new sand bed

[nate21887]

So I just replaced the sand bed in the nano, should I get a diatom bloom with the new? How long should I wait before stocking up with some sand sifters?

[chromiumlux]

Is it all you replaced was the sand? what about rock? What all is in the tank now?

[nate21887]

Just the sand bed Andy, live rock and everything else is original

[aquatic mouse]

I would think you might get a small bloom.

[marinelife]

I agree a small bloom may happen.

[nate21887]

Thanks guys, I thought I might. So should I wait to add some snails to the sand until this passes or would they help?

[marinelife]

Nothing in the sand for snails to eat right now so I would not worry about it

[nate21887]

How long should I wait to add them?

[marinelife]

6 months or so

[nate21887]

That is longer than I expected lol

[chromiumlux]

If you are using original rock you should get a small cycle. I agree with everyone else that you may want to wait til the cycle is over to add critters otherwise you will have to feed them. Conchs are good for diatom blooms on the sand. I would say one for your size tank.

[nate21887]

Oh I never considered a conch but assuming I can find one this weekend I'm gonna pick one up.

[chromiumlux]

Conchs usually eat the diatoms and algaes off the sand particles. You may want to wait a bit before adding one.

[nate21887]

I have a pretty fair amount of diatoms on the one side of the tank but don't wanna risk losing him.

[chromiumlux]

I would think as long as your water parameters are good you would not have a problem keeping one with the presence of diatoms. I noticed on your "Reborn" thread that you have fish, so you may be ok.

[nate21887]

When I do get one, should I look for a bumblebee conch or is their a better nano appropriate one?

[chromiumlux]

Just a regular "fighting conch" as they are called.

http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=02-2416-10&Category=Coral And Invertebrates:Snails&SortBy=Price

[nate21887]

Thanks for the link Andy. Says they eat quite a bit, think one alone in the nano would be enough for the whole job or still throw in some nassarius snails as well?

[chromiumlux]

Nassurius snails later. One conch for your tank.

[nate21887]

Gotcha...I will wait on them...I know there is at least 2 of them in there already. They come out for feeding time. Just gonna need more later, I dumped 40 lbs of sand in there, plenty to go around.

[chromiumlux]

Yeah, with two nassurius in there already you would be good for a while. Add the conch and see how that works out for you. Add nassurius snails only a couple at a time as your tank matures. I would suggest a mix of both the nassurius vibex which are small and the nassurius tonga which are larger.

[nate21887]

Alright man, I'm convinced! It will just be a work in progress as is everything else with these tanks