I think I killed my sand.

[EQCM2B]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#After reading all kinds of post on all kinds of things I think I may have killed my live sand. While mixing my salt and water and adding it to the tank I mistakenly mixed it twice as strong as I should have. I realized this at about half a tank and proceeded to add straight water. When tank was full salinity was about .028. I removed about six gallons and added more straight water. Final salinity is .023 now. Am I ok or do I need to go get more live sand or some bugs in a bottle. My tank seems to be cycling as ph -8.2, ammonia - .50, nitrite - 0and nitrate -0, in the beginingare changing. Currently readings are ph-7.8, ammonia- .50, nitrite-2.0, nitrate - 10.0#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Am I ok or did I goof up big time?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[flame]

How long has the tank been up

[EQCM2B]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Two weeks.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[davejnz]

Its easier for inverts to cope with suddeh higher salinities than sudden low salinities. 1.028 isn't that high,the Oceans average SG is 1.026.I keep both of my tanks at this SG.

[flame]

I think you are fine. I would give it some time and see if the cycle continues. You may want to see if some one will give you a cup of live sand just to boost things back up. Do you have any live rock or are you going to add any. If so now would be a good time to add it. Now I am rather new at this to and there are others here that have a lot more knowledge and they will drop by your thread and give you more information.

[graphixx]

naw, dont worry you will be fine like Dave said 0.28 isnt that bad, and it was for a very short period, no worries you will be allright.............. HA I'll bet it scared the crap out of you huh

[EQCM2B]

I'm not sure everyone understands what I did. For the first half of the tank I was mixing the IO salt on a one cup to one gallon of water. Actually it was three cups of salt to three gallons of water at a time. I added this to my tank about 5 to 6 times before I realized that it was the wrong ratio, then I started to add straight water. I have no clue what the SG was at half tank, only when tank was full. Please tell me I am still ok or not.

[graphixx]

just keep an eye on it, it anything you just set your cycle back a couple of weeks, see if you can get your hands on some live sand from an allready established tank and put it in there that will get the sand bed repopulated

[jerryc]

Most purchased live sand wont have that much life to start with...takes time to
get it going with some diversity as already suggested get a cup from a established tank more Thain one preferably.

[EQCM2B]

Thanks for all the help, Thought I was in for some major damage control.