Is Hard Gravel a Problem?

[Guest dleicester]

I have an established 90 gallon tank with a healthy clean up crew doing most of my cleaning. As a result, I don't stir up the crushed coral/sand gravel or vacuum out the decay that gets buried. (I've been told stirring up the gravel can cause more harm than good). As a result my gravel is actually brittle now and whenever I move something around on the base I have to break loose the gravel to shift items. Is this condition a problem? (For example, can a sand sifting starfish deal with this?)

 

Looking for advice.

 

Thanks,

dleicester

[flowerseller]

I believe it should be stired in sections occasionally. I have a "T" like implement just for this purpose.

A gentle twist is all it takes.

If you use kalk and a 2 part solution, you can be assured this will be your outcome.

[Rascal]

Could be a problem.

 

Fusing substrate can be caused by either bacterial clumping or calcium/alkalinity imbalance and/or ph spikes. Take a clump out and soak it in bleach for 30 min. If it falls apart, it is bacterial. If not, the cause is chemical - either from PH spikes (usually from kalkwasser) or excessive ca & alk.

 

Be wary of sand-sifting stars -- they are reported to be more carnivorous than detrivorous, which means they eat the things you want in your sandbed. Better IMO are nassarius snails, cucumbers, and lots of worms and pods.

[fab]

Disturbing the sand is a well recognized way of feeding corals. Many publications address this; e.g., Calfo.

fab