questions from a newbie

[semaj]

Hey all,
I've been reading this forum and it's great. I do have some questions for ya.
I just bought a 30 gallon and have put live sand in. I mixed two types of live sand and hope this won't be a problem. I'm planning on buying live rock next week. Is it really necessary to buy at least one pound per gallon?
Also, I noticed that the caulking appears to be wearing away in the tank. It holds water but it looks like it is wearing down. Would it be easy to recaulk the tank?
Lastly, my dumbest question, what is the difference between a sump and a fuge? I'm not familiar with either terminalogy.
:help:
Thanks!

 

[f1shman]

Okay, I'm not an expert, but Ill try to help you out. The live sand mixing doesn't sound like a problem. If you want live rock to really do its filtrating job you need 1 - 1.5 pounds per gallon. (I suggest you order it online, much much cheaper)
How badly is the caulking wearing, is it really noticeable?
I'm just learning about fuges as well, but I'm pretty sure a sump is just like a pump and some regular filtrating media (bio-balls, etc..). And a fuge is basically a sump full of live rock, beneficial algae, algae eaters, basically like a mini filtration garden.

 

[semaj]

Great. Thanks. I guess it's best not to chince out on the live rock.
The caulking is fairly bad. In areas there is green algae that seems to be under the remainder of it. It isn't smooth in any area. I thought I might scrape it off and just re-do it but I'm not sure if that would be harder than I think.

 

[f1shman]

Yeah, I'm not too sure about the caulking situation. Im guessing it would be hard to redo. Hopefully someone else will be able to answer that.

 

[semaj]

Ahhh, I just thought of another question.
Is it a big deal for 3 day delivery on live rock? The difference in cost for 3 day ground compared to 2 day air is $50.00. Would one day make that big of a difference?

 

[f1shman]

If you order from here, saltwaterfish.com, it says free shipping, and this is like the only website that has it precured as well

 

[semaj]

I will probably end up purchasing it here.
I was going to purchase it at this one place that was selling precured Fiji at $2.25 a lb. but I probably won't because shipping would be $30.00 for 3day ground or $80.00 for 2day air.

 

[latino277]

if you are just starting your tank.... it would be best to recalk you tank NOW. before it starts to leak. just take all you sand and put in a bucket/ plastic trash can with your water. You should be able to get you silicon at you pet shop. just clean up the warn area's and then re- apply the silicon. let is sit for a day or 2 without water and then set everything back up

 

[mikehaha]

Caulking is really easy. The hard part would be scraping off the old stuff. I would use a razpr blade. Shouldn't be too bad. Once everything is out of your tank, just run a bead of caulk where you want it, and then run your finger along the crease to smooth it out. Just make sue you get the caulking at a fish store and not a hardware store.

 

[semaj]

Thanks! I've decided to go ahead and recaulk the tank. Hopefully, this is somethin I'll be able to do this weekend. I was running my hand on the side of it and I got real paranoid that I felt a leak.
Soooo, after that, I'll put the sand and the water back, purchase the rock, and hopefully by the end of this year I'll have some fish to put in it. :happyfish