Sand in fuge clumping

[STEVE]

What would make the sand in my fuge, about 3-4 inches deep and the 1/2 to 3/4 inches in the DT "clump" together? It doesnt get distrubed...at all, I didnt think it should in the fuge, the DT yes, I thought the sand sifters would keep it loose, but they are not???

[steveoutlaw]

Are you sure you didn't use kitty litter?

[zygote2k]

why are you disturbing it? leave it alone.

[Alieu07]

What would make the sand in my fuge, about 3-4 inches deep and the 1/2 to 3/4 inches in the DT "clump" together? It doesnt get distrubed...at all, I didnt think it should in the fuge, the DT yes, I thought the sand sifters would keep it loose, but they are not???

Yeah same problem with my DT. I need to know why too. Mostly at the front part.

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

My cat left a treat in my sand when we were transferring the tanks to the 210... We found it after putting half the sand back into the display. Imagine putting that floater into the tank and being like "what the..."

 

But I can't help with your clumping issue sorry man.

[STEVE]

bump...????

[surf&turf]

No one is really sure why, high ph, Kalk, calcium reactors, are all suspect but no one really knows.

Edited May 5, 2012 by surf&turf

[davelin315]

Clumping is typically the result of the sand cementing together through either the introduction of calcium precipitate or low pH melting it down and then allowing it to fuse together again. It can also be caused by bacteria but this is typically when it's softer and falls apart when you squeeze it. If it's solid chunks, you're basically forming sedimentary rock!

[STEVE]

So....not to worry about it? Or just keep it stirred up loose manually in the DT and the fuge? Not really doing anything if it's a solid brick, correct?

 

 

 

[STEVE]

PH 7.9-8.2

Calc 460

Alk 9.8

Not using a Calc Reactor. Just seems like I get detritus down there and I was trying to clean it when I noticed it was clumped/fused together... I broke it up by hand. The fuge is really bad.

[Coral Hind]

I just remembered this article. It's old but still a good one to explain your problem. Basically, when new sand is not properly covered with a bio-film it will clump up in a new system. Read the link and see if that makes since. I would slowly stir up small sections of sand bed to break it back up and allow it to get coated with a bio-film.

 

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/sandbed_cementing.html

[Origami]

Another thought that I've read about is that the bacteria in the biofilm create a very localized area of acid around the sand particles. This partially dissolves the sand at the surface of the grain, only to precipitate back out. With the grains as close as they are, the sand eventually clumps, becoming like rock.