How long will live sand last in a 5 gallon bucket

cr85r · 10/11/2010, 11:55 PM

I was recently given some live sand in 5 gallon buckets I'm wondering what I should do with it I am almost home and the sand has been in sealed 5 gallon buckets since sunday. Do I just rinse it in fresh water or should I rinse it in some new saltwater the put a small hob filter to clean the detritus ?

dots · 10/12/2010, 12:16 AM

How old was the sand, are you using it to stock your tank as in you don't have any, when are you planning to use it? These are all factors to consider.

Put some salt water in it to keep the critters alive. I suggest putting it in slowly over the course of a week if you have an established tank that is running.

aquainas · 10/12/2010, 12:24 AM

I'd be cautious of die off in the sand if you're using to seed a running setup then you only need a cup or so. If this is to set up a new tank I'd wash it in fresh SW first.

cr85r · 10/12/2010, 01:24 AM

It had been in a tank for 2 years or so I was told it had tons of pods. I would like to use it soon as possible but I would like to minimize the die off before I add it with the live rock . It currently has saltwater I'm going to dump it and add some new salt water. Also this is a new tank with cycled live rock

cr85r · 10/12/2010, 03:59 AM

I decided there was way to much gunk in the sand I fresh water rinsed it all is there any special thing i need to do to it ? also where can I get some good seeding live sand it's not available locally

JMartin104 · 10/12/2010, 07:14 AM

I put about 100lbs of LS in plastic trash bags for about 2 weeks. The sand was moist, not wet and I live in hot muggy central FL. When I opened the bag, there was no smell. I put the sand in my tank and have not had any issues. The sand is looking great and all readings are where they need to be (except PO4). Tank has been up for about 7 weeks. I think LS and LR can go longer outside of our tanks than most expect.

aquainas · 10/12/2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cr85r

I decided there was way to much gunk in the sand I fresh water rinsed it all is there any special thing i need to do to it ? also where can I get some good seeding live sand it's not available locally

You did the right thing...the last thing you want is a sand bed full of detritus adding to your nitrates and phosphates. Just get a cup of sand from another reefer's tank. Make sure there are no current or recent disease outbreaks in their system first. You don't want that in your new system, even though your tank should be fishless you don't want to risk something surviving and waiting for a new host, after 2 months there's very little risk though if you can wait that long.

cr85r · 10/12/2010, 12:28 PM

The problem is the only other reefers I know live 3 hrs away

Palting · 10/12/2010, 01:16 PM

You said you have a new tank with cycled live rock. The cycled live rock is your seed for your newly rinsed substrate. You don't really need any more. If you still want to, you can get bacteria in a bottle, like stability or fritz-zyme on line.

cr85r · 10/12/2010, 04:38 PM

thanks for all the great advice guys

10/11/2010, 11:55 PM	#1
cr85r Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: delrio Posts: 105	How long will live sand last in a 5 gallon bucket I was recently given some live sand in 5 gallon buckets I'm wondering what I should do with it I am almost home and the sand has been in sealed 5 gallon buckets since sunday. Do I just rinse it in fresh water or should I rinse it in some new saltwater the put a small hob filter to clean the detritus ? __________________ 75 mixed reef

10/12/2010, 12:16 AM	#2
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	How old was the sand, are you using it to stock your tank as in you don't have any, when are you planning to use it? These are all factors to consider. Put some salt water in it to keep the critters alive. I suggest putting it in slowly over the course of a week if you have an established tank that is running. __________________ ~Doug

10/12/2010, 12:24 AM	#3
aquainas Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,361	I'd be cautious of die off in the sand if you're using to seed a running setup then you only need a cup or so. If this is to set up a new tank I'd wash it in fresh SW first. __________________ “Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” - D. Elton Trueblood Current Tank Info: In-wall 240 Main display\|MSX300\|MP40W's\|Radiums\|Ecoxotic\|Apex\|Constant water change via LiterMeter III R.I.P

10/12/2010, 01:24 AM	#4
cr85r Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: delrio Posts: 105	It had been in a tank for 2 years or so I was told it had tons of pods. I would like to use it soon as possible but I would like to minimize the die off before I add it with the live rock . It currently has saltwater I'm going to dump it and add some new salt water. Also this is a new tank with cycled live rock __________________ 75 mixed reef

10/12/2010, 03:59 AM	#5
cr85r Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: delrio Posts: 105	I decided there was way to much gunk in the sand I fresh water rinsed it all is there any special thing i need to do to it ? also where can I get some good seeding live sand it's not available locally __________________ 75 mixed reef

10/12/2010, 07:14 AM	#6
JMartin104 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 309	I put about 100lbs of LS in plastic trash bags for about 2 weeks. The sand was moist, not wet and I live in hot muggy central FL. When I opened the bag, there was no smell. I put the sand in my tank and have not had any issues. The sand is looking great and all readings are where they need to be (except PO4). Tank has been up for about 7 weeks. I think LS and LR can go longer outside of our tanks than most expect. __________________ Disclaimer: Nube since July 2010 Tank: 90g, 2 X 250 MH, 2 X 96w Act, Fuge w/Chaeto & skimmer Fish with mixed SPS/LPS corals

10/12/2010, 12:28 PM	#8
cr85r Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: delrio Posts: 105	The problem is the only other reefers I know live 3 hrs away __________________ 75 mixed reef

10/12/2010, 01:16 PM	#9
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	You said you have a new tank with cycled live rock. The cycled live rock is your seed for your newly rinsed substrate. You don't really need any more. If you still want to, you can get bacteria in a bottle, like stability or fritz-zyme on line. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/12/2010, 04:38 PM	#10
cr85r Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: delrio Posts: 105	thanks for all the great advice guys __________________ 75 mixed reef

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