Rock making Party
- Thread starter zanclus
- Start date
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
hey guys read this post that travis wrote, it is about silica sand and how much leaches out...
silica sand in aquariums
silica sand in aquariums
RyanM
New member
There are lots of people that use regular silica sand. There are as many opnions about silicas used as a sand bed as there are opinions about using a sand bed at all. I my self try to use a calcium based sand but that is highly based on inconclusive statments that even calcium is leached out of it. I has been said and tested by everyone who uses a calcium reactor that for any leaching of calcium to take place the ph would need to be so low that nothing would be alive in the tank. So why the need for it?
My only input on that question is that coral made it so it cant be to bad. The silica verses calicium based sand is an old topic and one that tops the post count here on RC im sure. If it can be done with a calium based sand I say we should use it. If we cant for money/availability reason then im for using what we can find.
One more thing, I think it should be a bare bottom tank with a remote sand bed. Starbord or something like that looks very nice if done right. The sand can be replaced as needed with out the tank having to be taken apart.
My only input on that question is that coral made it so it cant be to bad. The silica verses calicium based sand is an old topic and one that tops the post count here on RC im sure. If it can be done with a calium based sand I say we should use it. If we cant for money/availability reason then im for using what we can find.
One more thing, I think it should be a bare bottom tank with a remote sand bed. Starbord or something like that looks very nice if done right. The sand can be replaced as needed with out the tank having to be taken apart.
RyanM
New member
Well if money is not an object then any pet store has or can order it. The so called calcium based sand like kolorscape is at best a "peace of mind" option because who really knows whats in it. The bags i got came from HD in Vestal. You say you looked so I guess unless they can order it we need to get another source. I my self wouldnt worry about it as a remote SB. Like I said before, if we can find it great. If not then we either buy it at somewhere around a buck a pound or more. Or we use silica sand. It is a small price to pay if we have to spend $200 on it but I really dont think it matters. As a filter I think any clean sand would do fine but again we can always just bite the bullet and pay the price for it. I guess my whole point is this, Either we get what we KNOW to be calcium based arganite sand wich is expensive or we get the cleanest sand we can find localy. I really dont think it matters..Who knows whats in kolorscape. I dont. It passes the fiss test but that proves very little as to the total quality of sand. IMO if your going with a store bought play sand your getting no better sand than regular silica play sand.
Im just one opinion but I really dont think it matters.
Im just one opinion but I really dont think it matters.
RyanM
New member
On a side note but still related to the sand. I was thinking about a 2 remote sand bed system. My thought is that regardless of what sand we use it should most definetly be a remote sand bed.
That way it can be changed out on a regular basis. And destroying a working sand bed and replacing it with a clean new one is not always helping more than its hurting. So if we have 2 then 1 can be changed out and the other will be there to pick up the slack till the new one is up to speed. Doesnt need to be 2 complely different sand beds..just 1 large one that is devided off in to sections. It could even be a multi compartment sand bed. 12 even. once a month a compartment is cleaned and replaced with new sand. 12 is a bit much but I think everyone gets the point.
That way it can be changed out on a regular basis. And destroying a working sand bed and replacing it with a clean new one is not always helping more than its hurting. So if we have 2 then 1 can be changed out and the other will be there to pick up the slack till the new one is up to speed. Doesnt need to be 2 complely different sand beds..just 1 large one that is devided off in to sections. It could even be a multi compartment sand bed. 12 even. once a month a compartment is cleaned and replaced with new sand. 12 is a bit much but I think everyone gets the point.
RyanM
New member
I forgot this was the rock making thread, got side tracked. Yes we still need sand for the rocks. Sand bed is a whole other issue.
I have a camera and Jerry has a nice one, maybe he can bring his as well.
As far as sand for the rocks, hmm Ill look around down my way when i go to get the crushed oyster shells and see what i can find.
I have a camera and Jerry has a nice one, maybe he can bring his as well.
As far as sand for the rocks, hmm Ill look around down my way when i go to get the crushed oyster shells and see what i can find.
RyanM
New member
No, I wouldnt. Sand bed is one thing. The rocks, They are permenant residence and would be nice to fine some good stuff to use. But there again that is only based on info that is far from scientific. We have a week to find some sand. I will get on the hunt. and if push comes to shove then we deside what we want to do.
Blugobi
New member
OK here a few recipies:
1 part Portland cement
1 part aragonite sand
1 part crushed coral
3 parts crushed oyster shell
or
1 part portland cement
1 part sand
1 part plastic shavings
2 parts oyster shell
or we can mix and match.
Here is another:
Looks like tha made sand piles with depressions in them and went from there.
Geo
i'm leaning twords:
1 Part Cement
1 part sand
2 parts oyster shell
1 part H20
1 part Portland cement
1 part aragonite sand
1 part crushed coral
3 parts crushed oyster shell
or
1 part portland cement
1 part sand
1 part plastic shavings
2 parts oyster shell
or we can mix and match.
Here is another:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=5192050#post5192050 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by little_d
Here it is, I use 1 cup of water, 1 cup of cement and 4 cup of oyster shell.
Looks like tha made sand piles with depressions in them and went from there.
Geo
i'm leaning twords:
1 Part Cement
1 part sand
2 parts oyster shell
1 part H20
