Deep sand bed dangers

[Surfdog]

I haven’t been here in a while as absolutely nothing new has been going on with my tanks (7 now) until yesterday. I made a fatal mistake that cost the lives of my garden eels and cuc.
Many of you are aware I run deep sand beds (DSB’s), fresh and salt water tanks alike. As a result I have between 0 and .05 nitrates at all times and only change the water every three months. I run no filters on my tanks, the DSB’s handle all the filtration and powerheads circulate the water. I do run a Vortex diatom filter periodically to polish my water; it filters at levels measured in microns. With that said there is one unbreakable rule running DSB’s, do not disturb the DSB. If you know anything about DSB’s, you know why.

While polishing the water in my SW Cube the diffuser came off the output end and power washed a hole to the bottom of the tank through the sand. It had been running an hour before I noticed but it was too late to rescue my charges, the damage had been done. Since the eels had retreated under the 5” sand bed, I immediately did a 95% water change, twice. It was too little too late. So now the tank will lie empty as the cycle was lost as well, something to do with the toxins released into the water column, my guess is sulphate’s.
I’ve posted this as a heads up to other folks who run DSB’s to keep their lives simpler as a warning and to always keep the number one rule in mind, don’t disturb the DSB!

[Slaphppy7]

Been wondering how you were...sorry your latest update is bad news.

My DSB in the 40B remains undisturbed for this very reason...but as in your case, accidents do happen.

Sorry to hear about this, bud.

[Cliff]

Tough luck Surfdog

Sounds like you had the DBS disturbed a lot a few inches in (and deeper) were you will get a build up of hydrogen sulfide (by product of a functioning DSB). Best to re-cure all the rock as well as you would have had some hydrogen sulfide absorbed into the rocks. It's a slim chance, but I would not risk it.

It is this exact reason why many people have taken to only using DSB in sumps were you can control/ensure it will not get disturbed and you can ensure your DSB CUC will remain intack maintaining it.

[RiversGirl]

I am so sorry to hear of your losses. Thank you for posting this accident as a warning to others.

[Surfdog]

Tough luck Surfdog

Sounds like you had the DBS disturbed a lot a few inches in (and deeper) were you will get a build up of hydrogen sulfide (by product of a functioning DSB). Best to re-cure all the rock as well as you would have had some hydrogen sulfide absorbed into the rocks. It's a slim chance, but I would not risk it.

It is this exact reason why many people have taken to only using DSB in sumps were you can control/ensure it will not get disturbed and you can ensure your DSB CUC will remain intack maintaining it.

It was a one off Cliff. They diffuser on the out now has a SS ring clamp on it, I really should have thought of this before. Oh well, live ‘n learn I suppose. As you are probably aware, with a DSB no sump is needed, that’s the whole point. Less equipment, less hassles, less water changes, that why you go DSB. I actually have to add fresh water to my salt setups as salinity rises with evaporation and I add products such as Tropic Marin weekly. I’m still at 3 months per water change and if I see too much mulm on top of my black sand, I gently fan the top of the sand with something flat to get it into the water column while running my 20 year old Vortex. That’s how this happened.

[Surfdog]

Thanks Rivers

[Surfdog]

The 24 gallon cube tank will remain empty for the next month. I will then test for phosphates, Nitrites, Nitrates, Ammonia etc. I have been soaking the live rock (all 55 pounds) in two 5 gallon pails filed with 1.030 salt water in the hope it will leach out undesirable' elements. I plan on treating this as a from scratch cycle adding a few drops of ammonia daily. I forgot to mention an upside, 2 snails actually got above the water line and are now busy on the walls of my moray tank as well as my Gorgonia, I have absolutely no idea how it survived!

[Slaphppy7]

Good deal!...glad to hear all was not lost

[Marty.h]

That is exactly why I never opted to run a DSB on my marine tank in my opinion they a wipeout waiting to happen and mistakes are easily made hope all sorts it's self :)

[Surfdog]

My first mishap in 2 years. Totally my fault for not securing the outflow diffuser, that’s been corrected with a stainless steal ring clamp so won’t happen again. I am so very careful if doing anything in any of my 6 DSB tanks, even when adding a plant to my planted 75, I use a very long pair of tweezers to push the plant into the sand. Minimal invasive is the trick and ive gotten good at it. If the vortex had not blown a hole clear to the bottom of the tank I am sure I could have overcome the toxins. I am still sold on them, no filters, no water changes is just win win to me.