500G (84X48X30)- NOW REAL !
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
invincible569
New member
How about some updated pics for the first page of the split? 
TropTrea
New member
As I'm, working on my 120 gallon set up my planns are constantly changing as I see some great ideas here and from a few additional sites.
For the Rock work I'm thinking of going with about 60lbs of live rock and 120 lbs of Base Rock. I like the piller system that Sanjay used and now wonder if going with the pillar system will mean I need this much rock? Then with the rock work I also like loads of caves and arches. Also with the concrete bases I probably will need less sand even though I do intend to have a DSB.
My question now though is since Southdown Play Sand is no longer available what would be my best bet for the substrate. I have heard of people going to silica sand designed for sand blasting but do I realy want to introduce silica to my tank? Wouldn't a calcium based sand be a lot safer and also give me some added buffering ability?
This leads me to the multiple products by CarabSea. My though is to use use a fine gain materal in the front half and a slightly coarser in the rear half. But with all there products what is too fine or too coarse, and what does every one else recommend?
Dennis
For the Rock work I'm thinking of going with about 60lbs of live rock and 120 lbs of Base Rock. I like the piller system that Sanjay used and now wonder if going with the pillar system will mean I need this much rock? Then with the rock work I also like loads of caves and arches. Also with the concrete bases I probably will need less sand even though I do intend to have a DSB.
My question now though is since Southdown Play Sand is no longer available what would be my best bet for the substrate. I have heard of people going to silica sand designed for sand blasting but do I realy want to introduce silica to my tank? Wouldn't a calcium based sand be a lot safer and also give me some added buffering ability?
This leads me to the multiple products by CarabSea. My though is to use use a fine gain materal in the front half and a slightly coarser in the rear half. But with all there products what is too fine or too coarse, and what does every one else recommend?
Dennis
dennis, for my 120 i used 240 lbs of caribsea 'aragonite select', sugar fine grain, plus 30 lbs of the same grain sized aragalive. this gave me an average 6" DSB in the display and fuge (10" x 18"). i went to a large-but-otherwise-useless-for-marine LFS and said, this is what i want, can you get it, and they came back to me with an excellent price. overall it was under $300 for all the substrate.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
The only thing I dont like about substituting LR with sand is that sand can be disturbed, and often is, so its biological potential can vary wildly. That anaerobic zone you had one week could be undone by a fish or crab the next.
Overall though, I dont see a problem with using less LR. Its use should be in relation to the load in the tank and the water flow around it. Live rock that is less in volume, but has more water flow throughout its pores will do a much better job of filtering water than a tank that is stuffed with so much LR that waterflow doesnt even touch half of it. And its not like Sanjay is planning on a school of a dozen yellow tangs or something. By some standards, his load it low. He has alot of wide open spaces... so his 300g is more like a 150g from the standpoint of whats inside of it.
I hope to do this on my next tank as well. 48x30x18, a 115g, but with only about 80 lbs of LR arranged on aragacrete pilllars (to keep them off the sand). The pillars will elevate and magnify the appearance of what I have, but I suspect the elimination of 'dead-pockets' as well as the increased flow from all angles around the LR will increase its performance.
Overall though, I dont see a problem with using less LR. Its use should be in relation to the load in the tank and the water flow around it. Live rock that is less in volume, but has more water flow throughout its pores will do a much better job of filtering water than a tank that is stuffed with so much LR that waterflow doesnt even touch half of it. And its not like Sanjay is planning on a school of a dozen yellow tangs or something. By some standards, his load it low. He has alot of wide open spaces... so his 300g is more like a 150g from the standpoint of whats inside of it.
I hope to do this on my next tank as well. 48x30x18, a 115g, but with only about 80 lbs of LR arranged on aragacrete pilllars (to keep them off the sand). The pillars will elevate and magnify the appearance of what I have, but I suspect the elimination of 'dead-pockets' as well as the increased flow from all angles around the LR will increase its performance.
You could also save room in your displays by using a remote bin for live rock. Put whatever you like in the display and some in a secondary sump. As the bioload increase, add whatever poundage you need. Could then have your 1-2 lbs per gallon and still have an open display with arches and pillars.
Glorfindel
Premium Member
Use Pavestone Pulverized Limestone - it is great for buffering and has a nice fine grain size. You can pick it up at home depot - but it generally is not kept with the playsand. You can find it over by the garden section.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
There is another company starting to make a 'southdown' sand. Ive been using it for some time now... seems okay. Dont know about that limestone stuff... saw it at depot...hmmm... it doesnt mess up the pH?
NICERICAN4YOU25
In Memoriam
THAT COOL I'M PUTTING BOUT 400-450 LBS OF ROCK , I ALREADY HAVE 440 LBS OF SAND. JUST ORDERED ANOTHER 100LBS OF SAND.
HAPPY REEFING EVERY1
HAPPY REEFING EVERY1
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Dennis, Im sorry I dont remember the brand off the top of my head, but I remember someone talking about it here. Some other company took over the mining of the southdown, or rather oolitic sand from down in florida. Its around... Ill see if I can dig up details.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Ahhh... here it is. Its now called packaged by 'Yardright' as their Tropical Play Sand.
http://yardright.com/sand.htm#playsand
According to this page, HD in Madison carries it.
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/products/substrates/playsand.html
Hey, if you go out that way to get some, pick up a couple bags for me too... got some aragacrete to make.
http://yardright.com/sand.htm#playsand
According to this page, HD in Madison carries it.
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/products/substrates/playsand.html
Hey, if you go out that way to get some, pick up a couple bags for me too... got some aragacrete to make.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Well, its SKU# 578-819 at some Home Depots, UPC # 0-210026-16865-5.
East Liberty, Pa. (400 North Highland Ave.) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags Name is South Down Tropical Sand. I haven't tried it yet
Mt Gravat Pet City $8.50 + gst AUD All Year. $8.50 for 10kg's of silver sand is very cheap.
North Fayette Twp. , Pa. (on route 22 towards Pittsburgh Airport, by WalMart) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags The name is South Down Carribean Sand.
Perrysville, Pa. (112 Ben Avon Heights Rd.) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags The name is South Down Tropical Sand.
Wilkensburg Twp., Pa. (3550 William Penn Highway) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags The name is South Down Carribean Sand.
East Liberty, Pa. (400 North Highland Ave.) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags Name is South Down Tropical Sand. I haven't tried it yet
Mt Gravat Pet City $8.50 + gst AUD All Year. $8.50 for 10kg's of silver sand is very cheap.
North Fayette Twp. , Pa. (on route 22 towards Pittsburgh Airport, by WalMart) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags The name is South Down Carribean Sand.
Perrysville, Pa. (112 Ben Avon Heights Rd.) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags The name is South Down Tropical Sand.
Wilkensburg Twp., Pa. (3550 William Penn Highway) Home De Pot $3.84 plus 7% sales tax Year round in 50# bags The name is South Down Carribean Sand.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Thats just that one... the rest are Pa. I have to go to depot, so Ill do some remote sku lookups (I worked there you know...) and see what I can find.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
All glues and adhesives are in paint, but should be cross-merchandised in the additional necessary areas as well (wood glue should also be in lumber and millwork by the moulding, as caulk for bathrooms should be also in the K&B area). The reason that the glues, caulks, adhesives, etc are home-based in paint is because thats where all of the other explosive/hazardous chemicals are. It keeps the flammable stuff from sitting next to the electrical stuff... know what I mean...???
