used substrate

[cooper9177]

I am setting up a 150 when I bought the tank new it came with sand. I do not know if I should use the old sand it has been dry for 6 months.

 

[schiejr]

I've never had to use old sand myself but obviously the concern is what kind of crud was left in it originally. I have seen some recommend getting new sand to avoid possible problems. I'd lean towards new myself, why start off with a possible problem?

 

[Lake75]

What kind of bad stuff can be in the old sand bed? The only thing is probably copper if the former owner treated his/her fish in the tank (in that case, it's probably not good either to use the tank). Other than this concern, I really don't see what damage you can get from using it.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Rinse it out and reuse it. Ive done it a few times, sand is too expensive to throw out.

 

[cristhiam]

When I move from my 55 to 125 the stuff in my sand was pretty nasty, so I went to Lowes and got Koolorscape paver step 1 (argonite) and I just added couple weeks ago play sand (silica based) mixed them up and that's what I've been using $4.99 for a 50# bag. Can't beat that. I just didn't want to use the dirty sand I had I just seed it with couple of cups to the new sand.

 

[chin_lee]

not recommended

not recommended

I wouldn't recommend it. I've tried using old stuff before and get algae blooms right away (first day).

 

[Nano Chris]

I thought its not good to add a silica based sand to your tank?

 

[cristhiam]

nope I have a friend that his sand is silica and he's got an awsome reef there is a good article in the chemistry forum about silica sand.

 

[cooper9177]

I would like to use the sand if at all possible. the guy I bought the tank from was an experienced reefer. I do not worry about contaminents just waste. I just wanted a few second opinions before I spent the time washing 6 five gallon buckets of southdown. There are lots of empty tube worm and feather duster tubes all through this stuff.

 

[cristhiam]

lot's of washing I guess.

 

[cooper9177]

yea that is what I plan to spend most of my day doing. Thanks everyone



















thanks everyone