Sand Advice

jkhalliday76 · 05-13-2006, 03:19 PM

Ok, I did it. I removed all of my crused coral today

Quickly let me refresh. I have a 20 gallon tank...no livestock except for 3 astreae snails and approx. 20 pounds of live rock. I've got 10 pounds of Nature's Ocean Premium White Sand and I wanted to also add live sand to bring my bacteria back up after taking out all the cc at once. Has anyone had any experience with this sand:http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=4897&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=sand&sku=708941& familyID=7452&

And is it ok to mix the two types of sand?

Thanks so much!

jkhalliday76 · 05-13-2006, 03:26 PM

Oh Yea...any ideas on how to put the sand in without taking out the water? Cupfulls??
Thanks!

observer · 05-13-2006, 03:32 PM

For putting the sand in your tank, what I did was:

a) washed the outside of the bag
b) cut the top 1/4 inch off of the bag
c) sank the whole bag into my tank until it was flat against the bottom
d) slowly poured the sand onto the bottom.

It worked surprisingly well. I had a cloud for a few hours, but not bad. The sand mostly just oozed out and stayed on the bottom.

cheeks69 · 05-13-2006, 05:06 PM

I have used that sand some southdown and live sand from an LFS. Although I don't believe most of the infauna survives but should have some bacteria.

jkhalliday76 · 05-13-2006, 05:53 PM

Ok...well sand's in. Tanks, of course, cloudy and I need to reaquascape...but I'm on my way! A gobie is going to LOVE it in there! I can't wait for fish!

Do you think I can expect to see a cycle again?

Cougra · 05-13-2006, 06:13 PM

Not by adding dead sand. If you want to boost your bacteria again before adding fish then you should consider adding some fish food, a small peice of shrimp or pure ammonia to force the tank to cycle again. Otherwise you can try adding ONE small fish (preferably smaller then two inches when you get it) and keep a close eye on the parameters for a couple weeks. If you have enough live rock it should be able to handle the bioload of the fish, but you'll need to stock the tank slowly.

billyr98 · 05-13-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Otherwise you can try adding ONE small fish (preferably smaller then two inches when you get it)

Like a Damsel..

lcstorc · 05-14-2006, 07:11 AM

Too bad you're not in Florida. I have damsels looking for a new home.
Welcome to RS.
Peace
Lynn

gimpy · 05-14-2006, 08:39 PM

jk, I would not add a damsel, unless you wanted to keep it. Fish are hard to remove once you get them in a tank. I would not expect a big cycle if your tank is already cycled once, maybe a small one. Hopefully that bag of sand that you want to add will help reduce it even more.

What type of fish do you really want in there? If it is a good healthy, hardy specimen, I don't think I would have any problem putting it in. If so, I would keep a close eye on your ammonia/nitrite levels and do a 5 gallon or so water change every 3 days or so for a week or two. (I recently did just this)

I know damsels are considered hardy and are supposedly mostly used for cycling, but, I repeat, if you have a known healthy, hardy specimen, I see no reason in putting it in, especially if the tank has already cycled once.

My opinion only. Best of luck, Frank

KeyserSoze · 05-14-2006, 08:46 PM

Almost 2 yrs in and I have one of the original "starter" fish still in my tank. It was a damsel that was too tough and sly to be removed. After 6 months I gave in and quit trying. Luckily it was a chromis and has been a reasonably peaceful inhabitant. Just because you want think that it's temporary doesn't mean the fish will agree.

05-13-2006, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
jkhalliday76 Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sand Advice Ok, I did it. I removed all of my crused coral today Quickly let me refresh. I have a 20 gallon tank...no livestock except for 3 astreae snails and approx. 20 pounds of live rock. I've got 10 pounds of Nature's Ocean Premium White Sand and I wanted to also add live sand to bring my bacteria back up after taking out all the cc at once. Has anyone had any experience with this sand:http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=4897&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=sand&sku=708941& familyID=7452& And is it ok to mix the two types of sand? Thanks so much!

05-13-2006, 03:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
jkhalliday76 Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice Oh Yea...any ideas on how to put the sand in without taking out the water? Cupfulls?? Thanks!

05-13-2006, 03:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
observer Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 16 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice For putting the sand in your tank, what I did was: a) washed the outside of the bag b) cut the top 1/4 inch off of the bag c) sank the whole bag into my tank until it was flat against the bottom d) slowly poured the sand onto the bottom. It worked surprisingly well. I had a cloud for a few hours, but not bad. The sand mostly just oozed out and stayed on the bottom. __________________ observer Don't spend your whole life looking for what you already have

05-13-2006, 05:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,711 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice I have used that sand some southdown and live sand from an LFS. Although I don't believe most of the infauna survives but should have some bacteria. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

05-13-2006, 05:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
jkhalliday76 Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 254 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice Ok...well sand's in. Tanks, of course, cloudy and I need to reaquascape...but I'm on my way! A gobie is going to LOVE it in there! I can't wait for fish! Do you think I can expect to see a cycle again?

05-13-2006, 06:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice Not by adding dead sand. If you want to boost your bacteria again before adding fish then you should consider adding some fish food, a small peice of shrimp or pure ammonia to force the tank to cycle again. Otherwise you can try adding ONE small fish (preferably smaller then two inches when you get it) and keep a close eye on the parameters for a couple weeks. If you have enough live rock it should be able to handle the bioload of the fish, but you'll need to stock the tank slowly. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

05-14-2006, 07:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,008 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand Advice Too bad you're not in Florida. I have damsels looking for a new home. Welcome to RS. Peace Lynn __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

05-14-2006, 08:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
gimpy Bryozoan Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 53 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice jk, I would not add a damsel, unless you wanted to keep it. Fish are hard to remove once you get them in a tank. I would not expect a big cycle if your tank is already cycled once, maybe a small one. Hopefully that bag of sand that you want to add will help reduce it even more. What type of fish do you really want in there? If it is a good healthy, hardy specimen, I don't think I would have any problem putting it in. If so, I would keep a close eye on your ammonia/nitrite levels and do a 5 gallon or so water change every 3 days or so for a week or two. (I recently did just this) I know damsels are considered hardy and are supposedly mostly used for cycling, but, I repeat, if you have a known healthy, hardy specimen, I see no reason in putting it in, especially if the tank has already cycled once. My opinion only. Best of luck, Frank

05-14-2006, 08:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 111 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand Advice Almost 2 yrs in and I have one of the original "starter" fish still in my tank. It was a damsel that was too tough and sly to be removed. After 6 months I gave in and quit trying. Luckily it was a chromis and has been a reasonably peaceful inhabitant. Just because you want think that it's temporary doesn't mean the fish will agree.

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