Live Sand

[wiseman]

Hello I'm new to the site.I have a 90 Gal FO tank With CC.Iam changing to a DSB.How much live sand should I add to 120 lbs.of reg sand? Also can I buy rock from a landscape supply and add live rock to make it all live rock? Thanks for the help.

 

[acrylic51]

How much live sand are you planning on using??? You don't need a lot of "live sand" to seed your other sand... Are you talking about using 120lbs of sand??? I wouldn't trust getting rock from your landscape suppy place.....I think your asking for disaster

 

[dskidmore]

What kind of rock are you speaking of? If it's a varient of calcium carbonate such as limestone, it could work. The closer the calcium carbonate is to it's origional form as a coral, the more internal spaces there will be in the rock, and it will support a larger denitrifying bacteria load.
With most other rocks, you have to worry about trace elements that could poison your tank. Find a geologist friend to help you identify the rock and it's likely makeup before putting it in your tank.

 

[wiseman]

It's 120 lbs of carrib sea agromax sand. I just want to know how huch live sand to seed it with. I don;t know a geoligist is there any other way to tell if rock is good ?I am on the gulf coast.

 

[acrylic51]

Like I said you don't need a bunch of sand to seed the dry stuff and 120lbs IMO is way to much for the main display tank

 

[wiseman]

How much in your opinion would be.

 

[bigarn]

As DSkidmore stated, some kinds of rock can work ... however, not knowing which kind can be harmful. I'd play it safe and buy some good LR from a reliable source.

 

[dskidmore]

or make your own rock! Do a search on DIY live rock, you should find alot of good info. It's cheap, and creative!

 

[wiseman]

I'll try that thank you