DSB on reef tank. Help

[UofODuck]

I am moving and my 75 gallon tank has been up and running for 1 year plus. My sand bed looks horrible. Some kind of green algae that gets worse as the day goes by. When the light first comes on, its still there...but not as bad as later. I have done everything in the world to fix.

Since I am moving, I was thinking of putting new sand in. Any suggestions. I've heard DSBs are better to buffer. Suggestions. I was planning on doinga 2 stage move.

1. Drain water into to back up tank and place everything in it and 1/2 of sand. Dump the rest.
2. Clean the crap out of the operating tank.
3. Setup tank at new location and cycle new LR and DSB...adding the 1/2 sand at day 1.
4. Cylce for two weeks, then move the rest of my established LR and corals, fish, ect.

Is this a good plan? Any suggestions?

[graphixx]

are you using sand or crushed coral. Well I do not see why it wold not work. you are going to get some die off and you will have a spike but cycling for a couple of weeks should give it time to level off. I would mix the new and the old sand together. but I do not see why this would not work.

[UofODuck]

I was worried if I mix all of the old...that what ever green algae would spread to the new sand...but I guess I run the risk if I even mix a little...Would it be better to just start with new sand and let it cycle longer???

[UofODuck]

Should I have a DSB....or is 2" better?

[graphixx]

either way you will be fine. a deep sand bed gives you more biodiversity but you want to have at least 2 inches in your tank no matter what unless you go barebottom.

[jerryc]

Just my opinion and most of whit i read is 1'' to 1/2'' and vacuum regaler
this is just for looks.

For a good working bed you wont at least 3''+ up to 6''

[graphixx]

I would not go any shallower than 4 inches. the reason for this is to create low oxygen zones for your bacteria to detoxify.

[graphixx]

whoops posted before I could finish.

What a deep sand bed does if its deep enough and active is gives areas of low oxygen like stated above here the oxygen in the nitrate is used by bacteria and the nitrogen bubbles from our tank as simple nitrogen gas.

hope this helps

graphixx

[jerryc]

I would not go any shallower than 4 inches. the reason for this is to create low oxygen zones for your bacteria to detoxify.

Yep total agree the deeper the better i have 6 in my display the deeper it is the less possible problem's

[graphixx]

could not agree more, the deeper is also going to give you more areas of low oxygen and more surface area for nitrobacter , nitrosomas, nitrococus, nitrosospira. and the finer grain of sand the better it is recommended to do about the same grain size as sugar. its easier for the critters to sift and once again gives more surface area for your goodies to grow.