Live sand

[Landolakes]

Just got a hang on fuge and need some live sand for it. Also need to know what the best stuff to put in there is, besides sand and a piece of rock.

 

[Arik]

Don't bother with the sand. Even if you do a DSB the size of the sandbed won't help much with nitrates. It'll be easier to keep clean without the sand. I'd use rock rubble to cover the bottom; that will encourage good microfauna reproduction.

The best macroalgae for refugiums is chaeto, and usually you can get some from a fellow reefer who needs to trim theirs back.

 

[Landolakes]

sounds good

sounds good

Okay I'll go with that, anyone have any chaeto they are trimming down? Also has anyone ever bought the rubble from Petworld? Does it need to be cycled? Will be heading out to get rubble tomm. Cant wait to have it ready.

 

[dreaminmel]

As far as Petworld's rock, usually they have the date written on the tank when it first went into their tank which will give you an idea of how long it's been "cycling" in their store. I know the other LFS stores are also open tomorrow and may also have some rubble for you to look at if you feel like shopping around.

No matter where you get it though I'd plan on it going through at least another little cycle just from it coming into contact w/ air... I may be wrong though so someone can correct me.

(When I got the live rock for my tank years ago I got a mixture of it... some from Petmart in Batavia, some from Petworld and some from Caribbean Forest. No complaints on any of it.)

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: Live sand

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7536504#post7536504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Landolakes
Just got a hang on fuge

It's got lights over it, right?

 

[Landolakes]

yup

yup

Yes it does. PC

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

If it's properly lit I'd load up your refugium with some 'bug infested' Macroalgae like Arik already suggested. You might be able to get rubble and macroalgae at one place... I don't have any to spare right now but I seem to recall seeing both at MO and CF last time I was there. TRS usually has rubble and macroalgae, too- but I can't recall seeing macroalgae at Petworld.

 

[Arik]

Petworld's tanks are all tied together for filtration purposes, and since there is always ick infested or dying fish in their tanks I wouldn't put anything from their store straight into the display without a QT. That includes the rubble. I'd go to MO or CF like Gary suggested.

 

[SVXH6]

Petworlds invert system, also same system used to hold LR is NOT tied into the fish system.. with that there would be no problems with ick infested or dying fish.. i'd also just go to TRS.. they had some nice pieces when i was there the other day..

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

FWIW I stopped by MO today and they have a TON of LR and rubble. I saw some Chaetomorpha, too.