Crushed coral is a problem waiting to happen

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lallen

lallen
Feb 2, 2008
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PA.
Thanks for help

I came on here today for the exact topic you wrote about. I recently went to a larger 55 gallon tank and was still using crushed coral. I've been vacuming the bottom of my tank every other day. Now I know what is the real reason for my mess.:wall:
Is there any problems with sand how quick does it get soiled and how oftem do you need to clean?:confused:
I will probally go to sand ASAP. I am having a tough time with brown algae and purple algaw on the large coral I have in my tank.:perv:

Thanks...
 

Reefscape

I shoot people with a Canon
Staff member
Nov 8, 2006
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seethroughmylens.co.uk
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Blinky
I came on here today for the exact topic you wrote about. I recently went to a larger 55 gallon tank and was still using crushed coral. I've been vacuming the bottom of my tank every other day. Now I know what is the real reason for my mess.:wall:
Is there any problems with sand how quick does it get soiled and how oftem do you need to clean?:confused:
I will probally go to sand ASAP. I am having a tough time with brown algae and purple algaw on the large coral I have in my tank.:perv:

Thanks...
In reality, you sand should always stay clean providing you have the right ammount of flow in the tank, as the flow will stop particles / detrius from settling on the sand bed and be removed via filtration...Add to that a good cleanup crew, and WOLLA, a nice clean sandbed....

When changing your CC for aragonite sand, remember to do it in thirds, and not all in one go....and leave a couple of weeks in between changing the thirds.....Doing it this way will keep a nitrate spike to a minimum and allow for life to move into the new sand and start to re-colonise it...

Hope that helps...

Niko
 

Blossom112

AC Members
Feb 25, 2008
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Toronto
iM SO HOPING YOUR HERE REEFSCAPE
i just called the store they have argonite 1/2 cm , not sugar sized grains ,is this ok ??
they also have live sand sugar sized grade ,
Which should i get ???
I have nothing inm tank so i can change the CC easily now
THANKS
 

Reefscape

I shoot people with a Canon
Staff member
Nov 8, 2006
18,481
6
89
Staffordshire, UK
seethroughmylens.co.uk
Real Name
Blinky
iM SO HOPING YOUR HERE REEFSCAPE
i just called the store they have argonite 1/2 cm , not sugar sized grains ,is this ok ??
they also have live sand sugar sized grade ,
Which should i get ???
I have nothing inm tank so i can change the CC easily now
THANKS
Thats a very large grade sand, actuallly sounds like seafloor substrate....Personally, i would not use it, i think its far too larger grade sand for a reef...Sugar grade size for me...Maybe look at ordering it online perhaps??
 

Blossom112

AC Members
Feb 25, 2008
610
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Toronto
OH thank you so much for being here .
We wanted to get the coral out tonight (hubbys home today)
so we plan to get something in for our cycling and later we will add the arg slowly .
So now we are off trecking through the snow storm to the pet store .
THANKS A BUNCH :)
 

xsdbs

AC Members
Oct 16, 2006
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In reality, you sand should always stay clean providing you have the right ammount of flow in the tank, as the flow will stop particles / detrius from settling on the sand bed and be removed via filtration...Add to that a good cleanup crew, and WOLLA, a nice clean sandbed....

When changing your CC for aragonite sand, remember to do it in thirds, and not all in one go....and leave a couple of weeks in between changing the thirds.....Doing it this way will keep a nitrate spike to a minimum and allow for life to move into the new sand and start to re-colonise it...

Hope that helps...

Niko
just a quick question on water flow, and pprobably a dumb one but here it goes. how do you achieve enough water flow to keep brown ( i think diatom ) algae from setttling on the floor. this is starting to happen in a couple areas of my tank ( 150 ga) and when i try to redirect my flow from my rio 2100 the sand blows around and creates low spots inthe floor. my flow consist of the 2 rio 2100 inside the main tank, a mag drive 2400 for my flow from a 50 ga sump to the main tank and a fluval fx5 with no filtration media. now another question on the fx5, i had read somewhere that i should use it with no media and just for direct flow, is this a good idea or should i be using some media in it and if so what would be a wise choice. i think i have enough pump action but the brown spots bother me. I have about 3-4 inches of live sand that has been in the tank now for just over a yr and about 200 lbs of live rock, i do have some cleanup crew crabs and snails but i am not sure about the number, how many would be a good amount for a tank my size. sorry for being a little long winded and thanks in advance for any help.
 

Grins

Girl Reefer...we do exist
May 1, 2007
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Charlotte, NC
Personally I don't count flow from a return pump or a mechanical filter. The only flow I count towards the chaotic flow in the display tank would be from powerheads or a closed loop. In your case I'd want 1500-3750gph moved by those at a minimum (lower number for FO tank, higher is for reef).
 
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