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09-06-2007, 11:18 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Karma: 1
 |  help please regarding sand.
Hi everyone i am newbie and indeed of help. I just completely setted up my tank/sump and started to cycle my water yesterday and just suddenly realized that I did a major frigging mistake here, I forgot to wash off/rinsed the sand that I bought in one of the lfs somwhere here in our place, and initially put the sands in my display tank from its plactic/sack and put the water on it.
did I really made the mistake of forgetting to wash off/rinsed the sands before putting it on the main tank? and if ever I commited the mistake what would be the solution/alternative for it?
Does 20% weekly water change during cycling will do the trick?
someone told me to at least 50% or even 100% water change will do.
But its really harsh for me since im living in an unusual area. lol
PS: this is a crushed coral sand.
thanks in advance! | 
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09-07-2007, 04:55 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 3,663
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It was the best mistake you ever made .. If you used a real reef grade sand then not rinsing it was the best thing you could have done .. It amazes me people will wash out all the powder and dust from the new sand then rush out to by Purple up or some other additives to stimulate coralline growth. You are fine and the haze will settle and clear up in a few days to a week. _________ Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible (Doug Larson) | 
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09-07-2007, 05:49 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami,Florida Age: 20
Posts: 864
  
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WELCOME TO 3reef!!!!
You actually paid for having some water with the sand! Thats a good thing! Your on the right track!!!!! _________ *Since 12/2002 40 gal. 85 lbs live rock. 3" fiji Live sand.wet dry filter and prizm protein skimmer. 192 power compacts
*Since 10/2006 125 gal. Built in Overflows x2, 3" LS(165 lb fiji pink) 175 lb of LR, 2x 36" aquatinics T5 HO fixtures(10x39W bulbs 2 gliesman aquablue+1 gliesman actinic+2 ATI aquablue special), mag 18 return pump, PM R30fuge. AquaC EV 180 skimmer.
**Working on CL with 2 4mdqx-sc little giants and a OM Super Squirt.  | |
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09-07-2007, 05:52 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 140
Karma: 34
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Yeah, this is an ongoing debate. I personally liked rinsing the sand only because until the sand/dust is encrusted with bacteria or algae it will float around your tank when water movement or a fish swims over it and ruins the appearance for several weeks to months. There is usually no harm in not raising it. Again it seems to be of a personal preference. If you use low-grade sand that may have “other” things in it then I would have encouraged you to rinse out first. But most LFS only sell the good stuff. Hope our comments helped. Thanks! _________  120 RR AGA, 2000gph, 840watts lighting, Aqua C- 150 (w/ mag12), DIY Kalk Reactor, 7 years reef keeping
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09-07-2007, 06:50 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Karma: 1
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thanks for the responses I am really worried on my current set up, i dont have a test kit yet thats why I dont have a clue on what is really happening on my tank lol, but I assumed if this crushed coral sand Grade 2-3(not really fine sand though) is having some issues of some kind of chemical on it or something on it that I didnt able to washed off, I assumed that nitrate is spiking now.  just to be in the safe side though, is there any alternative? like 20% water change weekly? I just started of my cycling, so to cut it short water change during cycling? | |
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09-07-2007, 07:01 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 5,946
 
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Leave the tank be. If you do water changes now, you'll only stall the cycle. Get yourself some test kits to give you a feel of what is going on in the tank or save some money and get your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate tested at the lfs. You will eventually want to pick up an alkalinity, calcium and magnesium test kit. Once the tank has completed it's cycle, that's all you'll really need to test for. | |
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09-07-2007, 08:19 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 58
Posts: 4,607
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 To 3Reef!!!
You are on right track. Be patient. Get test kits when you can. _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (Davis Family Reef Aquarium - Home Page/Reef Log) (Best Photos of 2008!) | |
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09-07-2007, 09:58 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Karma: 1
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thanks for that.
now aint feel down anymore,
I will let the tank at it is and buy a test kit ASAP
thank you again still a newbie in this hobby | |
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09-08-2007, 05:10 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 3,663
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sndwave80  Yeah, this is an ongoing debate. I personally liked rinsing the sand only because until the sand/dust is encrusted with bacteria or algae it will float around your tank when water movement or a fish swims over it and ruins the appearance for several weeks to months. There is usually no harm in not raising it. Again it seems to be of a personal preference. If you use low-grade sand that may have “other” things in it then I would have encouraged you to rinse out first. But most LFS only sell the good stuff. Hope our comments helped. Thanks! | You must have used the sugar sand ): the stuff is a mess at best. I have never had any type of sand but that mess to flaot around in the water | |
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09-08-2007, 07:56 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 58
Posts: 4,607
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tangster You must have used the sugar sand ): the stuff is a mess at best. I have never had any type of sand but that mess to flaot around in the water |
Me to. But eventually settles out. | |
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