curing live rock

hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
okay then i will put the LR in and add base sand around the rock and in the entire tank to seed it at the same time. i will let it cycle and then i will add some live sand. i will get about a pound of wet from the LFS and spread it on the bottom to seed it better. do you know if they sell black live sand?? i am going to use black to bring the fishes colors out better but i haven't seen any live black sand around.
then i plan on cycling with a shrimp because i don't want damsels in my tank and i don't want to pay for fish that are going to die.
 
th3third

th3third

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2627172
I would personally add the sand around the base of the rock. I have done it that way, as have most people on this board. This is the first that I have heard anyone recommend not adding the sand until after the cycle. It really would not harm anything if you did want to wait though. You will just have to let it settle then and the sand would not have biological bacteria colonized on it. You can wait to add the live after the tank is cycled. If you are buying live sand that is dry in the bag, it is not true live sand. It is aragonite with some nutrient solution and bacteria cultures. It does not contain creatures or anything else that is truly alive. It will not be harmed by the cycle. I would, however, keep the ammonia below 1ppm. As mentioned, keeping the ammonia low will save the life on your rock. That life will then migrate into the sand and make it live.
So buying the "live sand" is a waste of money? If it is then waiting for the sand to become live from the live rock still requires some time doesnt it? Is the sand on this site any good? It says it is harvested from the ocean. I was thinking of buying dry aragonite sand and maybe dosing it with a layer of the cultured sand you were referring to.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2627285
okay then i will put the LR in and add base sand around the rock and in the entire tank to seed it at the same time. i will let it cycle and then i will add some live sand. i will get about a pound of wet from the LFS and spread it on the bottom to seed it better. do you know if they sell black live sand?? i am going to use black to bring the fishes colors out better but i haven't seen any live black sand around.
then i plan on cycling with a shrimp because i don't want damsels in my tank and i don't want to pay for fish that are going to die.
You will not need to cycle with a shrimp. Once the rock is cured the tank will be cycled. I do not know who sells black live sand. There are people on here with black sand. Maybe start a post about that in Fish Discussion. You will have to look around for it. I am sure someone carries it though.
Originally Posted by Th3ThirD
http:///forum/post/2627348
So buying the "live sand" is a waste of money? If it is then waiting for the sand to become live from the live rock still requires some time doesnt it? Is the sand on this site any good? It says it is harvested from the ocean. I was thinking of buying dry aragonite sand and maybe dosing it with a layer of the cultured sand you were referring to.
Many people use the "live" that is sold at the LFS. I wouldn't say that it is a waste of money. It is still aragonite. It just does not do what some people may think that it does. The sand from here is true live sand from the ocean. That is excellent to add on top of non live sand.
 
th3third

th3third

Member
Thanks for the time to respond Sep. You must really love the hobby to take time to help others. I can say just by doing alot of research and reading that I have learned so much. I appreciate your posts
.
By the way I just finished aquascaping my tank. I hope to post some pics later tonight....I've been at it since 1 pm...I need to rest!!
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Th3ThirD
http:///forum/post/2627494
Thanks for the time to respond Sep. You must really love the hobby to take time to help others. I can say just by doing alot of research and reading that I have learned so much. I appreciate your posts
.
By the way I just finished aquascaping my tank. I hope to post some pics later tonight....I've been at it since 1 pm...I need to rest!!
Nice! I look forward to seeing them. Start your own post though. I will look for it. If you have PM then PM me the link if you want to. Yep, I do love the hobby. What I enjoy even more is when people learn and grow as hobbyists, then start sharing advise
 
th3third

th3third

Member
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