Should I clean the substrate?

[hgsports]

Maybe a stupid question, but when doing a tank change in a reef tank with crushed coral substrate, should I "clean" the gravel?

I'm concerned about sucking up detrivores and the like that have developed in the substrate....


John

 

[Anonymous]

No.

If you want to keep any possible life in the substrate alive do NOT clean it. There should be no reason to anyway.

 

[hgsports]

Thanks Tom.

That's what I was concerned about. I'm on month 5 of my first reef tank and to this point I havent done a tank change. My Nitrate has been virtually non-existant so I've never seen the need.

I have finally started to build up a little phosphate (my guess is that I'm over feeding a bit... I cant help myself!

) so I was thinking it was about due for a water change. That brought up the question of cleaning the substrate....

John

 

[Buck]

In fact, in my experience, radical distrubence of the substrate will release a lot of the "bad" stuff being generated and used by the "good" guys living there. Best to leave it alone - it is doing a good job for you!

 

[Mouse]

Ill agree with the last two replys on this post but its still crushed coral. Id remove it and replace it with a 4" DSB of Oolitic Aragonite sand. Do a search and see how many others have done this.