Aragonite Sand

[timsedwards]

Hi Guys,
Been talking to Kip about changing my substrate and I was going to get some aragonite marine sand, which I will seed.
It is now my understanding that it is a good idea to cure it first? Does anyone have experiences of this, and has anyone added it without curing it?
Thanks!
Tim.

 

[antkri]

Look I am in no way a pro at this...however with my argonate I just simple washed it off cause it is dusty and added to tank amd I had no problems. I have heard that youshould cure it when adding to an exsisting tank, but mine work fine...Good Luck

 

[j21kickster]

it aids in the cloudiness time- it is said that the superfine grains are weighted down by a bacteria layer- thus setteling it better- but other than that- well- that would be my guess- i have used straight arag- but it took a while to settle- but thats to be expected

 

[crispcritr]

what qty are you replacing? i replaced my cc with about 200lbs of sand. i cured it using about 30lbs of sand from another tank for about 1 month. i kept it in a rubbermaid canister with a small powerhead and feed it some food every third day(for the worms and creatures) also ran a protien skimmer and a small light.

 

[timsedwards]

Thanks for the responses,
I am adding 100lbs or so, will seed it with 20lbs of my existing good sand when i put it in the tank.
How long did it take for it to settle j21kickster?
Thanks,
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

Oh Kip its not that i dont trust you at all! You know you are always my number one when it comes to reef advice! Just wanted to know if I could get away with it another way, evidently not!
OK im prepared to do it your way now and be Mr. Patient!
Tim.
ps. serves you right anyway for saying us Brits were stupid for waring targets in the war of independence!

 

[jonthefb]

Anthony Calfo had much to say about rinsing sand during his lecture on Sun.... he sadi that by no means should an aquarist rinse their sand, as it is the minute dustl like particles that float around in the water column which help to initially buffer the tank water.....this "silt" is by all means beneficial, and thought takes longer to settle in a newly established tank, is the first to bufffer, the tank after establishment!
good luck
jon