HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone,

I was doing a clean today, all my crabs are up so I went looking for buried shells, and on a whim went down to the bottom: aaaannnd it's flooded. Between 1.5 and 2 inches (in an average of 13-inch-deep substrate.)

It does not smell super gross - kind of musty - so I don't think I have a bacterial bloom. Should I replace the sand entirely anyway?

Then it seems like most people advise against a false bottom, but what's the opinion on gravel or growstones as a thin bottom layer? Or any other suggestion?

And, finally, if I do replace the sub... what do I do with all the old stuff?? XD

Thanks all!

kamiraptor wrote:Hi everyone,

I was doing a clean today, all my crabs are up so I went looking for buried shells, and on a whim went down to the bottom: aaaannnd it's flooded. Between 1.5 and 2 inches (in an average of 13-inch-deep substrate.)

It does not smell super gross - kind of musty - so I don't think I have a bacterial bloom. Should I replace the sand entirely anyway?

Then it seems like most people advise against a false bottom, but what's the opinion on gravel or growstones as a thin bottom layer? Or any other suggestion?

And, finally, if I do replace the sub... what do I do with all the old stuff?? XD

Thanks all!

Following

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You could replace it with new substrate.

Some like to reuse it, particularly if it hasnt had the chance for bacteria to develop - drying it out in the oven for example would work - or adding a coconut fibre brick in dry and allowing that to absorb the excess moisture.

Back in the day when I had a flood - leaky pool - I used the paper towel method. You dig a hole to the bottom and then use paper towels to soak up the water. 'Rinse and repeat' until excess water has gone. I then baked half the substrate over my barbecue, drying it... after allowing it cool, added back to the tank and mixed it in.



As for the false bottom, thats up to you if you want to do so. Crabs have this ability of getting into places were they not meant to go, and if not set up correctly can result in dismantling the entire tank to get a stuck crab out. False bottoms while great for standing water, will not help if the substrate is saturated with water - bacterial blooms can still happen!


The important question is to ask how exactly did you get that much water in the tank, and what can you do to prevent it next time...

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I would only toss what smells and keep what was dry up top. Unsalted sand we use for the garden, and anything salted gets used to fill holes in the yard.

Alrighty, thank you both very much! I've got my plan of action for today!

And may I just say, I really love this community! The knowledge here is a balm to my ongoing crabxiety. ^_^