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Post by scoobnoob on Nov 4, 2014 6:59:06 GMT -5
Whats wrong with oolite?
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Post by jasonandsarah on Nov 4, 2014 7:24:23 GMT -5
Others may like it, I hate it. Grain size is like dust and with any kind of medium/strong flow it just blows it around the tank. I have a huge low spot in the middle part of my sand bed because of this. My sand is the only reason I don't have more flow in my tank. If your setting up a low flow tank then it'd probably work fine. This is the finest sand you can buy. Sent from my SM-N910R4 using proboards |
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Nov 4, 2014 7:48:36 GMT -5
Oolite sand is perfectly fine to use. The thing is that it's not really meant as a stand alone substrate. It can't take the flow. It's meant for use in the lower anoxic layer of deep sand beds. You need to cover oolite sand with a layer of coarse grain sand to keep it in place and get the benefits.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Nov 4, 2014 9:57:15 GMT -5
Oolite sand is perfectly fine to use. The thing is that it's not really meant as a stand alone substrate. It can't take the flow. It's meant for use in the lower anoxic layer of deep sand beds. You need to cover oolite sand with a layer of coarse grain sand to keep it in place and get the benefits. That's what I did??? Sent from my SM-N910R4 using proboards |
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Post by gotareef on Nov 4, 2014 10:25:53 GMT -5
imo- ditch the used sand. you dont know how much crap is really in it, and it could haunt you for the life of the tank...
if you must re use the rock or sand "cook" it like mentioned. scrub,soak in acid or bleach,rince,soak again. if you use bleach just do final soak in water treated with amquel to remove chlorine. this should be done with fresh water then cure the rock for a month or two before it goes in your tank
for sand size I would just use Caribbean reef sand, it has every size sand you will want for a dsb... mixing different sand is a pita between oolite,dolomite,aragonite and crushed coral in different thicknesses of if you want a plenum... to much to it... again the carib reef sand will settle and the different sizes will separate
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Post by Immortality on Nov 4, 2014 10:58:51 GMT -5
:-SI agree with you as well. My delima is this, I have sand from another buy that was perfectly good sand, I just waited to put it in the tank. So because of that I decided to wash wash wash wash it and was going to put it in but then was told that because I have fish in the tank and the fact that it is going to have to cycle I didnt want to take the chance. I took these fish because I didnt want to see them flushed. Now that sand clean and all is sitting in the snow on my porch.... fast forward to the sand from this new tank and now again I have unuseable sand yet again. IMO sand is not cheap, I like the look but dont like the price. And it now seems that no matter what I am to do I have to let it cycle and so my fish are going to suffer. The fish are large so they wont fit and live in a sump or a smaller tank, so its like wtf! To top it all off I cant post from my phone for some reason. now I have to use my laptop. Frustrated!    And after reading some of the post's on MFS I'm realizing all these options for everything in my tank I've never even thought of before. Example all the diff grain size's for sand and the fact it matters, like wow. I'm sensing a case of OCD with this hobby. lol I could literally spend years trying to figure out whats best for what I want to do and never truly enjoy the hobby. How do people work through this? I know I've asked more questions then given answers but I figure we are from the same woods maybe someone will understand. Thanks for listening. |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Nov 4, 2014 20:35:17 GMT -5
If you have clean sand you can add it to your tank. Just add it slowly, use a piece of pvc pipe and dump the sand down it to the bottom. Try to minimize the clouding is going to create. I really don't see any reason you can't add sand? If it's completely cleaned off you won't be adding anything bad to the tank. It will cycle over time because your tank is already cycled but won't start your cycle over again if that's what you think? Also use whatever grain size you prefer. If you want something natural then add some smaller grain size on the bottom and some larger stuff on top! It's that easy....... Listen everyone that's started a reef tank had trouble in the beginning! EVERYONE..... I think some crazy number like 80%of aquariums get torn down within the first year! It's the people that have the passion and drive for Reef tanks and want to succeed at keeping one at all cost end up with a beautiful tank and lots of knowledge to pass on! Something to remember is a reef tank isn't really even considered "mature " for 6 months to a year! Everything will equalize over time! Keep fighting the good fight and enjoy your self! Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank! Also yes most of us have major ocd with our tanks and you will to soon enough.  !!!Happy Reefing!!! Sent from my SM-N910R4 using proboards |
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Post by Syntax on Nov 4, 2014 21:04:04 GMT -5
Keep asking questions... Question everything, even proven tactics... Always question, never stop... Always ask follow up questions... Question yourself as well.... Then decide what to do, then question more.
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Post by Immortality on Nov 5, 2014 1:20:03 GMT -5
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Post by gotareef on Nov 5, 2014 9:16:18 GMT -5
its either algae or tube worms hard to tell from pic. you can add clean sand to the tank anytime just add a little at a time and mix it a little with the TOP layer of sand in the tank. even if you setup a system with all new sand/rock in the first year the tank will go threw 3 cycles the first major cycle in the first month or so then expect atleast 2 more smaller "cycles" in the next 9 months. after the first cycle fish in the system should be fine. some inverts/corals may be a little more finicky... just make sure to test if you see levels jumping be ready for a waterchange.... the problem with a reef tank is the variables, every one of have a different system with different ways of doing things. this means learn as much as you can and find a way that works for you and your system... also this hobby is as hard or easy as you want same goes for price. imo sand is the cheapest part considering when your tank is mature you will have more $$ in it than you would like to admit I have setup 40g tanks that cost almost nothing, and setup a 40g tank that some crazy idiot has around $1k in coral and about $1k in 5 fish not to mention sand/rock/starphire tank/sump/pumps/skimmer..... I think I may have a problem  |
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Post by Immortality on Nov 5, 2014 21:49:00 GMT -5
are tube worms alright? I have some in my current rock too.
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Post by gotareef on Nov 6, 2014 8:52:36 GMT -5
they filter feed, but they can look a little crappy if they become a nuisance. if they have a couple clear tenticals coming out of the tube instead of a "fan" you might want a arrow crab for a wile, so it can eat them all
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Post by Immortality on Nov 18, 2014 20:24:03 GMT -5
So the algae seems to be dying off. Hope this is good. Does it mean anything else about the rock now that it's not staying?
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Post by jasonandsarah on Nov 19, 2014 6:10:12 GMT -5
So the algae seems to be dying off. Hope this is good. Does it mean anything else about the rock now that it's not staying? If it's dying off then it means you have your nutrients low. Unless your doing something else to kill the algae? Also if your nutrients are going down without any gfo or anything like that then your Rock isn't leaching phosphates!!! That's a big plus! Keep up the good work Sent from my SM-N910R4 using proboards |
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Post by Immortality on Dec 12, 2014 8:18:39 GMT -5
So I have a redish purple algae that is fuzzy kinda. Wondering what it is , good or bad . Very cool looking!
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And after reading some of the post's on MFS I'm realizing all these options for everything in my tank I've never even thought of before. Example all the diff grain size's for sand and the fact it matters, like wow. I'm sensing a case of OCD with this hobby. lol I could literally spend years trying to figure out whats best for what I want to do and never truly enjoy the hobby. How do people work through this? I know I've asked more questions then given answers but I figure we are from the same woods maybe someone will understand. Thanks for listening.
