Great News!

[zacg]

I just upgraded!

I bought a 75g tank with 50lbs of live rock on a oak stand for $350. the only thing i am goin to have to do is put new sand in. Has anybody on here ever used like the play sand for kids in their tank instead of live sand i was thinking about using it to save a little money. Has anybody ever done that or would that be a bad idea?

 

[flower]

Hi, congratulaions on the new tank!
JMO
I am no expert, but it sounds like a bad idea to me. If it isn't meant for fish I don't use it. You are creating a world for your critters to live in...If I have learned anything in this hobby...I have learned that the cheap comes out expensive.
You will invest so much in saltwater creatures, you want them to have the best place to live, as worry free as you can get it to be.

 

[ryancw01]

You can use play sand, but keep in mind you don't always know what you are getting with it. Much of play sand will be really high in silicates so you might suffer through some algae blooms. For the most part though, it is safe and just needs to be rinsed thoroughly.

 

[jdl]

sand is not that expensive. Looking at some of the big PET chains online stores is a SMART idea for some items.

 

[zacg]

thanks i think i'm goin to get some play sand and put a layer of argonite over the top of it. also they 50lbs of live rock that came with it have been in the tank for 5 years with my putting new sand in how much of a cycle do you think i will have to go through?

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by ZacG
http:///forum/post/3067565
thanks i think i'm goin to get some play sand and put a layer of argonite over the top of it. also they 50lbs of live rock that came with it have been in the tank for 5 years with my putting new sand in how much of a cycle do you think i will have to go through?
unless you buy southdown playsand this is a bad idea and your setting yourself up to fail. saltwater is NOT hard to keep at all, however it is vital that you start off with a proper set up. do some research on playsand and you will find that what i am telling you is correct.
if you want to lessen the cost you can buy nice big 40 and 50 pound pags of dry arraginite for only around 25-30 bucks per bag. toss that in in along with a cup of live sand from a friends tank and it will be seeded and running stong very quickly. this is what i have done in every tank i have had and it works out great.

 

[zacg]

where can you get 40-50 pound bags? And how much sand would i need for a 75 gallon my tank is 4ft long and 18" deep

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by ZacG
http:///forum/post/3067575
where can you get 40-50 pound bags? And how much sand would i need for a 75 gallon my tank is 4ft long and 18" deep

one maybe two at the most. depends on how deep you want your sand bed.
cant link on this site but search google for
Carib Sea Aragonite Reef Sand
should find it all over in 30-40-even 50 pound bags the price will range from 24-35 bucks. call your LFS and chances are they already have some in stock. even the major chain pet shop carrys the bags of them around here. I like the fiji pink sand which is available in the 50 pound bags. its a nice grain size and looks very nice
all of these store in your state carry it
1 Aqua Escapes
1714 Hwy 21 S.
Suite A
Oxford, AL. 36203 US
Telephone: 256.832.5600
2 Aquarium Fantasies
149 Eastern Blvd.
Montgomery, AL. 36117 US
Telephone: (334) 396-5020
3 Just Cichlids
2006 Triana blvd. s.w.
Huntsville, AL. 35805 US
Telephone: 256-536-0185
4 Fat Fish
28851 N. Main Street
Suite D
Daphne, AL. 36526 US
Telephone: 251-626-0926
5 Coral Reef Design
9495 hickory st s
Foley, AL. 36535 US
Telephone: 251 971 2200
6 Aquarium Designs
4441 Creekside Ave, suite 141
Hoover, AL. 35244 US
Telephone: 205 444 9952
7 Aquarium Designs
601 Doug Baker Blvd.
Hoover, AL. 35244 US
Telephone: 205 444 9952
8 Tropical Pet Cove
7895 Hwy 119
Unit 10
Alabaster, AL. 35007 US
Telephone: 205-621-0411

 

[zacg]

ok thanks i know when i set up my 24 gallon aquapod i put the water in then i just put the salt in and let the powerheads stir it up what would be the best way to do the 75 gallon

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by ZacG
http:///forum/post/3067582
ok thanks i know when i set up my 24 gallon aquapod i put the water in then i just put the salt in and let the powerheads stir it up what would be the best way to do the 75 gallon
as long at there is nothing in the tank yes this is fine. depending on the salt you are using you may prefer to mix in a bucket first. some salt will cloud up the water a good amount for a bit and the deposit on the glass causing you to clean it shortly after.
also to make things even easier for you put you sand in the tank FIRST. then place a plate in the middle of the tank and poor the water on the plate so the sand does not get all mixed around. if you put the water in first you will get a big muddy mess when adding the sand.
one mroe thing. this dry type of sand grinds up in shipping and is VERY dusty. be sure to give it a good rinse before using it. you dont have to but it makes for a much cleaner job

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by ZacG
http:///forum/post/3067575
where can you get 40-50 pound bags? And how much sand would i need for a 75 gallon my tank is 4ft long and 18" deep

sand is not that expensive. Looking at some of the big PET chains online stores is a SMART idea for some items.
^

 

[zacg]

ok thanks would it be ok oceana to put the water in then the salt of i have live rock in there or wait to put my live rock in till the salt settles?

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by ZacG
http:///forum/post/3067648
ok thanks would it be ok oceana to put the water in then the salt of i have live rock in there or wait to put my live rock in till the salt settles?

mix first then live rock. the salt will pool in the areas within the rock and make it hard to get a good mix.

 

[zacg]

alright b/c the only buckets i have are 5 gallon so it would take awhile mixing the water 5 gallons at a time