Lots of Questions....

AamaCrab · Aug 10, 2013

This is my setup: 40gal, HOB Marinelab 400. I'm currently finishing up my stand and will attempt the cycle process in a week. Here are the many questions I have and answers I found BUT can I get confirmation please?

What I would like in a setup is the following:
-sand subsrate
-large rocks for decorations/hiding places
-red banded shrimps (2)
-clown fish (2)
-maybe a few more fish to keep it populated

Questions
a. Can I use beach sand?
-some say YES (as long as it's from a clean area), some say NO (contaminates). Do I just flip a coin :bigsmile:

b. Do I buy live sand?
-some say Yes (all the good stuff in it), some say NO (you don't know how long it's been bagged, etc)

c. If I use beach sand, can I rinse it with fresh water, dry it out for a few weeks then add it to my tank?
-I'm sure all the bad stuff would get killed off

d. I was going to catch the shrimp from tide pools and buy the Clownfish. Do I buy the fish first and quarantine the shrimp?
-I read never to mix "bought" with "wild"....but isn't everything from the wild? That's why people do quarantine?

e. What's the best way to start a cycle?
-I can't get live rocks (might be illegal in Hawaii?) and don't want to use fish

Thanks in advance

Aloha
<'///<

KSzegi · Aug 10, 2013

Welcome to R2R!!

What sand you use will come down to using your own best judgement .... you will definitely get different opinions. I personally think using beach sand is fine depending upon where you get it from! If in doubt, rinse, rinse, rinse again. I have used beach sand from a relatively pristine area in Florida without a problem at all - but that doesn't mean it has worked for every area. As for buying bagged "live sand' ...... do you mean the 'real' live sand or just the commercially bagged sand? Personally, after setting up tanks both ways, if/when I set up another I will definitely go with at least half real live sand, preferably 100%. After a few brands, any other commercial bagged sand I use will be Tropic Eden for sure, by far the cleanest.

I have added many things to my tanks direct from the Gulf without quarantine. Both my current tanks have a mix of "bought" with "wild". I've never had a problem with anything "wild", though again, guess you must do anything at your own risk. Personally I would put the shrimp in first and quarantine the clowns ....lol.

As for starting a cycle - if you use live sand that will definitely give you a leg up. I've heard a lot of people just start it with a piece of shrimp .... anything that adds an ammonia source really will get the cycle started. It sounds like you have easy access to the beach and ocean water .... I would use some of the beach sand and some natural seawater to get tank cycling since that will already have the natural bacteria you're looking to develop. If not, and without live rock, you may want to consider adding a bacterial supplement when you add your ammonia source.

Anyway, I'm sure you will get tons of help here from folks who are far more 'expert' than me!! Good luck and start a build thread!!

Reefing Madness · Aug 10, 2013

A- Yes you can use beach sand. Rinse it out really well, and dry it up. No worries there.
B- No, not if your using Beach Sand
C- Yup. Thats how its done. Sun dry for a few days after rinsing.
D- Yea, most would QT everything, including the store bought fish. But definately the wild caught critters.
E- Get Macro Rocks or an online Dry Rock. Put a store bought shrimp into a net, put the net into the water. This will get you going. The net catches the shrimp as it starts to deteriorate, and keeps it from getting all over the tank during the cycle.