New tank substrate questions

Lyfsux · 01/14/2010, 07:31 PM

Ok, so I'm setting up my 300+ and I have 470 pounds of substrate to add to the new system, I've always rinsed the substrate before adding it to the tank but the thought of having to rinse 470 pounds is well.... a nightmare!

So the questions are:

If not rinsing the substrate, should I just add it to the tank then fill the tank with RO/DI?

If I should rinse it first before adding to the tank, should I use RO/DI water or can I use tap water for rinsing the substrate?

Thanks in advance!

210reefer · 01/14/2010, 08:01 PM

What type of substrate is it?

Lyfsux · 01/14/2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 210reefer

What type of substrate is it?

Caribsea 3 different sizes.

Crustman · 01/14/2010, 08:58 PM

Rinse it with the hose swirling it in a bucket of water. It will take some time.

Lyfsux · 01/15/2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crustman

Rinse it with the hose swirling it in a bucket of water. It will take some time.

This isn't going to be fun...

Thanks

crossi92 · 01/15/2010, 02:25 PM

If it were me (and it was when I set up my 90g), I would absolutely NOT rinse it. Just get the salt water mixed in the tank then dump the sand in and wait a couple days for the dust to settle...

Lyfsux · 01/15/2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossi92

If it were me (and it was when I set up my 90g), I would absolutely NOT rinse it. Just get the salt water mixed in the tank then dump the sand in and wait a couple days for the dust to settle...

I'm just going to add the substrate, then let my RO/DI unit goto work filling the tank over the next few days (100GPD Unit!), then once filled I'll add the salt.

Thanks for the replys

crossi92 · 01/15/2010, 03:57 PM

I wouldn't add the sand until after you have mixed the salt water. It's "live" sand right? It does have some very beneficial bacteria in it that could be killed by plain water.

JDL · 01/15/2010, 04:22 PM

you can use a filter sock to help clean some of the gunk from the sand.

bertoni · 01/15/2010, 07:22 PM

Personally, I'd just use it as is, but I don't mind waiting for the mess to settle. Once there's some live rock and bacterial action, it clears fairly rapidly, within a few days or so.

Lyfsux · 01/15/2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossi92

I wouldn't add the sand until after you have mixed the salt water. It's "live" sand right? It does have some very beneficial bacteria in it that could be killed by plain water.

no its not live sand. the substrate is all in and the RO/DI unit is now filling the tank, and its going to be painfully slow!!!

mandingCa · 01/16/2010, 12:27 PM

there are two types of people in this world, those who rinse their sand and those who dont.

01/14/2010, 07:31 PM	#1
Lyfsux Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 35	New tank substrate questions Ok, so I'm setting up my 300+ and I have 470 pounds of substrate to add to the new system, I've always rinsed the substrate before adding it to the tank but the thought of having to rinse 470 pounds is well.... a nightmare! So the questions are: If not rinsing the substrate, should I just add it to the tank then fill the tank with RO/DI? If I should rinse it first before adding to the tank, should I use RO/DI water or can I use tap water for rinsing the substrate? Thanks in advance!

01/14/2010, 08:01 PM	#2
210reefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 75	What type of substrate is it? __________________ 210 RR, 30 gal sump, Aqua Euro 250 skimmer, 2 x K4's, 2xK3's, turbo twist UV, 2 x 300 watt heaters, shop light w/6500k bulb for fuge, 300 lbs LR, 300 lb LS, powder blue tag, kole tang, regal tang, humu humu trigger, coral beauty angel, 2 x perc. clowns. ITS NOT THE DAYS IN OUR LIFE BUT, THE LIFE IN OUR DAYS THAT MATTER.

01/14/2010, 08:58 PM	#4
Crustman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 941	Rinse it with the hose swirling it in a bucket of water. It will take some time. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef with 8 T-5's, ATI Blue Plus, Blue Special, KZ Fiji Purple, Vertex IN 100, phosphate and carbon reactor Coralife Turbo Sea Pump

01/15/2010, 07:22 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Personally, I'd just use it as is, but I don't mind waiting for the mess to settle. Once there's some live rock and bacterial action, it clears fairly rapidly, within a few days or so. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/15/2010, 02:25 PM	#6
crossi92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 559	If it were me (and it was when I set up my 90g), I would absolutely NOT rinse it. Just get the salt water mixed in the tank then dump the sand in and wait a couple days for the dust to settle...

01/15/2010, 03:57 PM	#8
crossi92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 559	I wouldn't add the sand until after you have mixed the salt water. It's "live" sand right? It does have some very beneficial bacteria in it that could be killed by plain water.

01/15/2010, 04:22 PM	#9
JDL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Palmyra PA Posts: 410	you can use a filter sock to help clean some of the gunk from the sand.

01/16/2010, 12:27 PM	#12
mandingCa Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 119	there are two types of people in this world, those who rinse their sand and those who dont.