Live Sand Needed?

sfboarders · 09/12/2009, 09:04 PM

Hopefully next week I'll get to start my tank. I have 60 lbs of dry rock and 100 lbs of dry sand. I plan on getting some live rock. Do I need live sand? I don't plan on doing that shrimp or dead fish or fish food method. I'm taking my time.

Wolverine · 09/12/2009, 09:09 PM

You don't need to fill up with LS, however, if you can add 1-2# of LS to seed your sand bed, it will really improve the diversity of life in the tank.

tat2shawn · 09/12/2009, 09:44 PM

I agree with Wolverine, get at least some from an established tank.

sfboarders · 09/12/2009, 10:21 PM

How about the bagged stuff? Will that work the same?

Also, is it ok to rinse my dry sand in tap water or do I have to use RO water?

lancecobb1 · 09/12/2009, 10:22 PM

All you need is a little to speed up the process, the live rock would eventually turn the sand but the live sand would speed it up.

PRDubois · 09/12/2009, 10:37 PM

get from an established tank.

Reefy.Dave · 09/13/2009, 01:26 AM

I would just get like maybe 4 cups of some live sand from an established tank if you can find one and use it to seed your sand. If you cant find some from an estabished tank get a bag at your local pet market they have some live sand in bags. Just to speed up the process; it'll really help

JTL · 09/13/2009, 06:37 AM

If you add live sand from another persons tank do you run a risk of introducing ich into your tank?

Roy G. Biv · 09/13/2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sfboarders
Hopefully next week I'll get to start my tank. I have ..... 100 lbs of dry sand.

Is that play sand? If so I find that it scratches the glass very easily when caught between the magnet and the glass. Also if you get some sand sifters in the future, they will be unhappy

Quote:

Originally posted by JTL
If you add live sand from another persons tank do you run a risk of introducing ich into your tank?

I believe thats where they hatch. If you add the sand right away the ich will die before you add livestock because cycling takes about 6 weeks.

JTL · 09/13/2009, 07:01 AM

When I set up my tank with LS and LR it barely cycled. I put fish in almost immediately. I purchased the LS (actually mud) from a lfs which took it out of one of their sumps. I think some people also add LS from other tanks to get bio diversity. Anyway I always wondered about inducing ich.

sfboarders · 09/13/2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roy G. Biv
Is that play sand? If so I find that it scratches the glass very easily when caught between the magnet and the glass. Also if you get some sand sifters in the future, they will be unhappy

No it's coral sand from my LFS.

Is it ok to rinse the sand with tap water or do I have to use RODI water?

Roy G. Biv · 09/13/2009, 10:50 AM

If youre an extremist then yes. Personally I believe that if you use tapwater, all that crap gets processed in the cycle.

09/12/2009, 09:04 PM	#1
sfboarders Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: 808 State Posts: 1,356	Live Sand Needed? Hopefully next week I'll get to start my tank. I have 60 lbs of dry rock and 100 lbs of dry sand. I plan on getting some live rock. Do I need live sand? I don't plan on doing that shrimp or dead fish or fish food method. I'm taking my time.

09/12/2009, 09:09 PM	#2
Wolverine RC Mod Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 17,732	You don't need to fill up with LS, however, if you can add 1-2# of LS to seed your sand bed, it will really improve the diversity of life in the tank. __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -Douglas Adams Current Tank Info: 14g, 29g nano reefs

09/12/2009, 09:44 PM	#3
tat2shawn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northeast, PA Posts: 265	I agree with Wolverine, get at least some from an established tank. __________________ 90 gallon oceanic tech tank, RKE, ASM G-4, 2 Vortech MP-40s 2 250W MH 15k W/ actinic, 70 gallon frag tank Current Tank Info: 90 gallon ocqanic tech tank and a 55

09/12/2009, 10:37 PM	#6
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	get from an established tank. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

09/13/2009, 06:37 AM	#8
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	If you add live sand from another persons tank do you run a risk of introducing ich into your tank? __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

09/12/2009, 10:21 PM	#4
sfboarders Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: 808 State Posts: 1,356	How about the bagged stuff? Will that work the same? Also, is it ok to rinse my dry sand in tap water or do I have to use RO water?

09/12/2009, 10:22 PM	#5
lancecobb1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 53	All you need is a little to speed up the process, the live rock would eventually turn the sand but the live sand would speed it up.

09/13/2009, 01:26 AM	#7
Reefy.Dave Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Posts: 55	I would just get like maybe 4 cups of some live sand from an established tank if you can find one and use it to seed your sand. If you cant find some from an estabished tank get a bag at your local pet market they have some live sand in bags. Just to speed up the process; it'll really help

09/13/2009, 07:01 AM	#10
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	When I set up my tank with LS and LR it barely cycled. I put fish in almost immediately. I purchased the LS (actually mud) from a lfs which took it out of one of their sumps. I think some people also add LS from other tanks to get bio diversity. Anyway I always wondered about inducing ich. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

09/13/2009, 10:50 AM	#12
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	If youre an extremist then yes. Personally I believe that if you use tapwater, all that crap gets processed in the cycle.