1st post -1st tank...
- Thread starter tonga_man
- Start date
tonga_man
Member
The SQWD and the "new" (1200 gph instead of the 500 I have now - with new SQ40 lines... 
) return pump should be hooked up in the AM also... The power head in the front right will be relocated for astectic reasons. It's there for flow right now. I could never have done this project without following everones advice here for a long time. I have been reading and lurking as a guest for a while. Thanks for showing me the way!
) return pump should be hooked up in the AM also... The power head in the front right will be relocated for astectic reasons. It's there for flow right now. I could never have done this project without following everones advice here for a long time. I have been reading and lurking as a guest for a while. Thanks for showing me the way!
tonga_man
Member
Originally posted by bigmac
Looks like Tonga branch? Nice looking tank. If it were me I wouldn't add any Live sand to the tank just yet. Wait until the rock cycles. I would add a few inches of dead sand right now and when the cycle slows down then add the live sand.
Good advice - and thank you for it... The problem I have is the live sand is already here (80 lbs). If I remeber from what I have read here it has a LONG shelf life... ? Correct? If so I can just leave it alone and add it at the end of the cycle.
And yes it is mostly Tonga. I realy like the way it looks and splurged. My Bro gave me the tank beacause a new family memeber (2nd born) took precidence, because of that I was able to purchase some of the rock I liked.
powdertoastman
Member
if i were you i would add the sand right now, that gives it more time add bactira to it and start the break down of trates when they start to build up, also by adding it later you run the chance of prolonging the cycle for even longer time, it will end up stiring up the sand already in there and make huge spikes, could take a long time to go back down, JMO.
bigmac
Member
Originally posted by Powdertoastman
if i were you i would add the sand right now, that gives it more time add bactira to it and start the break down of trates when they start to build up, also by adding it later you run the chance of prolonging the cycle for even longer time, it will end up stiring up the sand already in there and make huge spikes, could take a long time to go back down, JMO.
That's all fine and dandy with one little exception....If its the packages stuff you'll still want to put it on top of the dead sand. If its true live sand from a reefers tanks you'll hopefully have lots of pods, b worms, mini brittles and other fun stuff, adding that to a tank that hasn't cycled will surly kill all of it.....its too bad we have to be in such a big hurry.
bonermeister
Member
Nice tank, good luck, and welcome to the board!
powdertoastman
Member
there is no reason to worry about rushing with sand, you put it in your tank when you start to get the cycle going faster and its less of a hassle to worrie about it AFTER you cycle and have spikes, if its from another reef tank, thats one thing, but if you got it out of a bag, there is no reason to leave it untill cycle is done or almost done, we did CC in our first tank, then had to remove it after 2 months, HUGE spikes when we put differnt sand in, had to recycle the whole tank and lost some of our fish. taking it slow is best thing, but that has nothing to do with sand, i would put it in over the dead stuff now and get it going, good luck with your first tank and welcome to the board.