Carib-Sea sand

sage_commander · 05/16/2007, 10:28 AM

Hi, my tank has water in it and now about 60 lbs of sand - 20 lbs of the carib-sea water packed stuff and 40 lbs of the dry stuff. I have not taken any measurements yet except for specific gravity (about 1.024). I have not ordered my rock yet, but may do so today. Is there anything I need to do to get the tank cycling? Should I go get some flake food to get it going?

Also, the bag of dry sand came with a packet of "bio-magnet clarifier." It looks like it's supposed to get the cycle going faster. I'm not really in a hurry here; do I need to use it? Thanks.

hmello@bermexin · 05/16/2007, 10:32 AM

I'd say get your rock. That should start the cycle for you by itself. You can always do some ghost feeding if you need to but you need the rock in there so that you have a lot of surface area for the nitrifying bacteria to colonize.
JMO FWIW

Shagsbeard · 05/16/2007, 10:36 AM

Don't use any "magic dust" to get your cycle going faster. Go to your LFS and pick a nice hunk of live rock and stick that in your tank. Really any sized piece will do. Order your live rock for your display and get that in there... that's what really gets things moving. Adding food at this point is really pointless... let your tank age gracefully, and give it time. Some advise adding a coctail shrimp and letting it decay... that's really more than you need for the bacteria in the tank to thrive. But it's not bad for the tank... it just smells that way. Get some live rock asap... the stuff you order off the net will usually be there the next day.

sage_commander · 05/16/2007, 10:37 AM

Since 20 lbs of that sand was water-packed ("live"), would there be any type of cycle starting now? It could be over a week before I get the rock. Maybe longer.

Should I be testing for anything now?

sage_commander · 05/16/2007, 10:39 AM

Shags, our posts crossed. I'll scrap the "bio-magnet." I guess I'll also order the rock from TBS today. Honestly, I'm a little scared I'm going to screw something up here. I've been researching for over a year but things are happening pretty fast now.

jer77 · 05/16/2007, 11:24 AM

I believe you'll only have a 2'' sandbed, which may be all right with the fine sand, but I'd suggest to have atleast 90-120 lbs. for a 3-4'' sandbed. Your ok for now, but you may have to add sand later. What grain of sand is it? Does it say oolite or ultra fine? This grain of sand would be ok for 2".

I believe the Arag-Alive stuff helps when cycling a tank and have used it many times with good results.

Definately get some LR though and this should cycle in your tank by itself.

sage_commander · 05/16/2007, 11:27 AM

It's the bahama "oolite" sand. You're right; it'll be about 2-3" deep when I get it evened out.

I'm going to have to push much of it aside when I put rock in there, so it may end up being deeper in some spots.

I did order my rock: 55lbs of TBS. Can't wait.

papagimp · 05/16/2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sage_commander
Since 20 lbs of that sand was water-packed ("live"), would there be any type of cycle starting now? It could be over a week before I get the rock. Maybe longer.

Should I be testing for anything now?

Did you place this 20lbs of live sand on top of the dead sand? If not, the dry stuff may smother out any aerobic bacteria in the live sand, basically rendering it as useless as the dry stuff.

Definatly get the rock before trying to jump start a cycle. Bacteria needs somewhere to colonize and whitout the rock, you won't have sufficient surface area for bacteria. Some will grow on the sand, but not enough to support a tank stocked with fish.

papagimp · 05/16/2007, 11:56 AM

well, for 2-3" maybe not, didn't see that until after my post

.
but it's still best to layer the live sand on top.

05/16/2007, 10:28 AM	#1
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	Carib-Sea sand Hi, my tank has water in it and now about 60 lbs of sand - 20 lbs of the carib-sea water packed stuff and 40 lbs of the dry stuff. I have not taken any measurements yet except for specific gravity (about 1.024). I have not ordered my rock yet, but may do so today. Is there anything I need to do to get the tank cycling? Should I go get some flake food to get it going? Also, the bag of dry sand came with a packet of "bio-magnet clarifier." It looks like it's supposed to get the cycle going faster. I'm not really in a hurry here; do I need to use it? Thanks.

05/16/2007, 10:32 AM	#2
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	I'd say get your rock. That should start the cycle for you by itself. You can always do some ghost feeding if you need to but you need the rock in there so that you have a lot of surface area for the nitrifying bacteria to colonize. JMO FWIW __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

05/16/2007, 11:24 AM	#6
jer77 Phish Lover Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,642	I believe you'll only have a 2'' sandbed, which may be all right with the fine sand, but I'd suggest to have atleast 90-120 lbs. for a 3-4'' sandbed. Your ok for now, but you may have to add sand later. What grain of sand is it? Does it say oolite or ultra fine? This grain of sand would be ok for 2". I believe the Arag-Alive stuff helps when cycling a tank and have used it many times with good results. Definately get some LR though and this should cycle in your tank by itself. __________________ - Jonny -, 120g 5 Year Old Reef w/ SPS, BTA, Zoos & some Softies. 40g Frag Tank. 40g Sump. Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 External Cone Skimmer. 250W Radiums. TaoTronics LED. PanWorld 200PS w/SQWD

05/16/2007, 11:56 AM	#9
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	well, for 2-3" maybe not, didn't see that until after my post . but it's still best to layer the live sand on top. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

05/16/2007, 10:36 AM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Don't use any "magic dust" to get your cycle going faster. Go to your LFS and pick a nice hunk of live rock and stick that in your tank. Really any sized piece will do. Order your live rock for your display and get that in there... that's what really gets things moving. Adding food at this point is really pointless... let your tank age gracefully, and give it time. Some advise adding a coctail shrimp and letting it decay... that's really more than you need for the bacteria in the tank to thrive. But it's not bad for the tank... it just smells that way. Get some live rock asap... the stuff you order off the net will usually be there the next day.

05/16/2007, 10:37 AM	#4
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	Since 20 lbs of that sand was water-packed ("live"), would there be any type of cycle starting now? It could be over a week before I get the rock. Maybe longer. Should I be testing for anything now?

05/16/2007, 10:39 AM	#5
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	Shags, our posts crossed. I'll scrap the "bio-magnet." I guess I'll also order the rock from TBS today. Honestly, I'm a little scared I'm going to screw something up here. I've been researching for over a year but things are happening pretty fast now.

05/16/2007, 11:27 AM	#7
sage_commander Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 646	It's the bahama "oolite" sand. You're right; it'll be about 2-3" deep when I get it evened out. I'm going to have to push much of it aside when I put rock in there, so it may end up being deeper in some spots. I did order my rock: 55lbs of TBS. Can't wait.