Getting Closer

[OgreMkV]

OK, I'm almost there. I ordered a RO unit today along with some extra test kits, sand, and some small incidentals.

I got these two kinds of sand
1 bag of Black Beach reef sand. It's black aragonite http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+16765&pcatid=16765

1 bag of Gray Coast substrate... It's a dark grey aragonite.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+8119&pcatid=8119

I'll probably mix the two for the tank.

One of the LFS gives a discount on whole boxes of Walt Smith Live Rock. So, I'll probably go that route.

I also ordered the Reef Crystals salt mix and will use that for now.

Thanks for all the help everyone. More pictures in about a week, when everything gets going.

[FeatherDuster]

Nice progress! I have never used those sand substrates before so it will be interesting to see how the mixture goes.

[FISH WHISPERER]

Same size sand? I've not heard of that second stuff, so I was wondering.

[OgreMkV]

The second stuff is .5 to 1.5 mm. The first type didn't have a size range listed. Where it goes depends on how fine it is.

[kryptic4l]

just a fyi, i have the grey coast, and its not argonite persay, and i cant remeber off the top of my head what it is, i do know that the buffer capabilities are lower then that of argonite i think its ph threshold is like .2 .4 lower then that of argonite. And wont dissolve until a ph of 7.4. Either way im happy with it and its a nice color that isnt rediculously hard to keep clean, but i would recommened rinsing it like a madman. Its very messy and sloppy at first.

[Reefscape]

Sounds all great to me so far Ogre..Look forward to more progress..

[OgreMkV]

just a fyi, i have the grey coast, and its not argonite persay, and i cant remeber off the top of my head what it is, i do know that the buffer capabilities are lower then that of argonite i think its ph threshold is like .2 .4 lower then that of argonite. And wont dissolve until a ph of 7.4. Either way im happy with it and its a nice color that isnt rediculously hard to keep clean, but i would recommened rinsing it like a madman. Its very messy and sloppy at first.

Yeah, the Gray Coast is Calcite which is similar, but not the same as aragonite. You are correct about the buffering ability, which is why I added the other sand as well.

I'm almost thinking of doing a Hawaiian biotope tank, but some of the fish are expensive and I would prefer tank raised rather than wild caught.

Sand should be here beginning of next week.