The Community Live Sand Box is open!

[ErickJ_az]

I've got the tank up and running and it's waiting for sand. Please feel free to stop by anytime between now and 10 pm (I might be here later) and contribute to the Community Live Sand Box. If you like to contribute to the clean up crew you are welcome too, but a cup of your sand would be great. In about 30 days we'll open it up again and get everyone that contributed a like amount of critter full, wonderfully diverse live sand.

I'll be lighting the tank to support macro algae, so if you've got some macro's that you'd like to contribute feel free!

If you are just starting off a tank you can bring in some dry sand and take a like amount of live sand to kick off your tanks cycle.

Also, feel free to hang out as long as you like. Sit around the table and talk shop, so to speak. Let's get together and share our approaches to this great hobby. In the spirit of sea life I've got Netflix playing ocean related movies all day! If there's enough interest maybe about 6pm or so we'll fire up the grill and BBQ some burgers and hot dogs.

E

Back door of Suite B-2
5025 S. Ash
Tempe, Arizona 85282
10 am to 10 pm
Open house. Free RO/DI water while it lasts.
Snacks and Sodas Provided
Round table marine discussion all day long.

 

[Orangetruck94]

VERY cool EJ!!

 

[jimlundborg]

That's a long drive for me but I'm thinking of making the trip. I need to go out (to pick up a pump and some water) anyway. If I come out I'll bring a cup of sand.

 

[ErickJ_az]

That's a long drive for me but I'm thinking of making the trip. I need to go out (to pick up a pump and some water) anyway. If I come out I'll bring a cup of sand.

I'll make it worth your while. I've got the water here for you for free!

E

 

[AZSW]

This is a great idea, however I see a potential for things like planaria to be running rampant as they already are all over Phx. What steps do you have in place to prevent any sort of pests or unwanted microfauna from being brought in and then re-distributed all over town?

It's a great idea, I just wanted to make sure you were being responsible about it all.

 

[ErickJ_az]

This is a great idea, however I see a potential for things like planaria to be running rampant as they already are all over Phx. What steps do you have in place to prevent any sort of pests or unwanted microfauna from being brought in and then re-distributed all over town?

It's a great idea, I just wanted to make sure you were being responsible about it all.

I am doing a 30 day QT before re-distributing any of the sand. I'll be treating for any organisms that crop up in that 30 days. I'll extend the QT period, if necessary.

I'm also open to any suggestions as to pest control. I'm opposed to chemical treatment and would use it only as a last resort.

After today I'll be holding all live additions in 30 day cycles in two separate QT stages.

E

 

[0rbital]

Nice meeting you and thanks for the water!

 

[ErickJ_az]

Nice meeting you and thanks for the water!

Hey! No problem. Thank you for participating! We're going to have a great thing going here for the entire community to draw on, especially for people new to the hobby.

So far with yours we've had four additions to the "Community Live Sand Box".

Keep them coming folks!

E

 

[jimlundborg]

Thanks for the water and good luck with this project.

 

[Turbovr3six]

I'm interested to see how this pans out... I for one am skeptical about the idea, so in the 30 days when people get sand back i'm interested in the result.. I hope it works

 

[jimlundborg]

I am a little concerned about the pets and other issues like that. I don't have any that I know of except a couple of Aptisia. I added some sand but it's so far for me to drive I'll probably never take any back.

 

[KarlBob]

Barbecue idea still on? I can bring drinks or something.

 

[ErickJ_az]

Barbecue idea still on? I can bring drinks or something.

Sure! Get some people together and I'll light the grill! Let's make it a party!

I've got sodas, ice, chips, cookies, a BBQ and charcoal.

E

 

[ErickJ_az]

I'm going to be here all day Sunday working on tanks, so if you didn't make it out today you can still come and put in your sand.

I'll get in about 9 am and I'll be here 'till about midnight.


I'll warn you, though, you might get roped into helping with some water changes or aquscaping. I'll be upgrading my 10 gallon to a 29 gallon.

E

 

[SparseReef]

Thought I might bring this thread back. I picked up some water from Erick today (thanks dude) and dropped off some caulerpa that I'd been meaning to cut back. It got me thinking this could be a good opportunity to save a lot of the clippings that might end up getting thrown out otherwise. My schedule makes it hard to try to wait around to give away macro, but if I can just drop it off in the "sandbox" when I'm free then others can pick it up at their leisure. It might also help to balance any mini-cycles from "new" sand being added to the tank.

You would probably want to keep the macro on one side of the tank in case people want to pick up sand and don't want to get caulerpa in their tank. Some people say it's weedy but I haven't experienced that.

Just putting a thought out there...

 

[Kataro]

hey erick, cleaning out my biocube, I will probably bring by some frags and 20lbs or so of Live Sand on Saturday. I will give you a call before then

 

[ErickJ_az]

Cool. The Community Live Sand Box is turning into such a success I've got to add more space to it. I'll be doing that today so there will be plenty of room for your sand!

E

 

[usefulidiot213]

This is a really cool thread. You can turn these into BBQ sand parties...