southdown (yardwright) in a new tank...

[Ram_Puppy]

I have read that if you wash southdown your defeating the purpose and removing the smaller grain sizes... what do you guys think about this?

I was planning on not rinsing it and just putting it in the tank, then putting a bowl down and running my RO line into the bowl and letting the tank fill up slowly over a 2 day period, then putting the salt mix in, and seeding the tank w/ biospira to allow the bacterial film develop on the southdown (I have also heard once the bacterial film forms, no more sand storms)

sound good? or am I playing with a loaded gun w/ out washing it?

[don-n-sa]

If I am not mistaken, that is very similar to what Dan did on his 375 and he said that it worked fine for him...shoot him a pm to make sure.

[Ram_Puppy]

I also decided to make a PVC framework that will rest on the glass and come up through the sand, the live rocks will actually sit on the PVC and leave about 3/4 of an inch between the bottom of the rocks and the top of the sand, this should leave a nice area for sea stars and other critters to hang out, and allow flow underneath the rocks to keep detrius from collecting

[hobogato]

you could also use the some of the special reef grade on top of the southdown to cut down on sand storms.

[Ram_Puppy]

my thought is that after the nassarius and other snails in habit it, the special reef grade will just get mixed in and eventually settle to the bottom.

[thedude]

Love the PVC idea! Getting flow under the rocks is very very important IMO. Even in a barebottom tank, detritus sometimes accumulates under the rocks and all you get is pockets of phosphate.

Rinsing the southdown IMO is a plus. I think the benefits long term of taking that small "dust" out of the tank far outway any benefits you might get by leaving that same dust in your tank.

John

[demodiki]

You will still get dust storms but they settle down quickly after the bacteria gets to it.

[Ram_Puppy]

hmm.. kinda a split opinion...

[don-n-sa]

my thought is that after the nassarius and other snails in habit it, the special reef grade will just get mixed in and eventually settle to the bottom.


actually the opposite is true...since the fine sand is smaller in size they grains will fall/slip throug the crevices and make its way to the bottom....I have a southdown/reef grade mix in my tank and the fine made it to the bottom and stayed there.

[::pete::]

my thought is that after the nassarius and other snails in habit it, the special reef grade will just get mixed in and eventually settle to the bottom.

No .. the south down stays down ... ;)

Didnt read down far enough I agree with Don as I have proof.

[Ram_Puppy]

how thick of a cap are you guys putting on?

[don-n-sa]

hmmm....2" of southdown and 2" of aragonite

[Ram_Puppy]

hmmm... that's gonna be a pretty penny to purchase... I have about 10 bags of southdown in my garage I would much rather just use that... I am definately going to have to think on this.

[Ram_Puppy]

oi.. thanks josh, I did not know that last part! I wonder if that is why so many DSB's fail?

ok... well, I am down to it then. Tomorrow morning I am going to buy some rubbermaid trashcans and let the RO water fill them up, make the salt water, then either saturday or sunday I will drain the temp tank, move it, and then fill it back up with the new salt water (it will be in effect a 80% water change or so) then move the new tank in and start plumbing it.

I guess now I will just fill it up, make the salt water in the tank, turn all the pumps off and let it all settle.

[shellback]

Now how I kept the sand storm effect down. I'm using the fine grind I have found that if you dont rinse,then put your sand in stir with you hand. Doing this for a little while sifts alot of the small stuff lower in the bed. Next lay in salt water only enough to cover the sand, then rod the sand to release the trapped air in sand.Wait over night to continue this compacts the sand a bit. Next cut a piece of painters plastic to fit in tank and hold down with a couple of rocks. Now at this piont you can add water without the storm. When finished filling roll up plastic and remove it. If you try and pull it out it will vaccum and pull sand up with it. The fine sand makes a nice compact mud in the very bottom that promotes low oxygen bacteria.

[Ram_Puppy]

very nice shellback! THanks... it's alsmot silly how much thought we put into doing something like putting sand into a tank, but it can be so critical I think! :)

[dwdenny]

Hey Ram want to sale a few bags?lol I am looking for some as well for my fuge area and a thin layer for the display 2" display 5" fuge.

[Ram_Puppy]

I am sorry denny, I don't have any to sell. :(

I am planning on 3 20 gallon refugiums and 2 other show tanks plumbed into this, so everything I have is allready planned out.

[dwdenny]

hey that is fine it was worth a try though. Know anyone that has any. I pmed that guy that was trying to sell some about two weeks ago int he sale forum but no luch at all.