New set-up: need all advice

[azocean709]

take out the CC IMO....nothing but a bad trap. get yourself some good test kits..they may be alittle high priced , but they are worth it in the long haul. power heads are great. you want to accomplish good flow through out your tank...I have some "dead" spots, but i have it that way on purpose. for the bacteria in the sand at that particular spot...when you learn more from people here you will understand. Good luck with your tank!!

 

[trainfever]

DO NOT put the sand over top of the crushed coral. The sand will eventually sink to the bottom and you will have the CC on top.

 

[renayallen]

Originally Posted by trainfever
DO NOT put the sand over top of the crushed coral. The sand will eventually sink to the bottom and you will have the CC on top.

That do make sense not to mix. Since that the sand is finer than the CC. Also, when i went to the LFS they had to different types of LS. One was CaribSea Aragonite, which was dry. The other package was wet with the bacteria in it. Does it makes a difference in which one i got.

 

[azocean709]

i would go with the Wet. but...even after you get that sand in your tank....if there was any possible way you could get a cup full of sand from someones "established" tank...that would work wonders. even if you were to ask the LFS for a cup of their sand in their display tanks...most should not have a problem with that...some i reckon would. but cycle your first batch of sand in your tank...then after your tank is cycled put the cup in of the established sand... kinda like "reseeding" a garden IMO.

 

[puffer32]

I wouldn't put the LS in at this point, your tank is already cycled, all you are doing is taking out the CC and replacing it with sand. LS should have been used before you cycled, in fact would have helped your tank to cycle, so what you bought today will work for you.

 

[renayallen]

I bought some LR put it in the tank and I set the powerhead up also. Now I am stuck between wanting to put the sand in and taking the CC out. Also with the LR what do i need to do with it while i change the bed.

 

[azocean709]

Originally Posted by renayallen
I bought some LR put it in the tank and I set the powerhead up also. Now I am stuck between wanting to put the sand in and taking the CC out. Also with the LR what do i need to do with it while i change the bed.
put it in a bucket with water from your tank. and put the power head in there for circulation. i believe you may want to put a heater in there to. keep everything at the norm.

 

[james983]

Personally, I would remove all the CC and put in approx. 70 lbs of LS. That shoud give you a 4 inch base. I know it's costly, but it is well worth it. The tank will probably re-cycle, let it. You need to slow down and monitor things for a few weeks. Then if all is well start stocking slowy. I know it's hard to control, but patience is the key to success. Good luck.

 

[puffer32]

Originally Posted by James983
Personally, I would remove all the CC and put in approx. 70 lbs of LS. That shoud give you a 4 inch base. I know it's costly, but it is well worth it. The tank will probably re-cycle, let it. You need to slow down and monitor things for a few weeks. Then if all is well start stocking slowy. I know it's hard to control, but patience is the key to success. Good luck.
No need for all that money to be wasted on LS, she can get mostly play sand because her tank is already cycled and she has LR to seed her sand, maybe afew lbs is worth the expense, but thats all she needs.

 

[pasafire]

Originally Posted by James983
Personally, I would remove all the CC and put in approx. 70 lbs of LS. That shoud give you a 4 inch base. I know it's costly, but it is well worth it. The tank will probably re-cycle, let it. You need to slow down and monitor things for a few weeks. Then if all is well start stocking slowy. I know it's hard to control, but patience is the key to success. Good luck.
WOW Ummm ok I feel scared now... I have a 125g I bought used and put in 2" of the old CC substrate from the guy who had it before me and have already put in 60lbs of live sand over top of it. I was told it would mix together and shown by my friend that it mixed together well so I kept it..... IMPOSSIBLE to get it out now without wasting 60lbs of live sand..... What to do!??!?!