An observation about sand and fine sand

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Walter, I don't mean to point out the obvious, but your formula doesn't work for everyone. I sell tons of those gobies. I still see people with nutrient buildup issues because of their rock work, crappy skimmers, not enough flow, etc, etc, etc. Sure, they could improve these aspects, but that doesn't change the fact that they went for however long with crap advice and crap setups which led to the problem in the first place. How do you solve for x when x is years of sh1tty tank? Often, removing the sand and running it BB for a few water change cycles is the easiest and most effective option.

Well, sorry to disagree with you, Albert. But I have had gobies, and not had gobies. When I had a goby (Orange Spot Sleeper), never (and I mean never, ever) had algae on my sand, and it always looked pristine white. When I didn't have a goby, in a short time, the sand would lose its pristine color (more brown at first) and eventually algae (the aggressive green stuff would start in). I could keep it clean with vacuuming, but that was extra work that just wasn't required with a goby.

Of course, a Goby is not majic, and does not get rid of your P04 and N03. You need GFO and biopellets for that (or some other equivalent regime). But even with zero P04 and zero N03, and no goby, my sand would still look like crap, unless I vacuumed it.

Nothing against BB tanks as such, but for those who prefer sand, there are ways to keep it clean and pristine looking, without a lot of work, ie get the goby.

And conversely to what you said, Albert, BB does not magically solve your other water issues either. You still need a good skimmer, good flow, and a regime to get rid of your phosphates and nitrates.

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Well, sorry to disagree with you, Albert. But I have had gobies, and not had gobies. When I had a goby (Orange Spot Sleeper), never (and I mean never, ever) had algae on my sand, and it always looked pristine white. When I didn't have a goby, in a short time, the sand would lose its pristine color (more brown at first) and eventually algae (the aggressive green stuff would start in). I could keep it clean with vacuuming, but that was extra work that just wasn't required with a goby.

Of course, a Goby is not majic, and does not get rid of your P04 and N03. You need GFO and biopellets for that (or some other equivalent regime). But even with zero P04 and zero N03, and no goby, my sand would still look like crap, unless I vacuumed it.

Nothing against BB tanks as such, but for those who prefer sand, there are ways to keep it clean and pristine looking, without a lot of work, ie get the goby.

And conversely to what you said, Albert, BB does not magically solve your other water issues either. You still need a good skimmer, good flow, and a regime to get rid of your phosphates and nitrates.

I'm... not advocating BB. Thomas said that. The argument was to remove sh1tty sand from your tank when you have problems.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

I'm... not advocating BB. Thomas said that. The argument was to remove sh1tty sand from your tank when you have problems.

Well, that can help, for sure, and same goes for old live rock. But you'll still have problems unless you get your water right, starting with proper test kits.

And I know there is more than one way to get it right, so not arguing that removing sand or going BB is wrong. But it is not the only way, that's for sure. And easy and quick is not always the best solution in the long run.