TBS sand....

[lougotzz]

The sand you guys offer, is it good for DSB? Looking for 6'' deep. I was thinking of using this sand in my tank to get a good jump start on the bio load, because frankly, this sand seems to be true live sand, not that stuff that is dead by the time it gets to your tank. Is it ultra fine or or is it more like on the 1mm-2mm side? Or is there an option for both?

How long is the sand outside of water before you ship it?

Thanks.

 

[Madratter]

It is not ultra fine. It is rather varied in size and consistency. The sand in this shot of my tank is TBS sand:

I don't run a deep sand bed, but if I did, I would not want a real fine sand. That would make cleaning the sand bed even more difficult.

 

[lougotzz]

^exactly. I didnt want ultra fine lol.

 

[lionbacker54]

if you're going for a DSB, i'd recommend getting some plain aragonite sand, or the carib-sea live aragonite sand, and then putting the TBS sand on top. sugar sized oolitic sand worked well for me for both my tanks.

 

[Yogre]

if you're going for a DSB, i'd recommend getting some plain aragonite sand, or the carib-sea live aragonite sand, and then putting the TBS sand on top. sugar sized oolitic sand worked well for me for both my tanks.

I've done the same thing in my tank. It's way too soon to know if this approach will work long term, but I'm optimistic. The worms don't seem to have any difficulty working the majority of the sand, I've seen tracks in the sand on the bottom of the glass, looking up through the stand.

 

[lougotzz]

So If I were to do a whole package deal for a 75, would the tanks stuff be pretty much mature by the time the cycle were over? I mean the tank has to break in still, but since this stuff is so lively and straight from the ocean, would my tank avoid new tank algae blooms and stuff? Also, what if I used NSW?

 

[webdizzy]

Speaking of TBS sand and a DSB, I just finished reading this article in the online Reefkeeping magazine: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-06/newbie/index.php

The author recommends fine sand and a DSB, but I'd also be curious to get Richard's feedback on the following paragraph, since the TBS "package" comes with a lot of hermits (which I also was concerned about) and a few cucumbers:

"A little word of caution: once the rock is cured and the tank set up, the first thing people add is the so-called “clean-up crew.” Usually, this consists of mainly snails and hermit crabs. Most snails are fine as they tend to be herbivores. Hermits are more carnivore than herbivore, but if fresh meat is available, that “meat” is usually all those valuable sand shifters so vital to the bed will go after. Almost every aquarist finds out that hermits eat snails, sometimes to get their shells, but more commonly just to eat. They can make pretty short work of the sand bed population. If you must have some, limit it to only a couple. Some conches will also feast on the bed’s inhabitants and large sea cucumbers are sure to clean out the bed. People say “cukes” (sea cucumbers) clean and renew the sand. That may be true when it comes to bacteria, but the other small creatures (like pods) cannot breed fast enough and can become non-existent in due time."

 

[lougotzz]

^ When you make a DSB it is not supposed to be ultra fine sand, its should be some sort of aragonite sand that is bigger like 2mm.

Im getting the impression that what TBS sends you is so heavily populated with life, that you dont have you wait for the tank to mature to add the hermits to prevent them from eating snails and stuff like that because the rock is already coming with it as opposed to something like dry rock. Hermit crabs are also algae eaters.

 

[webdizzy]

^ When you make a DSB it is not supposed to be ultra fine sand, its should be some sort of aragonite sand that is bigger like 2mm.

The author of that article does recommend aragonite.

 

[Yogre]

With all due respect to Tom Murphy, I just don't see how a Gulf cuke like we get with Richard's package could be a threat to pods. They're just too slow. Hermits are a different story, much quicker, but they must have importance or they wouldn't be in the package.
That said my hermits have been known to do a number on my astrea snails.

 

[webdizzy]

That said my hermits have been known to do a number on my astrea snails.

That's been my experience and concern, too -- hermits eating my snails.

 

[Madratter]

I may have just been lucky but so far my hermits have left my snails alone. They seem much more interested in working on the rock, the sand, and on the hairy stuff that grows on my yellow ball sponges. As for pods, I still have plenty of those, especially in the tank without the tiger goby. I don't feed it, and I assume it is keeping the populations down in order to survive.

 

[lougotzz]

The author of that article does recommend aragonite.

Ive been told my numerous people on this site that using the first five inches of aragonite is best, and the top layer of some sort of live sand, and can be very fine.

 

[lougotzz]

My bad, I thought you said aragonite was no good.

 

[helix149]

where has Richard been he hasn't responded in awhile

 

[helix149]

where has Richard been he hasn't responded in awhile

 

[helix149]

oops double post

 

[liverock]

Bilge...

Bilge...

where has Richard been he hasn't responded in awhile

In the bilge of my boat.......was coming home from diving last Friday, and smelled gas.....not a good thing on a boat.

Pulled the hatch, and the bilge was fill of gas. Not a good thing as if a bilge pump kicks on and sparks......poof goes the boat. I ran up close to shore to be able to abandon the vessel quickly and still be able to swim to shore.

Long story short....now five days into cutting up the deck and fixing the gas tank.....am just beginning to fiberglass the decks back down .....much to do still...should be back on the water again Tuesday.

On the sand issue......if it was me I would go with what works for everybody....about 1.25 inches of real live sand.....just look at Madratter and all my other customers tanks......why experiment....when doing it the correct way is so easy...

Sea ya
Richard TBS:lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

 

[webdizzy]

Richard, sorry to hear about your boat, but glad you're OK!

Do you have any comments on the paragraph that I quoted above that refers to hermit crabs and cucumbers and the sand bed population? Your package comes with quite a few hermits.

 

[liverock]

Richard, sorry to hear about your boat, but glad you're OK!

Do you have any comments on the paragraph that I quoted above that refers to hermit crabs and cucumbers and the sand bed population? Your package comes with quite a few hermits.

Yup

critters that you need....remember 500 of the hermits fit in the palm of your hand..real small guys..

I would think your best info, would be from folks who actually have the Package...

back to the bilge, and grinding fiberglass...my favorite thing in life!