I added the sand and it's not good.

[Tom Toro]

I added just one 30lb bag to my sps 135g. Took hours for it to clear and I blew off all the corals with a baster. But, I turned on my Tunze and another cloud started up. So I turned it back off.

I wanted to add another bag, but I'm not sure the inhabitants can take another hit like this one. I soaked the sand overnight in ro and rinsed the heck out of it, but it still went nuts in there.

Q: Will this sand ever settle down completely or do I need to lower my flow to almost nothing? I'm using the aragonite oolitic sugar size from Carib Sea.

[bluwc]

It will eventually settle down but you may have to adjust your flow, especially if there is a lot of flow near the sandbed. Thats why I don't like the sugar sand.

[Sir Patrick]

By any chance do you have a hot magnum canister filter w/ the micron filter? They do wonders clearing the really small particalsof dust thats mixed with the sand, after an initial addition to a tank. You will need to rinse it a few times, but will help alot.

I would also go to as minimal flow as possible- none would be best. Maybe just leave the overflow and return running. Do you have a filter sock? Could be helpfull. If you can adjust your return slow, alot of the dust in the water should settle in the bottom of your sump, instead of your fish tank.

[Tom Toro]

It will eventually settle down but you may have to adjust your flow, especially if there is a lot of flow near the sandbed. Thats why I don't like the sugar sand.

I learned the hard way. I'm going to use something larger for the other tank. Are you familiar with the Carib sea reef select? I don't want crushed coral, but something in between that and this baby powder.


By any chance do you have a hot magnum canister filter w/ the micron filter? They do wonders clearing the really small particalsof dust thats mixed with the sand, after an initial addition to a tank. You will need to rinse it a few times, but will help alot.

I would also go to as minimal flow as possible- none would be best. Maybe just leave the overflow and return running. Do you have a filter sock? Could be helpfull. If you can adjust your return slow, alot of the dust in the water should settle in the bottom of your sump, instead of your fish tank.

Sounds good Chris. I reduced the flow by half on the controller and moved all PH's up near the top. I don't have a canister filter, but I do have filter socks. Good idea and thanks.

[Tom Toro]

O.k. this stuff is impossible to contain and it's all over my corals. Won't settle down even when I turn all tunzes down to almost nothing and kill the closed loop.

So...I ordered another 5 x 40lbs of carib sea reef select. Not crushed coral, but not powder either.

I'm only putting one 40lb bag of the reef select in the 135, but 4 bags in the other system. No sugar size in there. I'll save the other three bags of aragamax for another nitrate reducing experiment or something.

Q:Can I just put this over the sugar size sand or do I need to remove the sand first? Please tell me I can just mix it... Also, if anybody's ever mixed these two, will it stop the powder from moving around?

[MizTanks]

Sorry darlin but the heavier carib will eventually work it's way down leaving the sand once again on top. Best option is to remove as much of the sand as possible.

[Sir Patrick]

Sounds like you have a real mess on your hands.....

I think, if I were you, I would move the corals from the cloudy tank to another location. Stop flow entirely in the foggy tank and wait it out. It will eventually settle, but not with any amount of flow in the tank- so it seems.

I dont see any reason not to mix the sands. Yes, the fine will work its way to the top, but- it will be settled and not blow around as easily as fresh added sand that you are dealing with right now.

[MizTanks]

After having sand in my 8g for 2 years, it never did totally settle down. It was a total pain. And I didn't have the flow that Tom has. I've seen lots of peoples having the same issues using sand for substrate in a reef tank. Especially where higher flow is required.

[iyachtuxivm]

The reef select is good stuff. Very nice size I love it.

[jimsflies]

Is this the same tank as the temp problem in the other thread? If it is, my advice is to slow down and stop messing with things. :)

The fine sand will eventually gain some biomass and settle. I agree the fine stuff isn't the way to go especially if you have a lot of flow.

While Miztanks may be right, I think by the time that happens you will have enough biomass on the sand to keep it from stirring up as easily.

Get what you can with a canister filter and go easy on the changes for awhile.

[Tom Toro]

lol. I will let it simmer as soon. as I put in the new larger sand. I siphoned out as much of the powder i could last night

the reef select shipped yesterday.

[AZDesertRat]

Once the bacteria starts colonizing on the sand it will settle like a rock.
I have 330 lbs of sugar sized Southdown sand in a 100G reef 5-6" deep, it was not rinsed, has never been vacuumed or disturbed in 8.5 years, is as white as the day I installed it and has 2xEvo1400 powerheads and a 1000 GPH return pump with a Oceans Motions Squirt so has tons of flow and stays put.

Take your time and let the bacteria catch up and the sand will work itself in.

[Tom Toro]

I remember the Southdown sand in the old days. It was ridiculously cheap and Home Depot had 'em for a little while then folks were going to Ohio to get it and then it was gone. That was a deal. Sold as playsand if I remember right.

I got the reef select today, rinsed two 40 pounders and put it in. It cleared extremely fast and after moving my tunzes around some, it settled down. I like it a lot and am glad it'll get heavier as time goes on. Maybe then I can move the powerheads back to where I like 'em.

Thanks,
Tom








Once the bacteria starts colonizing on the sand it will settle like a rock.
I have 330 lbs of sugar sized Southdown sand in a 100G reef 5-6" deep, it was not rinsed, has never been vacuumed or disturbed in 8.5 years, is as white as the day I installed it and has 2xEvo1400 powerheads and a 1000 GPH return pump with a Oceans Motions Squirt so has tons of flow and stays put.

Take your time and let the bacteria catch up and the sand will work itself in.

[binford4000]

It will eventually settle down but you may have to adjust your flow, especially if there is a lot of flow near the sandbed. Thats why I don't like the sugar sand.

ditto,rather have the flow.the sugar sand looks great but it's a real PITA and you have monster flow so it will be evrywhere!!!.Might want to add this sand slowly Tom so you don't throw your system for a loop it will cycle again already just depends how big of a cycle you want to deal with.I always put pillow stuffing fiber in the sump by the drain when I add sand to collect the super fine dust works just like the old school angel hair and is cheap.With sugar sand I always keep the flow on the top quarter of the tank.good luck your a brave soul !! If it was me I would get the sugar sand out of the tank and put the new stuff in.You will like it much better if you need to house anything that your afraid of looseing you know where I live.