how long is live sand 'live' out of tank?

kissmeplenty · 05/21/2008, 07:25 AM

Hi everyone. I bought some live sand from my lfs but wound up having a plumbing leak so had to put using it on hold. My question is how long is it ok to sit with tank water in a bucket? Its been about a week and I wasn't sure if it needed to be rinsed or something now that its sat. I'm concerned that it's been dying and will be promblematic if I use it as it is now. Hope this isn't a silly question and appreciate any opinions. Thanks!

Capt_Cully · 05/21/2008, 07:31 AM

I'd think that by sitting in a bucket for a week you'll have some die off. If you have a tank that needs to cycle anyway, you'll be fine. If tank is already cycled and you add it, I'd say you're asking for trouble.

There are no silly questions on RC only silly people that will try to make YOU feel silly because you're not "in the know". And they are a minority.

So any more ??? Ask away, don't be shy. We all gotta learn somehow.

Tswifty · 05/21/2008, 07:41 AM

Like Capt_Cully stated above, if your tank needs to cycle anyway you will be fine.

If it has been sitting for a week, I would give it a rinse in tank water before adding it back.

kissmeplenty · 05/21/2008, 02:30 PM

Thank you both for replying. I appreciate your kind words capt! I have to admit I'm a little gun shy of being bludgeoned by 'that' crowd lol. Since you offered, here are some more ???

I bought the sand for the refugium I was making out of a 30 long tank. I had to redo my plumbing for the upgrade. I have NO idea why but i have multiple leaks! My dad is a plumber so I do know my way around pvc, etc so the only reason I can figure is my glue/primer was old or something. I let it sit for a week before plumbing it into the actual tank so to say the least there were tears shed and angry tantrums. Soooo that sand was going into the new refugium of a currently cycled tank. But I was concerned about die off so guess I'll rinse it off and get more live sand to seed it. Would you agree with that? Since my display is already cycled?

Now my bulkheads came in a oceanic overflow package but standard pvc does not fit tightly. I was told they are metric and the pvc fittings are standard us. Have you heard of that before? Some of my leaking is at that connection but not all. Think I will order different bulk heads and start fresh.

Thanks again for any advice!

Capt_Cully · 05/21/2008, 03:41 PM

Not sure about the bulkheads, I've always used the standard Megaflow kits.

If the system is running do like Tswifty said and rinse it. Personally, I'd rinse the **** out of it or pitch it and just start with new stuff. I think there can be alot of crud in "preenjoyed" sand, esp if it sat dormant in a bucket for a week.

New sand may kick up some silicates if not washed thoroughly. This could lead to a cyano or brown slime algae bloom. This is something I'm just experiencing despite rinsing the new sand 6 times with RO/DI water.

kissmeplenty · 05/21/2008, 04:32 PM

Hmm maybe I'm wrong about the brand but pretty sure they were oceanic. I'll have to check when I get home. I too am dealing with red slime now (so i think). Being a newbie I didn't realize it was a bad growth till it spread all over the back of my aquascaping. Only a little on the sand bad, mostly on the rocks and back wall of tank. I think my flow was not circulating enough throught the back. Does that sound reasonable since there is none in the front?
Think I will take the advice and rinse rinse rinse and add to it. It wasn't enough for a dsb anyway. Oh well, what can you do I guess.

Capt_Cully · 05/21/2008, 05:30 PM

you're gonna undergo alot of different algae blooms in the first 6-12 months. They, ususally, are self limiting, and are due to the tank getting into a stable biologic equillibrium. You just have to stay on top of things. I think the 3 biggest things you can do are, siphon off detritus (essentially fish poop), don't over feed, and do regular decent sized water changes (10%/week is what I do). Others change more less often like 20% every 2 or more once a month. I've seen first hand that things seem to do better once a week. And for you thats only 12 gallons (I do 40gal) so you should be able to keep up and keep everything happy.

Good luck

demonsp · 05/21/2008, 06:27 PM

Just use it and let tank recycle. After your tank is cycled with this sand any problems you may have will not be from this. Next time you do this just add some flow for minimal dieoff. Useing a HOB media filter will help remove suspended debris.

05/21/2008, 07:25 AM	#1
kissmeplenty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cape Ann, Massachusetts Posts: 17	how long is live sand 'live' out of tank? Hi everyone. I bought some live sand from my lfs but wound up having a plumbing leak so had to put using it on hold. My question is how long is it ok to sit with tank water in a bucket? Its been about a week and I wasn't sure if it needed to be rinsed or something now that its sat. I'm concerned that it's been dying and will be promblematic if I use it as it is now. Hope this isn't a silly question and appreciate any opinions. Thanks! __________________ whoops, did i say that out loud? Current Tank Info: 120 gallon beginner

05/21/2008, 07:31 AM	#2
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	I'd think that by sitting in a bucket for a week you'll have some die off. If you have a tank that needs to cycle anyway, you'll be fine. If tank is already cycled and you add it, I'd say you're asking for trouble. There are no silly questions on RC only silly people that will try to make YOU feel silly because you're not "in the know". And they are a minority. So any more ??? Ask away, don't be shy. We all gotta learn somehow. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

05/21/2008, 07:41 AM	#3
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Like Capt_Cully stated above, if your tank needs to cycle anyway you will be fine. If it has been sitting for a week, I would give it a rinse in tank water before adding it back. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/21/2008, 02:30 PM	#4
kissmeplenty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cape Ann, Massachusetts Posts: 17	Thank you both for replying. I appreciate your kind words capt! I have to admit I'm a little gun shy of being bludgeoned by 'that' crowd lol. Since you offered, here are some more ??? I bought the sand for the refugium I was making out of a 30 long tank. I had to redo my plumbing for the upgrade. I have NO idea why but i have multiple leaks! My dad is a plumber so I do know my way around pvc, etc so the only reason I can figure is my glue/primer was old or something. I let it sit for a week before plumbing it into the actual tank so to say the least there were tears shed and angry tantrums. Soooo that sand was going into the new refugium of a currently cycled tank. But I was concerned about die off so guess I'll rinse it off and get more live sand to seed it. Would you agree with that? Since my display is already cycled? Now my bulkheads came in a oceanic overflow package but standard pvc does not fit tightly. I was told they are metric and the pvc fittings are standard us. Have you heard of that before? Some of my leaking is at that connection but not all. Think I will order different bulk heads and start fresh. Thanks again for any advice! __________________ whoops, did i say that out loud? Current Tank Info: 120 gallon beginner

05/21/2008, 03:41 PM	#5
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Not sure about the bulkheads, I've always used the standard Megaflow kits. If the system is running do like Tswifty said and rinse it. Personally, I'd rinse the **** out of it or pitch it and just start with new stuff. I think there can be alot of crud in "preenjoyed" sand, esp if it sat dormant in a bucket for a week. New sand may kick up some silicates if not washed thoroughly. This could lead to a cyano or brown slime algae bloom. This is something I'm just experiencing despite rinsing the new sand 6 times with RO/DI water. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

05/21/2008, 04:32 PM	#6
kissmeplenty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cape Ann, Massachusetts Posts: 17	Hmm maybe I'm wrong about the brand but pretty sure they were oceanic. I'll have to check when I get home. I too am dealing with red slime now (so i think). Being a newbie I didn't realize it was a bad growth till it spread all over the back of my aquascaping. Only a little on the sand bad, mostly on the rocks and back wall of tank. I think my flow was not circulating enough throught the back. Does that sound reasonable since there is none in the front? Think I will take the advice and rinse rinse rinse and add to it. It wasn't enough for a dsb anyway. Oh well, what can you do I guess. __________________ whoops, did i say that out loud? Current Tank Info: 120 gallon beginner

05/21/2008, 05:30 PM	#7
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	you're gonna undergo alot of different algae blooms in the first 6-12 months. They, ususally, are self limiting, and are due to the tank getting into a stable biologic equillibrium. You just have to stay on top of things. I think the 3 biggest things you can do are, siphon off detritus (essentially fish poop), don't over feed, and do regular decent sized water changes (10%/week is what I do). Others change more less often like 20% every 2 or more once a month. I've seen first hand that things seem to do better once a week. And for you thats only 12 gallons (I do 40gal) so you should be able to keep up and keep everything happy. Good luck __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

05/21/2008, 06:27 PM	#8
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Just use it and let tank recycle. After your tank is cycled with this sand any problems you may have will not be from this. Next time you do this just add some flow for minimal dieoff. Useing a HOB media filter will help remove suspended debris.