live sand?

[mathias]

and if he wants to go bare bottom thats great as well... just make sure to have a large skimmer.

[erikharrison]

Another note to Mr. Cool's reply would be that decorative sand beds are best at around 1 1/2" or less since they can be stirred and exposed easily by strong currents. DSB begin working out over 4" deep. It's that space between 2"-4" where wastes are trapped but not processed.

I agree, from what I have read, that is exactly on point. Save the dsb for your fuge! I have black and white sand in my fuge and it looks super sweet!

Jorge, I would put it in some buckets and wash it. If at all possible, do one side of the tank at a time, and over a period of a few weeks. That should also help in determining if the sand is your problem, and not something else.

[erikharrison]

While we're on this topic, what is good for stirring up a deep sandbed while not eating too much microfauna?

[JimD]

Fighting conch and Nassarious snails. I would never use a sand sifting star.

[caferacermike]

Add to that many wrasses and eels.

[Ping]

I would try stirring a little bit of the sand every day (plastic rod, kabob skewer, your hand). Corals will appreciate the release of bacteria and other possible micro life.

How about vacuming the sand. Or changing out 1/3 of the sand.

If we rinse the sand, try to do it in water change water.

When putting new dry sand in a tank it should be placed in saltwater for at least 24 hours prior to placing in your tank. This will prevent a large drop in Alkilinity. This short aging of the sand grows the bio-film on the individual grains of sand.

My personal preference is a Remote oolitic argaonite deep 4 -6" sand bed and 1 inch SB in the display, Just my opinion. There are many ways to keep a reef tank.

[purplesprite]

wheres the best place to get oolitic sand? I checked it out online and it cost as much or more for shipping than it does for the sand itself.Does anyone have it localy?

[erikharrison]

Home depot has some sand for sump use. It's cheap but you have to wash it good. Ask Urban79 (Jeremy)

[Ping]

Most of the LFS in SA can order Oolitic sand for you.

I "Personally would not wash Oolitic aragonite sand. It is very fine and the powder is good for our systems, it just needs some time to settle. It it is pre-soaked in salt water to build a bio film, less of it floats around. When soaking we can skim the top with a net or overflow the container to remove the floaties.

Then pour it into an existing system through a large piece of PVC pipe.

[reeferRob]

wheres the best place to get oolitic sand? I checked it out online and it cost as much or more for shipping than it does for the sand itself.Does anyone have it localy?

Dr Fosters sells various substrates average $1/llb and if I am not mistaken shipping is $10 for the first $100 or so... I get buckets of salt delivered to my door cheaper than driving to Pets-Mart and buying it. Just an idea