View Full Version : playsand?
ClownieandBilly
06-27-2003, 10:10 AM
is it neccesary to wash sand before putting it in tank.Does anyone have any preference to adding sand first or water?
Ray Pollett
06-27-2003, 10:51 AM
I do not wash sand. You would be washing away some of what you want. I put the Base rock in first. Then I pour the sand in around the rock. This gives a better foundation if you end up with an animal that digs. I then pile some rock on that and pour the water slowly on the rocks.
Ray
Are we talking about the same dirty home depot sand?
...because to use it in FW tanks I had to wash it for HOURS just to get it to be clear.
....please explain! :confused:
ClownieandBilly
06-27-2003, 6:43 PM
Ray,surely if i put base rock in first and a 6" dsb up to it,eventually the sand will be pushed into the rocks.If this was the case then how high should i locate my reef flush bar initially?Above the base rocks?
Ray Pollett
06-28-2003, 10:30 AM
Zeb,
"Are we talking about the same dirty home depot sand?
...because to use it in FW tanks I had to wash it for HOURS just to get it to be clear.
....please explain! "
Yep that's it. I never wash it. I use it in FW planted tanks and SW tanks. Your are just washing away good stuff you paid for. Your plants will like what you've been washing away.
Ray
Ray Pollett
06-28-2003, 10:37 AM
ClownieandBilly
Originally posted by ClownieandBilly
Ray,surely if i put base rock in first and a 6" dsb up to it,eventually the sand will be pushed into the rocks.If this was the case then how high should i locate my reef flush bar initially?Above the base rocks?
I set the base rock on the bare bottom of the tank. I then pour the sand in, on and around the base rocks to the depth I want. I use 3-4 inches. None of the studies done has shown 6 inches to be a majic number. It was pulled out of thin air by someone and just keeps getting passed around. Locate the reef flush bar at about 5 to 7 inches off the bottom. I understand you reef flush bar is a water return. Is that correct?
Ray
always learning
06-28-2003, 4:41 PM
so you guys are saying I don't have to pay $37 for 20 lbs. of live sand, I could just buy it from home depot? (and it will be safe for my sw aquarium without cleaing):confused:
but this IS silica sand....won't that create diatom problems?
Ray Pollett
06-29-2003, 11:18 AM
Originally posted by always learning
so you guys are saying I don't have to pay $37 for 20 lbs. of live sand, I could just buy it from home depot? (and it will be safe for my sw aquarium without cleaing):confused:
That is correct. It's been done by hundreds of hobbyist so far. Not one problem I know of that does not also occur with the expensive stuff. Just buy the Play sand.
Ray
Ray Pollett
06-29-2003, 11:20 AM
Originally posted by Zeb
but this IS silica sand....won't that create diatom problems?
No more than any other sand. If silica sand caused a problem; useing a glass tank would too.
Hundreds of people have used silica sand with great success.
Ray
ClownieandBilly
06-29-2003, 4:37 PM
yes ray my reef flush bar is a water return running full length of back of tank.My tank is 18"wide,if i put base rock down and fill with sand won`t i be losing a lot of dsb?What if i was to cover base with dsb and use plastic piping through the sand to act as legs to hold the egg crate just above the dsb the place my flush bar along top of eggcrate.This would keep the lr off the dsb,what do you think?i want to have as much beneficial dsb as possible.
always learning
07-01-2003, 10:37 PM
what's dsb?
BrianH
07-02-2003, 7:07 AM
Deep Sand Bed.
Ray Pollett
07-02-2003, 8:33 AM
Originally posted by ClownieandBilly
yes ray my reef flush bar is a water return running full length of back of tank.My tank is 18"wide,if i put base rock down and fill with sand won`t i be losing a lot of dsb?What if i was to cover base with dsb and use plastic piping through the sand to act as legs to hold the egg crate just above the dsb the place my flush bar along top of eggcrate.This would keep the lr off the dsb,what do you think?i want to have as much beneficial dsb as possible.
From my understanding, I could be wrong; the base rock covered by sand does exactly the same as the DSB.
Yes, you can use the egg crateing. I just have never done so; so I have to guess as to the effects. I do not think it will cause any problems as you describe.
Ray