beach sand as a base?

[nats]

I,m looking to set up a new 90gal reef tank, I've had a sucessful 55gal folr for the past 6 years and feel its time to move on. I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of questions. my first questions, I live on the water on the south shore of Long Island (New York) can I use beach sand from say Fire Island as a base for my sand bed (I realize it will need to be cured) and then seed it with some living sand.
What is a good protein skimmer for for a 90gal tank?
Can I use my fluval 403 instead of a fuge? (I'm tight for space this new tank is going on my credenzain my office)
lighting is going to be 2-satellite pc 4x65w total 520 watts
about 100lbs of LR (lalo rock with some larger base rocks)
Thanks nats

 

[yellowtail]

i would use beach sand because there is lots of stuff in that u dont want in ur tank.

 

[montidanae]

would not you mean, the beach is the oceans Protien skimmer there is lotion, alage, ammonia, dead things, chemicals poisons in it, why not spend $5 for white tropical play sand? and live sand fromt he ocean, you need to go out 5 or more miles and ive down to get it.

 

[montidanae]

if you are good a DIYing i could send you a link on how to make a skimmer, e-mail me, Guppieslayer@yahoo.com

 

[nats]

Thanks for the reply. I just thought that it might be better than the play sand. I've hear people complain about the milky clouds from play sand. I guess when you think about it thought it is natures protein skimmer.
I will email you shortly
Thanks

 

[montidanae]

yeah, wellat LFS they sell Aragonite sand, but it has a bigger grain, not like crushed corals, but onyl a little larger then the playsand, it dosent clund and stays put, but the playsand is the right size for micro fuana to attach to and filter the water, the dust is also good for them to burrow in and such. wonce it settles it will stay, the fuana thinkins it.

 

[bot587]

put at least one 400 watt MH on that tank

 

[bot587]

wrong post

 

[nats]

I've been trying to stay away from MH because of the heat factor. I've only had limited ezperience with MH and heat was always a big issue.

 

[montidanae]

i have 2 250W MH's in my canopy on my 55, heat stays at 80, as long as you have fans to circuale the air you'll be good, and if you realy want it stable add a fan on the top of an overflow to increase the evap, this will lower it.