When to activate Sand Bed

[Redtack]

Tank in question: 5' 120gal. Dry rock and sand. Cycle has been functioning for about two months. Sand bed is roughly 4" (2.5" silica play sand with 1.5" aragonite, Bimini Pink, on top). Currently stocked with 5 turbo snails and one juvenile mimic yellow peel tang.

My next step was to get a sand bed activator kit from IPSF. I wanted all bio-cycles functioning before proceeding. But I am concerned about not having enough nutrient for it. I have been on a 12 hour light schedule for two months and all I am getting as far as micro algae is diatoms. (The 5 snails have been able to keep that fairly well cleaned) And I am not sure how much detritus a single small fish will produce. Currently my nitrates are high (40-60), but phospates are not registering on my API kit. Hopefully that will change now that the tang is in there. *Nitrates are not being intentionally elevated*

I am not sure if it is better to let the tank get a little junkier before adding the worms and pods and risk the bed getting anoxic, or add them now and risk die off in the bed? Also wondering if there is a good way to artificially feed the bed until the tank does it for me?

Redtack

 

[Curt Boswelll]

I read that the API tests for phophates are a little too high to test properly.

As too feeding the sand bed,you could add a little extra fish food when feeding. Try not to over do it.

 

[Redtack]

Thanks Curt!

So do you think now is a good time to stock the bed?

Redtack

 

[Curt Boswelll]

Truthfully, I don't know too much about the sand bed thing. After reading your post I looked a little bit on what you were talking about with the sand bed activation pack.

It sounds like it won't hurt anything and may help a little bit. I'm not really sure though. Hopefully someone else can chime in on this, as I would like to know too.

What I have in my tank is about 10lbs of Agralive sand, probably 20lbs of dry rock and a lb of live rock. Sand whose I plan on getting two Nassarius snails from reefcleaners.com.

 

[Xavibear]

You can add the sand bed activator whenever you want.

That silica sand is going to cause you some headaches down the road. That stuff isn't good in saltwater tanks.

 

[Redtack]

Thanks Xavibear.

Makes sense. It finally dawned on me that anything that starves to death will be food for the survivors.

If and when the silica sand causes problems, I won't be too upset since I knew that going in. I am hoping that the remedy will be less than the $100+ dollars I saved. Tank is going to stay FOWLR till mature, so hopefully I'll have some wiggle room when problems pop up.

Redtack