A question about sand

IMO, I really think it depends on how much life the sand you are using to seed the sandbed contains. I am sure there are plenty of reefers close by to you that would be willing to give you some of their live sand. After that, it could take a few months to become live enough to provide supplemental filtration. I know it costs more, but that is why I always added live sand straight from the get go. How deep is the sandbed? Maybe get a small bag of live sand to help seed your existing sandbed. Just a thought, good luck......
 
I like the idea of mixing dead and live sand. Maybe get a few cup fulls from fellow reefers and that will defanitly help. Also, go talk to Maryce at Sea in the City and get some of those pod mixes she has/sells. That will also help. If you have a fuge or want one I can mail you some cheato which will have some pods, micro starts .....

PM me if you are interested. I just need to get paid for shipping and the cost of the box. I can send it priority and you will have it in a day so everything will be fine. I did this for a buddy in Jacksonville.

--Chris
 
My only advice on this is this: if you're going to be mixing up sand, be cautious of everyone's tanks. You don't really know what might be in them - if you're a hardcore quarantiner you may be putting ich into your system, if you don't care so much and you're just setting up for cycling and stuff you'll be fine.

You may also find different critters in your tank based on what sand you seed with.
 
Okay sounds good i have some sand i can add to my new tank now just gotta find some dead sand.

I have about 30lbs of live rock,and some cheato.

:) Didnt know i double posted.

I am upgrading to a 50g sometime this week when my pump comes in.
 
and i know you can get p04 from arm media. oh wait you told be that. my bad:lol:

Schwarzman just be aware if you are talking dead (dry) then you a good. i've seen to many people crash tanks using the dead (still kinda wet) that looks like black sand sitting in someone's 5 gallon bucket in there garage.
 
I would recommend ~3" sand bed. You want it deep enough where an aerobic and anaerobic layer can form. Basically the aerobic is the top layer where a lot of your bacteria, worms, critters of minute size you may never know are there can move around and keep the top layer aerated. The bottom is where different bacteria and stuff lives and can help with the whole natural filtering of everything when you have live rock and a sand bed.

If you use all dead sand and just use a cup of live it'll seed just fine its really more the bacteria you're looking for than seen-by-the-naked-eye-critters. Its probably also cheaper to get sand locally since most of the time I think online vendors have a heavy shipping charge associated with it since those bags can get heavy quick!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12766394#post12766394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Schwarzman85
anyone ever get sand from tampa bay saltwater?


Click to expand...
My husband did, and he would NEVER NEVER NEVER do it again. Its mostly crushed coral, which isnt good for a reef tank anyway, and all kids of creepy critters came with it. That crap is evil. Well, unless you like having to pick cirolanid isopods off of your fish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Rinsing sand?
Replies
3
Views
3K
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
W
  • Question Question
Fluidized sand filter help please
Replies
7
Views
396
wickedtuna
W
T
New carpet Anemone
Replies
8
Views
1K
bradleym
bradleym
D
DIY Stand Help
Replies
6
Views
260
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
T
Setup tank?
Replies
5
Views
763
wvned
wvned
Back
Top