Live sand bacteria

[Ollie05H]

I am preparing to upgrade to a new mixed reef (100 gallons). The plan was to mix the saltwater in the tank so that I don’t have to mix multiple batches of salt. Will it kill the bacteria in the live sand if I filled the tank with RODI water and then mixed? I will be using caribsea Arag alive figi pink

 

[Jbell370]

I am preparing to upgrade to a new mixed reef (100 gallons). The plan was to mix the saltwater in the tank so that I don’t have to mix multiple batches of salt. Will it kill the bacteria in the live sand if I filled the tank with RODI water and then mixed? I will be using caribsea Arag alive figi pink

I can't tell you if it would kill it or not, but I did the same thing. In hindsight I would most likely fill the tank, mix the salt let it run then add the sand after, it clears within a day and further if you had filter socks would remove many of the small particles, but that is just my thought after doing what you are going to do. I added all the clarifier packets once all the sand was in, next day when it had cleared I added a bottle of bacteria and started my bio-pellets, every other day added another bottle for a week, then started my skimmer.

 

[brandon429]

In no way does sandbed bacteria matter as a requirement to a reef tank, per bare bottom owners.

contrary to popular opinion (and macna speaker claims) reef water has *lots* of filter bac in it. When we do a large water change, those bac are removed. Harmlessly, they’re extras and so are the ones in the sandbed.

source for claims: the thread where we cycle a full reef in 20 days by only adding reef water from another tank to it, and the fifty page sandbed review thread.

 

[Ollie05H]

Thanks a lot for the replies. I think I might add the sand after I have mixed it in case.

 

[brandon429]

Simply pre rinse in tap water until it’s clean, final rinse in ro, add


theres no need to add cloudy sand and wait for clearing.