DSB! DSB! DSB!
- Thread starter mo-mo
- Start date
clownman
Member
Make sure that after putting water, you have approximately 6" DSB. If not livesand, it will be good time to make sure that those sand are really clean. Clean it with regular water.
Then, after putting saltwater, consider adding some livesand or Miracle Mud. You can add these item to your calculation when considering DSB.
If Livesand doesn't have life, consider purchasing some kind of package deal (various DSB critter in it, but stay away from GARF Grunge or whatever)
You are not clear, why would there be a problem? Unless you put a type of sand note good for DSB, like crushed coral
Then, after putting saltwater, consider adding some livesand or Miracle Mud. You can add these item to your calculation when considering DSB.
If Livesand doesn't have life, consider purchasing some kind of package deal (various DSB critter in it, but stay away from GARF Grunge or whatever)
You are not clear, why would there be a problem? Unless you put a type of sand note good for DSB, like crushed coral
mo-mo
Member
No close they were 100# a peice. I found some cheap clean sand for like 3.19 per 100#. I calle dthe company to make sure it was just sand. They said "It was just sand" So I used it. It is also various sizes. I like the texture and color. I will remove a lil sand and add about 25# of live sand. Think that is cool. Or maybe remove a lil more and add 30-50 # of live sand. ???? Umm do ne of ya'll know how I can make my aquarium overflow. don't be a smatbutt!!!!
mo-mo
Member
I called the number again and asked them for any know contaminants. They said they get the sand from an quarry like place. They pass it through a proccess that kills bacteria and ne thing in it and it goes through a long drying stage. You think this is safe. They said the add nothing to either!!!!
fshhub
Active Member
IMHO
the things you really need to worry about are minerals TOO, if it came from a quarry, or anything for construction,
Remember no bacteria or contaminants in construction is not the same as safe for a reef, be extrremely careful, if it is the stuff they use for concrete
it could have lye and metals in there, which you definitely do not want, personally I would be extremely careful using anything that I don't know the complete history and make up of
If you want a cheap alternative, get southdown play sand, it may be avail. at HOMEDEPOT in your area, if not Quikrete makes a quartz type sand, which i have heard works well for other people, and quartz would be safe, both are inexpensiveSD is @ $5+- for 50 lbs, but your best substrate is Aragonite(SD) based, it will help you with your other parameteres as well as your nitrate reduction
HTH
[ December 13, 2001: Message edited by: fshhub ]
the things you really need to worry about are minerals TOO, if it came from a quarry, or anything for construction,
Remember no bacteria or contaminants in construction is not the same as safe for a reef, be extrremely careful, if it is the stuff they use for concrete
it could have lye and metals in there, which you definitely do not want, personally I would be extremely careful using anything that I don't know the complete history and make up of
If you want a cheap alternative, get southdown play sand, it may be avail. at HOMEDEPOT in your area, if not Quikrete makes a quartz type sand, which i have heard works well for other people, and quartz would be safe, both are inexpensiveSD is @ $5+- for 50 lbs, but your best substrate is Aragonite(SD) based, it will help you with your other parameteres as well as your nitrate reduction
HTH
[ December 13, 2001: Message edited by: fshhub ]
Where did this sand come from?? You need to have reef sand, not play sand that you get from home depoo.
What is the source of this sand? What does the lable say? Better to find out now and take a loss on this sand if you have to then regred it later.
I've NEVER heard of reef sand being sold in 100LB bags, which is why I was joking with you about it. Sounds to me like you may have just gotten some yard sand.
What is the source of this sand? What does the lable say? Better to find out now and take a loss on this sand if you have to then regred it later.
I've NEVER heard of reef sand being sold in 100LB bags, which is why I was joking with you about it. Sounds to me like you may have just gotten some yard sand.
mo-mo
Member
I never said it was REEF SAND. It was right next to playsand at my local hardware store. It is not concrete sand either it is just sand that is what the bag saya. I really appreciate ya'll concern and love the advice. This board helps me out so much. Thanks again. I had play sand at first but it looked too dark for my taste so I returned it. this is lighter. Umm ne advice on how much live sand to add to activete 200# of sand. And i see some people with live sand in their sump explain please!!!!
chopper320
Member
Hey MoMo another vote here on getting that sand out. Even though it seems like another delay and a waste of time it is very important and actually great that you have the chance to change it before you add water and livestock. The sand that is safe for aquariums has very specific needs such as no silicates(i think) and basically anything but the purest sand from the ocean is not acceptable. I would hate for you to invest all of that time and money into your tank and have it crash due to this sand which is very cheap considering what your whole system is probably worth.
JMHO
Ricky
JMHO
Ricky
dburr
Active Member
MO-MO,
I think you should really think about using that sand- as the other post stated check the label, who makes it. It could have metals and/or minerals that will biuld up in the system and kill everything you put in it. Even after you change the sand the tank may become a toxin sump and not be worth the glass that made it.
One bag of sand I think will be good enough to seed your sand. LR will come with the bugs you need.
Beth- I have to dis-agree with the "reef safe" stuff. To me it gives the store a chance to jack-up the prices of eveything. If you do the homework,(people in general) you will find out what can and can't go in a tank/reef.
Southdown is pure aragonite, nothing else, and reef safe. The perfect DSB substrate at $4.50 a 50# bag.
Take GE, they make a 20k bulb for $4. Why buy one for $13 and up? same bulb, prolly same maker but they stick their "label" on it and call it "reef safe".
What's my point? MO-MO and everyone including myself, lets do the homework and stop killing animals because we're to lazy to read a book or look up something or ask questions.
Good luck mo-mo, best wishes to your new setup.
dburr
I think you should really think about using that sand- as the other post stated check the label, who makes it. It could have metals and/or minerals that will biuld up in the system and kill everything you put in it. Even after you change the sand the tank may become a toxin sump and not be worth the glass that made it.
One bag of sand I think will be good enough to seed your sand. LR will come with the bugs you need.
Beth- I have to dis-agree with the "reef safe" stuff. To me it gives the store a chance to jack-up the prices of eveything. If you do the homework,(people in general) you will find out what can and can't go in a tank/reef.
Southdown is pure aragonite, nothing else, and reef safe. The perfect DSB substrate at $4.50 a 50# bag.
Take GE, they make a 20k bulb for $4. Why buy one for $13 and up? same bulb, prolly same maker but they stick their "label" on it and call it "reef safe".
What's my point? MO-MO and everyone including myself, lets do the homework and stop killing animals because we're to lazy to read a book or look up something or ask questions.
Good luck mo-mo, best wishes to your new setup.
dburr
D
diatom
Guest
In case anyone cares there really is no problem using silica sand...a nice white fine grained masons sand works fine.
IMO all the hubbub about arconite sand is overblown...yes it's nice if you have it available and by all means use it...but it's not the end of the world if you don't
IMO all the hubbub about arconite sand is overblown...yes it's nice if you have it available and by all means use it...but it's not the end of the world if you don't
mal
Member
Right on Diatom! I am so tired of all the "buffering" debates and so forth with aragonite sand. It can't help, the ph is too high in the reef tank for the sand to dislove. If that was the case why would anyone ever buy a Ca reactor or add calcium? There are TONS of articles out there on using regular sand for substrate with no problems. The point of a DSB is to create an oxy free zone where nitrates can be further processed into nitrogen gas and bubble up and out. It has nothing to do with whether the sand is aragonite or not.
ironreef
Member
southdown playsand from homedepot is the same sand as reef sand. arogonite is from the same place. Any sand is good as long as it's clean. you need it for grain size. But I still wouldn't use quarry sand. Miriclce mud is from the land fwiw. There is a break down of that sand and it comes from land not sea
wally
Member
The "quickcrete play sand" looks awesome and works great! And its $2.50 for a 50# bag AND unlike Southdown its very easy to find.
I also think that NOT having sand that will buffer your tank is a better idea than one that does. (and I wonder just how much aragonite even will) The reason why is that I want to have full control over what the buffering and calcium levels are in my tank. If alkalinity and calcium are too high I just don't want sand that maybe adding to the problem. But as was said before the PH is too high anyway for it to disolve all that much anyway.
I also think that NOT having sand that will buffer your tank is a better idea than one that does. (and I wonder just how much aragonite even will) The reason why is that I want to have full control over what the buffering and calcium levels are in my tank. If alkalinity and calcium are too high I just don't want sand that maybe adding to the problem. But as was said before the PH is too high anyway for it to disolve all that much anyway.