500G (84X48X30)- NOW REAL !
- Thread starter Sanjay
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hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Okay, time to clarify... is that the <1mm sugar arag? You know, the stuff that is pretty much dust? Or are you using a coarser grade? My comments only apply to the sugar arag... the stuff thats lighter than silt.
That stuff is so small and it packs sooo dense, yet is so easy to blow around. I had that stuff clumping up in 1" or less, with sulphur deposits, mold, and everything... and then a hermit would walk through it and release the 'stench' into the tank. The stuff would blow around so much, and was impossible to clean (its about the same density and size as mulm/detritus, and so its impossible to wash. I remember washing it alone resulted in 1/3 of it going down the drain. After a while, it just ended up looking grey/brown because I couldnt clean it, and the detritus just kept mixing in. But it was too dense to allow good breathing so it mixed in w/o processing very well. They advertise a DSB with 1" or less of sand... yeah, right.
That stuff is so small and it packs sooo dense, yet is so easy to blow around. I had that stuff clumping up in 1" or less, with sulphur deposits, mold, and everything... and then a hermit would walk through it and release the 'stench' into the tank. The stuff would blow around so much, and was impossible to clean (its about the same density and size as mulm/detritus, and so its impossible to wash. I remember washing it alone resulted in 1/3 of it going down the drain. After a while, it just ended up looking grey/brown because I couldnt clean it, and the detritus just kept mixing in. But it was too dense to allow good breathing so it mixed in w/o processing very well. They advertise a DSB with 1" or less of sand... yeah, right.
Sanjay
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8455397#post8455397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by altezza
Time to add the corals
I know.. my patience is running out too
But, I really should do this right. I am getting a some brown algae growing on the rocks, and I really should get the aglae control crew in the tank before I do anything else.
I have turned off the lights until I can get the snails, crabs, cukes, etc in the tank to prevent the algae from taking too strong a hold and having to fight it for longer than I should.
sanjay.
Sanjay
Premium Member
I used 17 bags so far. I want to see how it distributes itself before adding the any of the 3 remaining bags. I also got a couple of bags of the coarser stuff to put down where the flow is really affecting the sand.
I added the 2 votech pumps yesterday, and today there was some relocation of sand.
sanjay.
Reefski's
Active member
patience is definitely the way to go. build up the infauna first before putting in the higher life forms. not as pretty but will be worth the wait. do you have any nutrients going in? are you feeding? have you added any detritivour kits to the sandbed, worms, fan worms, etc?
Carl
Carl
Sanjay
Premium Member
Well, they claim its bacterially alive.
What I like about it is that, 1) its prewashed.. so there is a lot less silting and white dust and it settles out quickly. 2) since it has some bio coating on it.. it tends not to clump and harden, problems I have had with southdown (others have had no such problems). The clumping and hardening is often due to the fresh aragonite surface proving reactive sites for calcium to deposit which then causes bonding between the particles and subsequent turning to rock. I tend to run my tanks with high alk and Ca levels and that may be one reason why I have seen this in my previous tank. Again, others have reported no problems using "non bio filmed" sand.
I like it, I have had prior sucess with it, and given that sand is not easy to remove I wanted something that would not be an experiment for me.
I am sure if you contact the manufacturer they can give you more details about it.
sanjay.
What I like about it is that, 1) its prewashed.. so there is a lot less silting and white dust and it settles out quickly. 2) since it has some bio coating on it.. it tends not to clump and harden, problems I have had with southdown (others have had no such problems). The clumping and hardening is often due to the fresh aragonite surface proving reactive sites for calcium to deposit which then causes bonding between the particles and subsequent turning to rock. I tend to run my tanks with high alk and Ca levels and that may be one reason why I have seen this in my previous tank. Again, others have reported no problems using "non bio filmed" sand.
I like it, I have had prior sucess with it, and given that sand is not easy to remove I wanted something that would not be an experiment for me.
I am sure if you contact the manufacturer they can give you more details about it.
sanjay.
B.PETERSEN
New member
Wow Sanjay awesome setup. I really like how you did the rock pillors. I do have one question for you. I see you are only running 10K MH and I didn't see in the thread which brand bulbs you are using. Once again very nice setup.
Bryan
Bryan
serenity
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8458365#post8458365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serenity
Sanjay. Great looking so far
Sanjay can you answer this for me. I am thinking of going with the same size as you
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
In my case, the sugar oolitic sand clumped together because the density was to high that it couldnt 'breathe'. The clumping was due to actual molds and sulphuric acids building up in the sand. The 'clumps' were green and grey in color, and broke apart easily if I get to them before too long... but ''Ooooo, that smell"...
TropTrea
New member
The issue I had with this aggrivate was when it was shipped in the winter by one of the wholesalers it actually came in frozzen. When it thawed and I opened a bag it did have an extreme foul odor. Made me wonder if the freezing temp it was exposed to killed the live organisms and they started decaying.
Also not these bags are also date stamped.
Dennis
Also not these bags are also date stamped.
Dennis
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
My stuff was fresh, shipped direct and everything. It didnt smell when I got it... it smelled after having it for a while. It also took something like 5 days for the cloud to finally settle. Most of it turned to milk right off the bat. Lots of crap in the sand... twigs and the like.
http://www.carib-sea.com/pages/products/marine/substrate/aragonite.html
Product #00930... never again. FWIW, not that its a huge concern, but I remember something about oolitic sand not buffering as much...??? Its too pure and it doesnt dissolve very easily? Doesnt contain all the trace elements of other arag because its pretty much just calcium precipitate that is dry mined.
http://www.carib-sea.com/pages/products/marine/substrate/aragonite.html
Product #00930... never again. FWIW, not that its a huge concern, but I remember something about oolitic sand not buffering as much...??? Its too pure and it doesnt dissolve very easily? Doesnt contain all the trace elements of other arag because its pretty much just calcium precipitate that is dry mined.
TropTrea
New member
Ahhh different stuff
<http://www.carib-sea.com/pages/products/marine/substrate/aragalive.html>
<http://www.carib-sea.com/pages/products/marine/substrate/aragalive.html>
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
That 00793/Bahamas Oolite is the same stuff... they just play with the name, add some water and 'bacteria' (what a scam), and sell it as that. Its the wet version of what I bought.
Trust me, whenever I set up a new tank, I call em up and talk. I know which are which. I would highly suggest calling them up if there is anything you have questions about though. Their staff knows alot about the products, where its from, how they mine/culture it, etc. They will even send you free samples of ones you are considering so you can see before you buy. It really has helped me with my purchases (except for the oolitic sugar crap).
Trust me, whenever I set up a new tank, I call em up and talk. I know which are which. I would highly suggest calling them up if there is anything you have questions about though. Their staff knows alot about the products, where its from, how they mine/culture it, etc. They will even send you free samples of ones you are considering so you can see before you buy. It really has helped me with my purchases (except for the oolitic sugar crap).
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