SAND ?!?!

The sandblasting sand is a lot finer than the Aragonite sand is, but it is an industrial quartz type of sand.

 

Check this info out Jake:

Oolitic Sandhttp://www.ugs.state.ut.us/utahgeo/rockmineral/collecting/oolitic.htm

Aragonite Sandhttp://www.purearagonite.com/

Remember that silicate sand will not precipitate any calcium carbonate into the water column.  This is the main benefit of Aragonite and Oolite sands as they really help in buffering your tank.  Silica has no such benefit.

;D 8)

 

Thanks Craig, I was talking to the MGR of the LFS, and she told me that they only recommend 1 inch of sand and that 3 to 4 inches will not do me any good.

 

The vast majority of successful hobbiests have a DSB of 4' - 6' to provide adequate bacteria for denitrification. The more sand the more denitrifying bacteria. A DSB and live rock combine for the most effective biofiltration available.

 

That is what I have been finding out, but she was very adminant, when I told her that I wanted a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 DSB. So I just agread with her and left the store. I am now whating for payday to order 3 bags of sand from -http://www.purearagonite.com/home.html-

 

Will live rock live thourgh the start up cycle?

 

for a sand bed i have about a 3 1/2" bed in mine and have had no major problems with it

 

Yes, if the live rock is already cycled, then there will be a period of time before the sand can be seeded with bacteria. This may or may not create a minicycle. As you slowlystart adding fish and inverts to your tank, the ammonia they produce will cause a minicycle that will cause the bacteria to increase in number to denitrfy the bioload. This is why we go slow because it takes time for your ecosystem to self adjust. Happy reefing and post some pics of your system!

 

Thanks all for the help, I will start the way I use to, but with sand, a filter and black mollies.

 

theres a better way to cycle then with black mollies use table shrimp like you get from the grocery store. peel n eat kind take 2 or 3 and throw them in the tank best way to cycle, no harm to the fish.