SAND FROM THE OCEAN & TWO SUMPS

[maxfischer]

ok i have someone giving me some live sand from their tank. what if i mixed that with sand from the ocean, is that ok? i now have two sumps one being a trickle filter and one being my refugium, i was thinking of having my protein skimmer in my sump and setting my refugium up next to my tank. this would ad to my 70 galloon tank making the total water over 100. i also have a UV, filter a lifegaurd filter ontop of my R/O would this be a good idea?

[graphixx]

Max,
You run a risk of introducing contaminates into the tank when you go with sand from the ocean. I would not recommend it unless you know that this is a clean part of the ocean you getting this sand from, and still you do not know what your introducing into your tank. I would stick with sand out of an allready established tank.

[segraves1]

I personally wouldn't worry about "introducing stuff from the ocean".......I got quite a bit a rock, hermit crabs, and macro algae from Rocky Point Mexico....it has been almost 2 months since and things couldn't be better.......

[graphixx]

if you do just make sure that it is from a clean part of the ocean, and you are still running a risk of contaminates, I would have to see your tank get sick

[carpenterwrasse]

would a uv steralizer work to help rid the contanimantes

[segraves1]

would a uv steralizer work to help rid the contanimantes

only if those "contaminants" were alive (i.e.: bacteria/microbes/etc.......).....it would do nothing for chemicals.......in addition (why I will never have one), they kill indiscriminately.....anything that passes through the UV light (including good bacteria, any fry/larva/live fooddrifting in the water column, etc.)......

[davejnz]

As for introducing contaminates,there's a definate possiblilty that it could occur.Personally,I collect NSW from the Atlantic when i can.I dont filter it,let it settle,etc..just straight from the ocean to my tank within 2 hrs.I've had nothing but positive experiences with it.However,your talking about collecting sand,beach sand
(at least here)is not a pure aragonite sand and is full of silicates.The only place i would consider collecting sand from in the wild is near a reef.

[carpenterwrasse]

i am not talking putting the whole system through the uv just the new stuff

[segraves1]

However,your talking about collecting sand,beach sand (at least here)is not a pure aragonite sand and is full of silicates.The only place i would consider collecting sand from in the wild is near a reef.

I didn't think about the silicate problem........for a while I had thought about getting sand from the beach to do a large tank.......guess I'll rethink that one......

i am not talking putting the whole system through the uv just the new stuff

seems kind of exspensive (unless you already have one)......I would think buying crushed coral would be a cheaper and better way to go in that case.......