Adopting a used SW tank

[Myka]

Originally Posted by jus68

I think I have too much live rock... could I get some opinions pls?

Also, when I change the water, can I syphon the sand and stir it up or not?

Here's your pic:


I think you have a bit too much rock. If I were you I would try to make the rock more spacious on the left side with more caves, and less rocks. I don't like the rocks come so close to the glass in the middle. I like to try to keep a good open swimming area for fish in the front by keeping the rocks towards the back. It looks great on the right side.

You can siphon off the detritus from the surface of the sand, but you don't gravel vac it. You can stir your sandbed up ONLY if you do it regularly, and don't do the whole thing all the time. I gently drag a piece of bamboo through 1/3 of my sand on each waterchange. I only do the front of the tank where the sand is viewable. I don't stir it up really, just enough to keep the surface nice and white, and I only stir up the top 1/2". If you don't do it regularly (at least once every couple weeks) then you will get anaerobic areas which are good, and you need them for denitration which is why you shouldn't do the entire sandbed. If these anaerobic areas are stirred they will release toxic compounds and gases into your tank which can lead to a tank crash.

So, to sum it up...if you do stir it up, do it regularly, only stir the surface, and don't stir the entire sandbed. OR don't do it at all.

[Marlin65]

There is not enough sand in the tank for it to become anaerobic. You need 3" minimum for it to work for your NO3 reduction any less keep it at 1/2"

[jus68]

Thanks for everybody's inputs... greatly appreciated..

Another dire question I have is, could someone please ID the brown stuff on the rock.. I don't think its hair algae but I'm uncertain whether if its good for my tank..

Thank you so much in advance..

[Myka]

Here's your pic:


Put [img] at the beginning of the URL to your photo and [/img] at the end of the URL to post the pic directly in the thread.

I can't tell what brown stuff you're talking about...? I see reddish stuff and white stuff...?

[jus68]

ok let's give this picture a shot



Its the white branchy stuff on the red..

[jus68]

one more time



sweet.. sorry for the extra post... practice makes perfect..

again.. i'm not sure if the white branchy stuff are good for my tank or should I wipe them off my rocks?

Thanks!!