Refugium maintenance

My fuge has been running for ~ 1-1/2 year now, every 6 months I try to vacuum up all the junk without disturbing the 6" DSB, which is not easy. I know there is lots of detrius in it that I don't get out. I have lots of pods, bristle stars, worms and other critters in there. Recently I could see the sand changing color an inch or so below the surface. Not sure if I need to worry about it, my Nitrate and Phosphate reads 0, however I don't want to wait for it to become a problem....Is it recommended to replace the 6" sandbed at some point? (I'll take a few handful to seed the new sand)

 

it may be possible to try some starfish or possibly a type of conch... they will not clean 100% but will help a great deal in reducing detrus

 

Is the sand turining black?, It could be hydrogen sulfide.....in which case I don't think its a good idea to mess with it.

 

I was just thinking about this as I'm just starting the planning phase of changing my wet/dry into a refugium (removing bioballs and subdividing the filter more). I was going to use a DSB my refugium. So, I take from this thread, you don't want to siphon DSBs? In that case I may install a good mechanical filter before it.

And black sand is a sure-fire sign of hydrogen sulfide. It is the result of too much organic matter making it into the sand.

 

It's not really black, but discolored, kinda brownish...I'll try to get a pic tomorrow. I just notice when I move my hugh ball of cheato around in the fuge it sturrs up a lot of junk that's just sitting on the surface of the DSB. There are lots of small bristls stars and worms in the fuge (and lots of pods) but I don't have any crabs or snails in there, maybe its time I add some? if so what type of snails?

 

By the sounds of it I would leave it alone, it's doing exactly what it's supposed to.

 

brown? maybe a dark red like cyano? fuges look nasty they are just doing their job.

 

I've never cleaned a fuge in my life I have one now in Va and its been on line since 94 or so and its never been touched other then to toss out algae all that muck on the bottom is food for something .. Maybe why you have such a large number of sand fauna ? And for what its worth never ever never mess with a DSB . Bust that cap and you will have a tempest in a tea pot. Just take out grass as nedeed and let it be. Its free advice take it for what its worth .

 

I tested my water again today and everything seem OK so I'll just let it be....here's a pic of what I was trying to describe, haven't cleaned my sump in a while so the glass is kinda messy.

 

LOL yours looks better then some planted tanks I have ran or seen in my time Hell you can't even see into my refugoim I'll see if I can get a photo to post of it later on..