If you can't cure the source and it does turn out to be diatoms then consider a queen conch (strombus gigas). Diatoms are their primary food, but it will also eat other algaes abd mine are probably the most effective maintenance critter I keep.

 

[lionfish1]

Sand sifting stars, one willo do just fine for you, I have one in my 110gal and he is all over the place moving under the sand comming out once in a while to say hello and dig himself under in no time, and cucumers are good also, have one of those also, but the star is a real good worker,keeps the sand bed nice and stired, cya.

 

[lionfish1]

and get youreself an RO/DI unit, if you reef you need one, these are delicate animals we are talking about, not like us meat eating humans, I use a AquaFX Baracuda 4 stage unit, gives me the cleanest water possible, I live in new york the best water in the country and thesre is still crap in the water, nyc water ppm=48, poland spring ppm=38, RO/DI 4 stage ppm=000, ppm stands for parts per million, cya and good luck.

 

[2poor2reef]

If you want to keep any life in your sand bed don't get a sand sifting star. In a 75g it will clean you out eventually. He already has a pink and black cuke. I envy your tap water. Mine comes out at close to 700 ppm prior to ro/di. Even filtered through a four stage only gets me to 10ppm.

 

[Anonymous]

ppm of what, Lion? Crap?

 

[lionfish1]

tangirl ppm of crap, yes crap.

 

[wpe68]

Can anyone recommend some good sand sifters. I have a 75g tank in need of some algae inverts, both for the glass and sand....can you please help...thank you!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

nassarius snails, tiger tail cukes, and worms, worms and more worms.

Try a search on sand sifting or sand sifters here.

Where in NY are you, Bill?

 

[wpe68]

thanks....i have a few snails but apparently not enough and a p & b cuke....

I am down on LI....you?

 

[Anonymous]

Up by Albany.

The nassarius snails live in the sand bed and are excellent scavengers. Check out the "critique my set-up" (or something like that) thread - we were just talking about this.

 

[Anonymous]

What problem are you having and how long has your tank been set up? Tell us all about it...

 

[wpe68]

the tank has been set up for about 10 months....Its 75g with about 110 lbs of live rock providing the filtration...no bio-balls....a precision mechanics skimmer. Also, PC's producing about 5.3 watts per gllon. All levels appear to be great.

I have a torch, a leather, blue, brown, green mushrooms, star polyps, a fox coral, green carpet anenome...

The problem I am having is that I constantly have brown algae growing all over the sand and glass....it will appear one day after maint.

Tried water changes, syphoning the bed...and am becoming very frustrated...

Sorry if something doesn't make sense, I'm still a newbie...

 

[afss]

are you using R/O water? Sounds like diatomes to me. Indication of to much organics etc i think. I also believe I have heard that they can be caused by using silica sand, though not sure on that.
Scott
_________________
Ferrari 212 Export

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by afss:
<strong>I also believe I have heard that they can be caused by using silica sand, though not sure on that.
Scott</strong><hr></blockquote>

That was a huge debate when Southdown was the talk of the Boards...

 

[wpe68]

thanks scott..will water changes with distilled water help me out there?.....no r/o .....