Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Dear Bob:
I purchased and read your Sand Secrets books last night, however, my local aquarium expert suggests that live sand will dissolve over time? And as such, he claims he has added approximately 60 to 70 lbs. of sand to his Jaubert/NNR system over a period of 4 years. He also told me that if I put the screen between the anoxic sand layer and the upper sand layer that due to sand dissolving this screen will eventually work its way to the bottom, resting on the screen on the eggcrate and I will eventually have to redo this part? (he did not put the screen in at all, however, I do understand why it is needed though from your book). He also claimed that if the sand is not cleaned on a regular basis that it would release hydrogen sulfide and toxic gasses that killed the first two to three sets of fish he put in the tank! This cannot really be so from what I read in your book - can it? This does not sound right to me. I am doing a 90 gallon and am on my way to Lowes to purchase the eggcrate, etc., to get the plenum going.
I found your web-site (www.saltcorner.com) very informative and helpful.
Thanks,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your letter and have often heard some of these statements. As for sand dissolving, it occurs in any type aquarium, especially if it's an aragonite material. That's why it was used in the first place! I've added new sand to all of my past plenum systems, and that of client tanks. And that usually happened about twice a year where some new sand was funneled through a length of PVC pipe to several areas and raked smooth with a long handled homemade acrylic rake.
As for the dividing screen getting close to the bottom grid, I guess you could say that sounds quite logical, however, I don't know of it happening, even in systems that are now eight years old. It seems like the majority of the sand dissolves in the upper layers. Yet, could be in thirty years the dividing screen might be much closer to the grid screen. But redoing the aquarium would not be needed because a couple of screen layers on top of the grid is not going to cause a situation where the aquarium would have to be torn down. That's alarmist thinking. And more and more people are leaving the dividing screen out unless they plan on putting many digging animals in the system.
The hydrogen sulfide thought is ridiculous! In fact, plenum systems have less than what other type beds have because of its greater oxygen content. What killed his fishes certainly was not hydrogen sulfide! However, as stated in my booklet, sand should be vacuumed monthly as it's just a part of good housekeeping. Would you never dust your home?
Glad you liked the website, as I have put much effort into it to help all hobbyists.
Hope this helps,
Bob
