After a year of this I've decided that I like it better than fresh water. I'm moving my tank into a slightly larger size. It is a 30 gallon cube with 15 watts of 50/50. I will need to put in new mud and sand. I don't have my new lights yet. Is it ok to start it up with the mud and sand and maybe some rocks and let it sit with limited light for about a month? I will leave room for additional rocks and water etc? I'm trying to make the transfer as smooth as possible to keep some of the "age" of the little tank. I will move my little 300 AC refugium when I get the rest moved over. What do you all think?
Tank Transfer
- Thread starter OrangeKoi
- Start date
drummereef
Team RC
I'm not really getting what the mud is you are using?
mosesbrown
New member
I do not think you want mud in your display tank. It is for the refugium. Also, if you have not purchased the mud yet, do some research. You have to recharge/refresh the mud every so often. I think most people use a deep sand bed in the refugium and have great results. For your main tank I would suggest using a good quality aragonite sand. You may be able to get live sand from your LFS.
If you are not going to add any live stock, then set the tank up with sand, some live rock, what lighting you have, a protein skimmer at some point (I have heard waiting upto six months to let the tank cycle fully). Add live rock as you can afford it. Do water changes often. Make sure you use saltwater when doing water changes, and fresh for topping off. You can do this while you save up to upgrade your lighting.
You close to Richmond, that is where I live.
John
If you are not going to add any live stock, then set the tank up with sand, some live rock, what lighting you have, a protein skimmer at some point (I have heard waiting upto six months to let the tank cycle fully). Add live rock as you can afford it. Do water changes often. Make sure you use saltwater when doing water changes, and fresh for topping off. You can do this while you save up to upgrade your lighting.
You close to Richmond, that is where I live.
John
Thanks. That sounds good.
Tell me though, Why would putting a little mud on the bottom be bad? It seems normal and I actually did put a very thin layer on the bottom of my 5.5. What is a good book for this subject?
I had forgotten about the idea that you are supposed to put fresh mud in now and then. I have it deep (about 3 inches) in my little ac 300 Refugium. Should I stir it? It has been running for about a year. As it is I only change the filter carbon and the polyfilter occaisionally.
There is one question I had about top off. Some people do not use the gravity method. Know any good books on this one? I have trouble visualizing the set up on these proceedures... I have the 30 gallon cube on its own little cubboard. I'd rather put everything out of site. I figure the drop could be advantageous for protien skimming too (besides the cubboard being a good hiding place). What do you think?
Tell me though, Why would putting a little mud on the bottom be bad? It seems normal and I actually did put a very thin layer on the bottom of my 5.5. What is a good book for this subject?
I had forgotten about the idea that you are supposed to put fresh mud in now and then. I have it deep (about 3 inches) in my little ac 300 Refugium. Should I stir it? It has been running for about a year. As it is I only change the filter carbon and the polyfilter occaisionally.
There is one question I had about top off. Some people do not use the gravity method. Know any good books on this one? I have trouble visualizing the set up on these proceedures... I have the 30 gallon cube on its own little cubboard. I'd rather put everything out of site. I figure the drop could be advantageous for protien skimming too (besides the cubboard being a good hiding place). What do you think?
mosesbrown
New member
I have to tell you. I have never used any mud in my system and neither has anyone that I know directly; I have quite a few friends in the hobby). I have done a little research and any benefit did not seem to out weigh the cost/the hassle/the labor in my opinion. There is no doubt that it can be used successfully, unfortunalty I am not qualified to tell you how to do so. Try posting a tread specifically about the use of mud and how to use successfully. I would love to know more about it from folks that use it as well. I'd be sure to tag along for the ride. I have seen a couple of the gravity top offs in RC. I will see if I can find the plan I saw once before and put the link of this thread if I can locate it. They look pretty neat. I have wondered what potential they might have to drain by gravity unsuspectingly.
John
John
Young Frankenstein
New member
Mud stinks and is ugly.
loves saltwater
Premium Member
No mud needed !
