Southdown Alternative @ HD - Pulverized Limestone

Thanks Travis.I do have a 19 pound piece in my tank that I made out of the oystershells.I wonder if its possible to leach out the phosphates?I was just thinking of the whiter color versus they grayish color of the limestone.
 
There is, kinda. Growing macro algae, doing water changes, and running Iron Oxide Hydroxide (GFO) Phosphate Binders. While you can't just "wash" the stuff and have it all come out, you can use these methods (which most people already use) to take it out as it comes out of the crushed oyster shell. Someone using this in rocks or on the substrate might see an extended microalgae bloom, but just let it run it's course and don't freak out. Even though it is growing and looks unsightly, it won't harm anything (as long as it doesn't overgrow corals). So, let the cyanobacteria/dinoflagellates/diatoms grow, and just syphon them out during a regular water change.
 
Working great for me as well on my 150. The only bad thing is the amount of rinsing you have to do to get it ready, but at under $5 for 50lbs, I was happy to put in the work :)

Dave
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11505323#post11505323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djc1026
Working great for me as well on my 150. The only bad thing is the amount of rinsing you have to do to get it ready, but at under $5 for 50lbs, I was happy to put in the work :)

Dave
Click to expand...
I didn't rinse mine at all. I just made sure to pour the water in very carefully. Now that bacteria has colonized it all, i can stir up the sand without much of a problem.
 
That's impressive because it took several hours to rinse and it looked like watery quickrete to begin when I started. Turned out just fine, just took a while to rinse :)

Dave
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11505896#post11505896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djc1026
That's impressive because it took several hours to rinse and it looked like watery quickrete to begin when I started. Turned out just fine, just took a while to rinse :)

Dave
Click to expand...
That's really wierd because I've known multiple people that have said it looks like watery concrete, but mine just looks like grey sand compared to the "white" of aragonite. When I first heard this, I wondered if someone accidently got cement since Pavestone makes cement products as well.
 
In the tank it looks fine, very white with scattered specks of gray and black. I'm talking about the run off water from rinsing it looked like watery concrete.

Dave
 
FWIW, I used the pavestone and hated it. It was like concrete mix, slushy and muddy, I still have it cloging up my pumps. I rinsed it for hours before I added to my tank. And a few months ago took most of it out. Just my experience, will get crushed coral next time around.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11506696#post11506696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djc1026
In the tank it looks fine, very white with scattered specks of gray and black. I'm talking about the run off water from rinsing it looked like watery concrete.

Dave
Click to expand...
Oh I see. Ya, that's a HUGE difference. Mine looks like what your describing, but I didn't have to wash it. I don't know if I just had a good batch or what. My 75g and 2x 2g will have it in there.
 
Hey Travis,

What exactly is the name of the stuff you used? I am having a hard time finding anything even close. Is it outside with the paving stones or inside?

Kind of off topic, but kind of not.

I am going to put a DSB in my refugium. What are other alternative sands to use if I can not find pulverized limestone? I guess I should say cheap alternatives if you get my meaning. The fuge will be for growing cheato mostly.
 
It's called exactly Pavestone brand "Pulverized Limestone". It's the exact one in the pictures of this thread and featured in my 75g tank build.

Right now it's hard to find because it used in gardening, and well...the weather...you know. If you're in a serious pinch, just gether Natural White color of Reptilite reptile sand by CaribSea. It's the exact same thing as their aragonite reef sand, just packaged in smaller amounts and labelled/marketed differently.
 
I have used it for a year now and its done fine by me but I washed the hell out of it because it did look like concrete mix but after several hours of washing and rinsing it worked perfectly well.
 
Hey all. Has anyone found this recently? In the crushed instead of powder form? I called my local HD and they only had the powder. Thanks...
 
Hmm, I had this in my 10 gal, and I never rinsed it out. I just had poured my water into the overflow and let it run down the sides to reduce the sand being kicked up.

After it became colonized, it was fine.

I wonder if some people got bad batches?

I believe Hefner, that you do not want the powder form.

Also, welcome to the board!!!
 
Here's a couple:

This one's a little dark but this is 150 lbs in my 6' 150. I'd say a lb per gallon gives me an average depth of 3".

<a href="http://lh4.google.com/djc1026/R9hxAroVRRI/AAAAAAAABsM/KAQZjGB1uXI/s800/P3120500gimp.jpg"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/djc1026/R9hxAroVRRI/AAAAAAAABsM/KAQZjGB1uXI/s800/P3120500gimp.jpg" /></a>

Here's a few close ups that this stuff can be seen in, again not the greatest as I wasn't shooting the substrate specifically.

<a href="http://lh4.google.com/djc1026/RxKUEB_5HhI/AAAAAAAAAz8/qjhJ3UAioeY/s800/P1010564.JPG.jpg"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/djc1026/RxKUEB_5HhI/AAAAAAAAAz8/qjhJ3UAioeY/s800/P1010564.JPG.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://lh6.google.com/djc1026/RxKUGh_5HiI/AAAAAAAAA0E/6cu0NIDizgQ/s800/P1010565.JPG.jpg"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/djc1026/RxKUGh_5HiI/AAAAAAAAA0E/6cu0NIDizgQ/s800/P1010565.JPG.jpg" /></a>

Dave
 
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