TBS sand???

[RBarth]

Changing out my sand and thinking of using TBS sand for something different. Tank is 3 years old and rock is established but want a new look. Any issues/cons ie pests with using TBS sand? Thanks!

 

[JoJosReef]

Changing out my sand and thinking of using TBS sand for something different. Tank is 3 years old and rock is established but want a new look. Any issues/cons ie pests with using TBS sand? Thanks!

I gave mine a sift before adding to the tank. I suppose would depend on how much you are getting and your patience level. I pulled out a number of worms and one isopod, which I now am pretty sure was a spheromatid isopod (harmless). Worms were also harmless, but I pulled them out in any case. Got a bunch of lancelets, which aren't worms but look like them and are quite freaky--they don't survive in an aquarium in any case.

If I were to do it again, I would mix TBS sand with special grade aragonite sand 1:1, as the TBS sand is a bit grittier and the finer sand would soften it a bit.

 

[RBarth]

Gotcha! Yeah those are the exact things I'm worried about. Kinda nervous to put something in the tank that could potentially disrupt what I currently have just to achieve a different style. Do you still like the look of it? Thanks again!!!!

 

[JoJosReef]

Gotcha! Yeah those are the exact things I'm worried about. Kinda nervous to put something in the tank that could potentially disrupt what I currently have just to achieve a different style. Do you still like the look of it? Thanks again!!!!

I think it looks fine. I only would add the softer sand since I have sand-sleeping wrasses that might appreciate the finer grain of the special grade sand.

RE: pests, I don't lose sleep over it. I'm glad I sifted, but there was nothing I took out that I'd really care about finding in the tank. If I found cirolanid isopods, I'd be more worried. Should be easy to sift out bigger things like small crabs or fireworms (although I've never read anyone having them from TBS sand).

 

[RBarth]

Forgot to ask u: was this used to start a new tank or established? Wondering if it went thru all the diatom/algae bloom stages.

 

[Cycleguy0623]

I used about 40 lbs of TB Sand when I upgraded tanks mixed with 40lbs of ocean direct. I am very happy with the results! I had quite a few nice looking shells in the box that added a nice natural look to the tank.

The only thing I have is the aptasia I moved over from the smaller tank that I still don’t like lol

 

[RBarth]

Thanks!

 

[JoJosReef]

Forgot to ask u: was this used to start a new tank or established? Wondering if it went thru all the diatom/algae bloom stages.

For me, new tank. Never saw diatoms, never had a GHA problem. Had a bit of isolated bryopsis (presumed) in the sand--no idea if from TBS or frags--that I was able to get out without difficulty. Only issue I've had is with bubble algae, which seems to care less if you've got mature ocean rocks/sand or not.