I guess I was Bare Bottomed.

Well I made quite the discovery when I tore my LR apart to net out my Coral Beauty. My sand bed is one solid chunk! Or few large solid chunks. It is only 8 month old but in some places is as hard as concrete. Might be let one more factor helping my hair algae along. A sandbed that isn't working, at least I know where all that kalk and b-ionics went. What do you guy think I should do with the sandbed?

 

THat happens a bit to me too.

Can you break it up or replace the chunks?

I take a 'hands on' approach with my sandbed - literally. Everytime I clean the glass or do a water change, I run my fingers through parts of my sand. Sometimes I use my scraper handle.

When I come across chunks, I break them up.

I don't want to give the impression that I go completely wild on my sand, but I do hit the spots that I know from experience that tend to clump up.

 

due to your title i started thinking dirty thoughts: . what usually works for me is i use a plastic chopstick (i have them lying around because i love to cook thai food, you can find at your local asian grocery). every time i do a water change i gently move the sand around using the chopstick...gives you sort of a zen-like feeling too .

 

I was following the sandbed theory that states "leaves it alone and let the infauna work it" so I didn't stir it for over 8 months. The really hard clumps I could pick up a 8" clump of sand intact. So I think I might have to replace the whole bed.

 

Yeah I guess I don't subscribe to that theory. I still have plenty of bugs. I picked up some nass. snails too.

What diameter (mm) sand are you using?

 

I think it is mostily agra-live. I believe that it is 2-3mm. I might go with some larger stuff next time since my turnover is 40X. I have posted before "my turnover is 40 and my sand doesn't blow anywhere". I guess I know why.

 

Here is thread on RC I asked about it.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=6817255#post6817255
3reef wins again we got thru 6 post here with out any name calling.

 

heh. nice.
It's interesting to me that Randy said in his experience it seems to happen with new sand and maybe low magnesium - two things I had going for me recently.