substrate

No, just don't over feed and let you critters much away. I wouldn't worry too much about the heat you can always mount some computer fans in the hood to cool it off if you have an issue.
 
size of sand

Hello Max, last night you said to use sand that is 1-2 mm. Well here I go probably with a "Dumb question". What size could this be compared with(play sand or larger). Also would a Home Depot or Lowes carry this. Thanks again for the help.
 
Think Dixie sugar grains that's about the right size.
 
While we are on the subject of substrate, what is the best, i.e. most beneficial, to my future inhabitants consistent with a soft coral reef tank as well as to my wallet in terms of expense to achieve at least a 4” sand bed in my really near future 280 gal (measurements 72” x 30” x 30”).

I have mini-reef which is 3 years old, but has a sand bed cultured from a 55 gal which has been running for 10 years. Time may have limited the diversity of beneficial bacteria but it is extremely stable biochemically. My plan is for this to seed my new "Mother Tank", as I like to refer to it. ;)

So, since I have a good bacteria bed to seed with, what should I use as an economical substrate but which will satisfy the inhabitants?
 
economical would be play sand......

optimal would be a fine sugar sand, calcium carbonate oolite.......and that would give the best denitrification at appoximately 3-4 inches...... the coarser the substrate the more depth needed for the dsb to work.
 
Lorna said:
economical would be play sand...... optimal would be a fine sugar sand, calcium carbonate oolite.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll look into the oolite sand.
 
green lime and algae over all

Hi everyone I am having some problems with my system so I apreciate some help. I don't know why, but some of my populations aren't helthy. In the last month I loose 2. I am having a big problems with algae. All my sand bed and rock are brown. In the last water change I brush all my rock and remove a lot lot of algae and dirty. Also I don't know why, but my glass are green. I easy clean this green lime but in one day it become. My deep sand bed was recently set up ( about one month ) But I am sure the it is making his job, a lot of bubble are coming frome the DSB so I suppose that is nitrogen gas.

I am using Reef Builder for alkalinity when I add water for evaporations and the oters days I use daily Kent Marine tech CB part 1 and part 2. My tank is 55 g with 18 g refugium with caulerpa and mangroves.

My other datails are:
1 Aqua C Remora Pro skimmer with mag 3 and prefilter box
2 Deep Sand Bed 3-4"
3 Refugium with sand and miracle mud
4 30% water change mountly
5 one bag of chemi pure
6 40 lbs of live rock
7 chiller and heater
8 water temperature is 78-81

My parameters are
1 amonnia = 0
2 nitrite = 0
3 nitrate = 12.5 and lowing
4 ph = 8.2-8.3
5 phosphate ~ 0
6 alkalinity = I don't know the number but my lfs tell me that is good. I think
that can be ~ 3.8-4.2
7 Calcium = 400

Please If some can help I apreciate. I am very down because my situation
thanks
 
Through a bit of experience, I'm definately convinced that sand is the way to go this time, since I have to move the tank anyway and re set up. My question is how much sand will I need? I'd like to order it online since it's cheaper than my LFS, but no one gives a volume amount, just a pound amount. I've got a 55 gallon tank. How much sand do I need to get 2-3 inches, or 5-7 inches?
 
hey I was just wondering, some one told me that you can just buy normal play sand from home depot or menards and that will work. Is this true? They said it would save me a hole lot of money.
 
On this topic of using play sand as a substrate. Play sand is Crystalline Silica, is this stuff really safe to use and will it work? It comes in 50lb bags at Lowes and is quite a bit cheaper but if it's harmfull I wont even think about it.

Bren
 
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