Sand Bed

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 01:04 AM

Hello! Me being the impatient person i am, picked up some Estes Ultra Reef sand without doing any research. Is this suitable for a 15 gallon tank?

Michael · 03/08/2009, 01:06 AM

is it fine sand or the white gravel type?

PRDubois · 03/08/2009, 01:09 AM

I assume it is just dry sand? It is Fine yo use. Just get a little Live sand from a friend or your LFS to seed the dry stuff.

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 01:15 AM

Its black and very fine, so i should mix with live sand?

PRDubois · 03/08/2009, 01:46 AM

If it is black then I would not miv unless you can find some black live sand. No reason in messing up the look.
Sand will eventually become live from your live rock.

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 01:54 AM

well i can exchange it for white so its all good

Bonneville08 · 03/08/2009, 06:18 AM

You might want to look into substrates that are made from Aragonite. I don't know what your goals are but Aragonite has some small advantages such as minor amounts of alkalinity support.

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 12:42 PM

This is more of a short term project, until i get my larger tank up and running, but i think i will head down to my LFS and get some made from argonite.

PRDubois · 03/08/2009, 01:31 PM

I like the look of the black sand

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 03:45 PM

Yeah same here but they have a black time of live sand that im probably going to pick up. The only downside is it costs much more than the sand that i originally bought.

Sisterlimonpot · 03/08/2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FishFolk
The only downside is it costs much more than the sand that i originally bought.

live sand usually does.

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 04:22 PM

Oh just another quick question, which goes in first...sand or live rock

PRDubois · 03/08/2009, 04:48 PM

If you put the Rock in first then the sand.

This will keep things from tunneling under the rock which could cause a landslide in your tank.

FishFolk · 03/08/2009, 05:21 PM

Alright, thanks for all the help PRDubois!

03/08/2009, 01:04 AM	#1
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	Sand Bed Hello! Me being the impatient person i am, picked up some Estes Ultra Reef sand without doing any research. Is this suitable for a 15 gallon tank?

03/08/2009, 01:06 AM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	is it fine sand or the white gravel type? __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

03/08/2009, 01:09 AM	#3
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	I assume it is just dry sand? It is Fine yo use. Just get a little Live sand from a friend or your LFS to seed the dry stuff. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/08/2009, 01:46 AM	#5
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	If it is black then I would not miv unless you can find some black live sand. No reason in messing up the look. Sand will eventually become live from your live rock. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/08/2009, 06:18 AM	#7
Bonneville08 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goodyear, AZ Posts: 513	You might want to look into substrates that are made from Aragonite. I don't know what your goals are but Aragonite has some small advantages such as minor amounts of alkalinity support. __________________ Edge you mah cating myself Check out my gallery if you desire. Current Tank Info: 50 gallon mix of soft, LPS and SPS, two croceas, two maximas, a few fish, turf filter with skimmer, MH and PC lighting, chiller, Calcium Reactor and wave2k.

03/08/2009, 01:15 AM	#4
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	Its black and very fine, so i should mix with live sand?

03/08/2009, 01:54 AM	#6
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	well i can exchange it for white so its all good

03/08/2009, 12:42 PM	#8
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	This is more of a short term project, until i get my larger tank up and running, but i think i will head down to my LFS and get some made from argonite.

03/08/2009, 01:31 PM	#9
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	I like the look of the black sand __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/08/2009, 03:45 PM	#10
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	Yeah same here but they have a black time of live sand that im probably going to pick up. The only downside is it costs much more than the sand that i originally bought.

03/08/2009, 04:22 PM	#12
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	Oh just another quick question, which goes in first...sand or live rock

03/08/2009, 04:48 PM	#13
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	If you put the Rock in first then the sand. This will keep things from tunneling under the rock which could cause a landslide in your tank. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/08/2009, 05:21 PM	#14
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	Alright, thanks for all the help PRDubois!