Live Sand

llama72 · 02/03/2007, 08:59 AM

I just purchased my first SW aquarium last night (75 gal). The LFS sold me 2 bags (40lbs) of regular sand and 1 bag (10lb) of live sand. He said i didn't really need more live sand. What do you all think? Is this enough live sand or do I need more. My goal is to have a reef tanks with very few fish.

kfowler · 02/03/2007, 09:08 AM

You really only need a cup of LS from an established tank. If you have a club in your area, someone will probably donate it to you.

Shagsbeard · 02/03/2007, 09:25 AM

You need about 100 lbs of live rock, or a mix of live rock and base rock. This is where you'll get most of the benificial bacteria and detrivores for your tank. In systems with live rock you don't need any live sand. A cup of grunge from an established tank can help a bunch.

sir_dudeguy · 02/03/2007, 09:32 AM

well i dont think you need 100lbs of rock, but it would sure help. Its normally recommended to have at least 1 pound per gallon. But more is better dont get me wrong. But especially since you say you only want very few fish, i say you definitely wont need 100lbs of rock unless you like the look.

Anyways, on to the sand...i'm guessing the "live sand" that they sold you was arag-alive? If so, dont count on that doing anything for you...its a bunch of crap imo. All your sand will turn live in the end, so theres' no need to buy a whole bag of live sand (especially arag-alive...its basically the same stuff that you got 40lbs of, just wet).

If you wanted you could get a scoop from someone with REAL live sand and that may help get the critters going in your tank, but as far as bacteria goes, that will come in time. But IMO you do need more sand. I had 40lbs in my old 55 and it was not enough and that had a small footprint (very narrow). 75's are the same length but wider, so you'd need a lot more if you ask me. Even with that extra bag of "live" sand.

scottwhitson · 02/03/2007, 09:46 AM

I just put 90 pounds of sand in my 75 and it gave me around a 2" sand bed.

llama72 · 02/03/2007, 06:44 PM

sirdude,

Maybe I wasn't clear, I have a total of 90lbs of sand (2-40lb bags and 1-10lb bag of live sand). Yes it is the arga-alive.

Do I need more than 90lbs of sand? If so, how much more?

3 more questions if I may:

1) I put the water in the aquarium last nite, how long should it take to clear up enough form me to add 40lbs of live rock?

2) I used a 20gal tank for my filter (oceanic w/bio balls and a Mag-7 pump) with about 5" of water in it. I know the pump is kinda loud but is there to quieten the water falling into the filter. It is fairly loud.

3) How often should I change/clean the screen on the Mag-7 filter? It is already dirty.

llama72 · 02/03/2007, 06:45 PM

I am sorry about all the questions, but this is an awesome forum. Pleanty of help from others.

bertoni · 02/03/2007, 08:34 PM

A 1-2" bed of sand is fine for looks, and doesn't require any live sand to get it going. The bagged live sand is pretty much worthless, in any case, since it contains only bacteria.

1) You can add rock now, which will help the water clear by feeding bacteria. The water should clear in a few days.

2) I don't use bio-balls filters, so I can't help there.

3) I don't use mechanical filters, but I'd clean that at least once a week, and check it daily. Plugging that pump would be bad.

Fast Eddie H · 02/03/2007, 08:35 PM

First thing's first. I would get rid of the bio balls ASAP.

sir_dudeguy · 02/03/2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

sirdude,

Maybe I wasn't clear, I have a total of 90lbs of sand (2-40lb bags and 1-10lb bag of live sand).

no you were perfectly clear!

I was just being stupid and missed it is all

And i agree w/above...get the bioballs out now while you still have the chance (to not mess anything up later i mean). They're only gonna cause problems. Get around 40-50 more lbs of live rock (or even dry base rock...it will turn live eventually) and you will be great as far as filtration (provided you have LOTS of flow...not just a couple powerheads)

llama72 · 02/03/2007, 09:40 PM

sirdude,

do you have a pic of your tank? Thanks

sir_dudeguy · 02/03/2007, 09:57 PM

my 40?

llama72 · 02/03/2007, 10:45 PM

yeah, let's see the 40?

sir_dudeguy · 02/03/2007, 11:21 PM

my clowns that are hosted by this toadstool (which is smaller in the pic than it is now).

an old old pic of this tank...looking for newer ones

well darn...i cant find any newer ones. I have waaaaayyy more corals in there now. Imagine the right side full of kenya tree...the left side full of xenia. That toadstool in the second pic is now on the mid-right and about 5 inches across. The gsp has doubled in size, there is now a nice sized (about 6 inches across) yellow figi leather right in the front middle. , and there is a green toadstool on the top left.

Oh, and i have a seio 620 on the left side and i'm gonna put another in the back right.

sir_dudeguy · 02/03/2007, 11:25 PM

Oh and i have more fish too. Maybe more than people would suggest, maybe not. They do fine together and whatnot tho so i'm not worried (actually i think my clowns are spawning).

I got:

2 black ocellaris clowns
1 sixline wrasse
1 bicolor blenny (gonna take him out...eats sps corals)
1 scooter blenny.

llama72 · 02/04/2007, 06:55 AM

that is nice. Thanks for the help.

02/03/2007, 08:59 AM	#1
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	Live Sand I just purchased my first SW aquarium last night (75 gal). The LFS sold me 2 bags (40lbs) of regular sand and 1 bag (10lb) of live sand. He said i didn't really need more live sand. What do you all think? Is this enough live sand or do I need more. My goal is to have a reef tanks with very few fish.

02/03/2007, 09:08 AM	#2
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	You really only need a cup of LS from an established tank. If you have a club in your area, someone will probably donate it to you. __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef

02/03/2007, 09:32 AM	#4
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	well i dont think you need 100lbs of rock, but it would sure help. Its normally recommended to have at least 1 pound per gallon. But more is better dont get me wrong. But especially since you say you only want very few fish, i say you definitely wont need 100lbs of rock unless you like the look. Anyways, on to the sand...i'm guessing the "live sand" that they sold you was arag-alive? If so, dont count on that doing anything for you...its a bunch of crap imo. All your sand will turn live in the end, so theres' no need to buy a whole bag of live sand (especially arag-alive...its basically the same stuff that you got 40lbs of, just wet). If you wanted you could get a scoop from someone with REAL live sand and that may help get the critters going in your tank, but as far as bacteria goes, that will come in time. But IMO you do need more sand. I had 40lbs in my old 55 and it was not enough and that had a small footprint (very narrow). 75's are the same length but wider, so you'd need a lot more if you ask me. Even with that extra bag of "live" sand. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/03/2007, 08:34 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A 1-2" bed of sand is fine for looks, and doesn't require any live sand to get it going. The bagged live sand is pretty much worthless, in any case, since it contains only bacteria. 1) You can add rock now, which will help the water clear by feeding bacteria. The water should clear in a few days. 2) I don't use bio-balls filters, so I can't help there. 3) I don't use mechanical filters, but I'd clean that at least once a week, and check it daily. Plugging that pump would be bad. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/03/2007, 08:35 PM	#9
Fast Eddie H Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 112	First thing's first. I would get rid of the bio balls ASAP. __________________ Not all who wander are lost

02/03/2007, 09:25 AM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	You need about 100 lbs of live rock, or a mix of live rock and base rock. This is where you'll get most of the benificial bacteria and detrivores for your tank. In systems with live rock you don't need any live sand. A cup of grunge from an established tank can help a bunch.

02/03/2007, 09:46 AM	#5
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	I just put 90 pounds of sand in my 75 and it gave me around a 2" sand bed.

02/03/2007, 06:44 PM	#6
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	sirdude, Maybe I wasn't clear, I have a total of 90lbs of sand (2-40lb bags and 1-10lb bag of live sand). Yes it is the arga-alive. Do I need more than 90lbs of sand? If so, how much more? 3 more questions if I may: 1) I put the water in the aquarium last nite, how long should it take to clear up enough form me to add 40lbs of live rock? 2) I used a 20gal tank for my filter (oceanic w/bio balls and a Mag-7 pump) with about 5" of water in it. I know the pump is kinda loud but is there to quieten the water falling into the filter. It is fairly loud. 3) How often should I change/clean the screen on the Mag-7 filter? It is already dirty.

02/03/2007, 06:45 PM	#7
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	I am sorry about all the questions, but this is an awesome forum. Pleanty of help from others.

02/03/2007, 09:40 PM	#11
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	sirdude, do you have a pic of your tank? Thanks

02/03/2007, 09:57 PM	#12
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	my 40? __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/03/2007, 10:45 PM	#13
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	yeah, let's see the 40?

02/03/2007, 11:21 PM	#14
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	my clowns that are hosted by this toadstool (which is smaller in the pic than it is now). an old old pic of this tank...looking for newer ones well darn...i cant find any newer ones. I have waaaaayyy more corals in there now. Imagine the right side full of kenya tree...the left side full of xenia. That toadstool in the second pic is now on the mid-right and about 5 inches across. The gsp has doubled in size, there is now a nice sized (about 6 inches across) yellow figi leather right in the front middle. , and there is a green toadstool on the top left. Oh, and i have a seio 620 on the left side and i'm gonna put another in the back right. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/03/2007, 11:25 PM	#15
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Oh and i have more fish too. Maybe more than people would suggest, maybe not. They do fine together and whatnot tho so i'm not worried (actually i think my clowns are spawning). I got: 2 black ocellaris clowns 1 sixline wrasse 1 bicolor blenny (gonna take him out...eats sps corals) 1 scooter blenny. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/04/2007, 06:55 AM	#16
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	that is nice. Thanks for the help.