Main Menu
| |
Get on the Map!
| |
Forum Menu
| | 
06-29-2006, 12:44 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 46
Karma: 1
 |  Changing substrates
When I started my tank, I did so with Crushed Coral on the bottom. I'd like to change to a nice Sand base, but I want to make sure I don't get into the process and then really foul things up, so I have a couple of questions:
1) Since the tank is already cycled and such, would a fine (non-"live") sand be acceptable? The bacteria and such from the rock should successfully "seed" the sand, should it not?
2) A good quick rinse with some RO/DI water should be sufficent for "cleaning" the sand prior to introduction, yes?
3) Would it be worth leaving a bit of the crushed coral to intermix with the sand (might give it an interesting look, if nothing else
I was planning on matching this up with a water change anyway (get a big ol' rubbermaid tub to hold rock & some tank water, then fill with sand, new water, replace the rock, add some of the old water, re-introduce fish (after a sanity checking Nitrate/PH/Ammonia test) then add the rest of the old water...probably still end up with a net 40 - 50% water change.
Seem like a doable procedure?
Likewise, how much sand is needed in a 55gal 48" long tank to get a decent (about 3" deep) sand bed.
TIA!
_________
55-Gal : FOWLR, now with sand! Coralife SS 125, Emperor BioWheel 400, PhosBan Reactor
Guests: 2 Ocellaris Clownfish
Next: Cleaner Shrimp, inverts, anemone? | 
|  | | Reef Links |  | |
06-29-2006, 01:44 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Eyelash Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 1,294
  
|
1.) Yes, you are correct. I would leave a small amount in to help seed the sand. How deep is your crushed coral now?
2.) A Very Very thorough rinse is required. Unless you are willing to live with cloudy water central for at least a week 
3.) It wouldn't hurt, although the sand will just sift into the crushed coral until it dissapears.  Which is why I asked how deep your cc bed is now.
4.) 3" sand bed in a 55 tank will take about 90 lbs according to our sand calculator link.
Jim
_________
90 Gallon glass, 135#'s of rock and 2" sand. 2-250w 20k XM metal halides. 2-95 watt actinic VHO, 4 powerheads, Coralife skimmer. Maroon Gold Striped Clown, Blue Chromis, Kole Tang, Pygmy Angel, Serpent Star, Brittle Star,Gorgonians, Mushrooms, Yellow Polyps, Turbo Snails & Blue Legged Hermits. 20 gal sump with Caulerpa, Mag 7 return pump. | |
| | |
06-29-2006, 02:22 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nashville Tennessee
Posts: 21
Karma: 2
|
is sand better than CC. 
_________
75 gal,coralife 95W X4 50/50, 4" Aragonite crushed coral, Red Sea Skimmer, Wave-maker and 5 Maxi Jet 1200 Pumps,coil denitrator, 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1fire shrimp,1 Bi Colored Dwarf Angle,1 pajama cardinal, 2 neon gobys, 1 diomand goby,Crabs, Snail And about 20 lbs of live rock. Plan on adding more LR. | |
| | |
06-29-2006, 03:13 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,952
  |
Aragonite is better than plain sand as it helps in buffering capacity and also releases calcium etc. into your water. _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
| | |
06-29-2006, 05:26 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nashville Tennessee
Posts: 21
Karma: 2
|
thanks for the reply.
plain sand being not live sand or play sand correct.Aragonite or live sand which is better. I went with the advice of my LFS and bought Aragonite and I have 4" of in it my 75 Gal. Would live sand be better I suspose is my question.
Thanks,  | |
| | |
06-30-2006, 02:49 AM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | Eyelash Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 1,294
|
live sand just means that is has some beneficial bacteria in it. If you leave some of your cc in the tank it will seed your aragonite sand quick enough. | |
| | |
06-30-2006, 07:10 AM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orland IL Age: 35
Posts: 57
Karma: 52
|
I would also consider the substrate based on what you have inside of your tank. Like me, I have engineer gobies that love to move the sand around. I don't think they'd be very happy with a chunky substrate like crushed coral. | |
| | |
06-30-2006, 02:51 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nashville Tennessee
Posts: 21
Karma: 2
|
is Aragonite CC or Sand? How big is CC?
Sory for all the questions.
Thanks for all the replys. | |
| | |
06-30-2006, 04:50 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Eyelash Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 1,294
|
Aragonite is supposed to be CaCO3, Calcium carbonate, so is crushed coral
It is in finer particles so it looks like sand.
Jim | |
| | | Reef Links |  | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:45 PM. |
