Adding sand
- Thread starter mikesilverado8888
- Start date
- Tagged users None
mikesilverado8888
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2015
- Messages
- 335
- Reaction score
- 49
Is you get live sand you still have to rinse it
Consider this take on rinsing your new sand
http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-of...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445
I can't think of any scenario where capping off a sandbed that has waste in it already is beneficial in a reef tank. IMO the current sand is the issue, cleaning, not the new sand.
In freshwater work we do capped tanks with potting soil to purposely provide long term nutrients to the water table via slow leak/advection
You adding rinsed or not rinsed live sand as a cap is the only long term balance issue I can forsee. Considering most sandbeds are permanent waste holding sinks in most tanks anyway, a capping doesn't always cause a different outcome. The way to manage sandbeds will always be a matter of preference. Everything I type comes from takeaway from the tank restoration threads.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-of...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445
I can't think of any scenario where capping off a sandbed that has waste in it already is beneficial in a reef tank. IMO the current sand is the issue, cleaning, not the new sand.
In freshwater work we do capped tanks with potting soil to purposely provide long term nutrients to the water table via slow leak/advection
You adding rinsed or not rinsed live sand as a cap is the only long term balance issue I can forsee. Considering most sandbeds are permanent waste holding sinks in most tanks anyway, a capping doesn't always cause a different outcome. The way to manage sandbeds will always be a matter of preference. Everything I type comes from takeaway from the tank restoration threads.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
How can his be a balance issue when you aren't taking any out, just adding? I've always thought and heard when removing you have to be careful and not all at once due to the buildup in it.
mikesilverado8888
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2015
- Messages
- 335
- Reaction score
- 49
Ok so what kind of dead sand can I use?
mikesilverado8888
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2015
- Messages
- 335
- Reaction score
- 49
What kind of unlive sand can I use where would I get it?
My link above is just that rinsing isn't damaging and makes headache free with no silt. Brand name is neutral
Most choose a caribsea variety.
Opinions vary I guarantee you nine other people have a different way. Mine is only pure detritus exclusion and nothing more.
Anyone could cap a current sandbed and incur no real issue as of now. If someone believes that old tank syndrome is caused purely and solely by detritus storage maximums, then his best effort is to clean his current sand so that he gets the longest interval until the next forced or elective cleaning, or tank start over which could be years down the road. Large tanks get away with perma storage beds longer than nanos, but it's true partial cleaning of a dirty sandbed is a real risk. Not only does the danger indicate a total need for cleaning, but it requires tank disassembly. We have done it in many quick find threads with no cycle, but it's no partial job.
The more common approach is to just add your sand to the current and not concern. My take comes only from my take on what I think makes a reef tank break lifespan records. I saw this event as not only a sand adding event, but a combined full cleaning and bed biology redo all at once. I'm thinking four years from now.
If you lift a handful of your current sand from the bed then drop it down, does it cloud beyond belief or not? That to me is how to test the need for pre cleaning. My own six inch sandbed is totally clean of silt and can be drop tested.
Most choose a caribsea variety.
Opinions vary I guarantee you nine other people have a different way. Mine is only pure detritus exclusion and nothing more.
Anyone could cap a current sandbed and incur no real issue as of now. If someone believes that old tank syndrome is caused purely and solely by detritus storage maximums, then his best effort is to clean his current sand so that he gets the longest interval until the next forced or elective cleaning, or tank start over which could be years down the road. Large tanks get away with perma storage beds longer than nanos, but it's true partial cleaning of a dirty sandbed is a real risk. Not only does the danger indicate a total need for cleaning, but it requires tank disassembly. We have done it in many quick find threads with no cycle, but it's no partial job.
The more common approach is to just add your sand to the current and not concern. My take comes only from my take on what I think makes a reef tank break lifespan records. I saw this event as not only a sand adding event, but a combined full cleaning and bed biology redo all at once. I'm thinking four years from now.
If you lift a handful of your current sand from the bed then drop it down, does it cloud beyond belief or not? That to me is how to test the need for pre cleaning. My own six inch sandbed is totally clean of silt and can be drop tested.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
I ordered off Drs foster and Smith but I know some of the vendors that support this site also sell. Like mentioned above Caribsea is good and I'll probably go with them next time but currently have Natures Ocean substrate in mine.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
That makes more sense, thanks for clarifying. So many ways to do things in this hobby.
