Some things with sand I'm curious about

Seahorsechick · 07/01/2017, 09:46 PM

1. After opening a bag of live sand can you safely not use all of it out does the bacteria die?
2. How do you rinse really fine sand without losing a lot of it? Obviously not live.
3. What are the best sand cleaners for a deep sand bed that are reef safe?

Ztous · 07/01/2017, 09:56 PM

1. Doesn't matter nothing special with live sand just use it whenever
2. Put a hose at the bottom of a bucket and fill the bucket halfway with sand and turn the hose on. The smaller particles will lift to the surface and carry out of the bucket. Stir as needed with the hose. You can also sift by hand to a certain particle size but it's very time consuming.
3. Wait a while. What's he supposed to sift out of fresh sand?

Seahorsechick · 07/01/2017, 10:01 PM

These questions aren't all related to a time period. The only common thing is that they're all about sand. Question 3 is not at all related to the other 2 questions

ktownhero · 07/02/2017, 04:42 AM

"live sand" that comes in a bag is a waste of money IMO.

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Ron Reefman · 07/02/2017, 05:11 AM

+1 to ktownhero

Dead sand becomes live sand in very short order, just like live rock.

Live rock (which means it has live bacteria) happens quickly. Live rock with other life like coraline algae, sponges, algae and more, takes time. Which is why many people buy it rather than do their own. But sand is easy.

1) If the left over sand isn't fed ammonia ans nitrite, it probably dies. It may even already be dead in the new bag!

2) How much sand you lose is a direct relationship to how fast you flush water into the bucket of sand and how much rimm there is between the top of the sand and the top of the bucket. I use sugar fine sand and I've cleaned some of it several times as tanks change around our house. I don't fine I lose much sand at all, just lots of detritus.

3) It depends on how deep the deep sand bed is. But most only work near the surface and most are reef safe. If you are unsure about an animal, Google it and you'll likely find an answer.

Seahorsechick · 07/06/2017, 03:52 PM

Thanks everyone! Great answers. Yeah I figured live sand wasn't really important but at least it's natural looking. Some things are difficult to find in Canada

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jda · 07/06/2017, 05:15 PM

Once your sand is established (this can take a year, or more), cucumbers and conchs are very useful.

Seahorsechick · 07/06/2017, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jda

Once your sand is established (this can take a year, or more), cucumbers and conchs are very useful.

So don't add cucumbers until after a year? These seem like the best

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MurphyLong · 07/07/2017, 08:42 AM

Nassarius snails were always great for stirring the sand for me...

07/01/2017, 09:46 PM	#1
Seahorsechick Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Canada Posts: 34	Some things with sand I'm curious about 1. After opening a bag of live sand can you safely not use all of it out does the bacteria die? 2. How do you rinse really fine sand without losing a lot of it? Obviously not live. 3. What are the best sand cleaners for a deep sand bed that are reef safe?

07/01/2017, 09:56 PM	#2
Ztous Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 220	1. Doesn't matter nothing special with live sand just use it whenever 2. Put a hose at the bottom of a bucket and fill the bucket halfway with sand and turn the hose on. The smaller particles will lift to the surface and carry out of the bucket. Stir as needed with the hose. You can also sift by hand to a certain particle size but it's very time consuming. 3. Wait a while. What's he supposed to sift out of fresh sand? Last edited by Ztous; 07/01/2017 at 10:06 PM.

07/02/2017, 05:11 AM	#5
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	+1 to ktownhero Dead sand becomes live sand in very short order, just like live rock. Live rock (which means it has live bacteria) happens quickly. Live rock with other life like coraline algae, sponges, algae and more, takes time. Which is why many people buy it rather than do their own. But sand is easy. 1) If the left over sand isn't fed ammonia ans nitrite, it probably dies. It may even already be dead in the new bag! 2) How much sand you lose is a direct relationship to how fast you flush water into the bucket of sand and how much rimm there is between the top of the sand and the top of the bucket. I use sugar fine sand and I've cleaned some of it several times as tanks change around our house. I don't fine I lose much sand at all, just lots of detritus. 3) It depends on how deep the deep sand bed is. But most only work near the surface and most are reef safe. If you are unsure about an animal, Google it and you'll likely find an answer. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017 Last edited by Ron Reefman; 07/02/2017 at 05:17 AM.

07/01/2017, 10:01 PM	#3
Seahorsechick Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Canada Posts: 34	These questions aren't all related to a time period. The only common thing is that they're all about sand. Question 3 is not at all related to the other 2 questions

07/02/2017, 04:42 AM	#4
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	"live sand" that comes in a bag is a waste of money IMO. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

07/06/2017, 03:52 PM	#6
Seahorsechick Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Canada Posts: 34	Thanks everyone! Great answers. Yeah I figured live sand wasn't really important but at least it's natural looking. Some things are difficult to find in Canada Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

07/06/2017, 05:15 PM	#7
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	Once your sand is established (this can take a year, or more), cucumbers and conchs are very useful.

07/07/2017, 08:42 AM	#9
MurphyLong HMFIC Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 331	Nassarius snails were always great for stirring the sand for me...