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Custom Tanks
- Thread starter ReeferMedic
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Appreciate that!
Home depot play sand sounds perfect for you. Just make sure to give it a rinse.
Was not directed at you it was directed at @this is me but i feel you have the same beliefs as him. If you do you should do some research on to deep sand beds and then realize it's less then10% of the hobby and not recommended.
All i have giving is personal experience seems no one wants to hear others opinions and most members can't handle disagreements like adults.
This is also what Im using, but varying upon size of tank and how deep of a sand bed the OP wants this can get expensive. I believe each is currently going for $25 and their 20lb bags
I used to run a dsb in my really old tank and did use Southdown (funny you mention that name!). Currently have about 4” in my tank and like it. If I were to do DSB again, I’d likely plumb it inline and let it be remote. That way I could remove/replace when needed.
Southdown sand was a great solution, but I think it got pulled from the shelves from Home Depot when rumor had it that the aquarium industry complained (IIRC). Home Depot replaced it with Home Depot Play Sand, but I think @Greg Hiller found there were heavy metals in the mix. That was all a looong time ago.
This all brings back memories - Albert Thiel was a huge DSB proponent - I still have a bunch of his books.
Welcome back, I look forward to seeing your tank.
This all brings back memories - Albert Thiel was a huge DSB proponent - I still have a bunch of his books.
Welcome back, I look forward to seeing your tank.
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Southdown sand was carbonate based sand, if you look under microscope, the particles are rounded and won’t damage fish that like to play or hide in the sand.
The current play sand is mostly silica based sand, and it contains sharp edges that can damage fish despite it is safe for human to play in.
For reef tanks, the best sand is carbonate based sand. To test it, get a small scoop of the sand and drop it into white vinegar.
Carbonate based sand will bubble and dissolve, while silica based sand will remain intact.
If your sand is silica based sand, I will avoid getting fish like wrasse, as they will get scratched by the sand and lead to infections.
The current play sand is mostly silica based sand, and it contains sharp edges that can damage fish despite it is safe for human to play in.
For reef tanks, the best sand is carbonate based sand. To test it, get a small scoop of the sand and drop it into white vinegar.
Carbonate based sand will bubble and dissolve, while silica based sand will remain intact.
If your sand is silica based sand, I will avoid getting fish like wrasse, as they will get scratched by the sand and lead to infections.
I’ve had great success using dsb in all my tanks, including frag yanks. You do you, and I’ll do what works for me. Bare bottoms are not very appealing to me. I also like to see all the benificial fauna growing in them. I personally will never have a bare bottom tank. Ask around and you’ll learn how nice my system flourished for 12 years or so with dsb. Also, some fish like to burrow into them at night. I enjoy the diversity of creatures you can get with a dsb. I also had an absolutely beautiful tube anemone that requires a dsb. So, you do you, and I’ll do me and we’ll be just fine.
Thanks!
Sounds great just trying to let you know on the things that have changed and you just don't care and stuck in your ways. I really dont care if you like me agree or care to listen but I care about others that read this and think it's a good idea. And 100% personal experience had a tube nem in a plastic basket for 3 years did just fine... but like my carpet its a pain in the butt and can't stop eating fish.
Spaceman,
Do not mention me in any of your posts as I can’t see your content because you’re on my ignore list. I suggest you do the same.
It’s a hobby, relax. Chill out. Learn how to use the ignore function when you find someone is a pest.
Do not mention me in any of your posts as I can’t see your content because you’re on my ignore list. I suggest you do the same.
It’s a hobby, relax. Chill out. Learn how to use the ignore function when you find someone is a pest.
Thanks Dong. I forgot about that little test. I might just wind up going to nahant beach where I used to collect nsw and taking it right from the beach. Just make a screen that will fit over a 5 gallon bucket and screen it.
Dude, you sound pretty angry. . I couldn’t care any less if you like me or not either. You have no idea who I am or my experience level. Don’t make it sound like I’m pig headed and “struck” in my ways. Like I said, you do you and I’ll do me. Holy smokes, we have never even met, but you seem to be one angry MF. . Ask around, I’m actually a pretty good guy and have a great passion for this hobby. We all have our own ways of doing things. Do you think it’s a mistake that oceans have dsb? Maybe it’s just that you don’t have a clue on how to maintain one. I got a lot of my knowledge from Joe Venuti, aka SALTYOLDDOG. Who did you learn from? Isn’t this what this club is here for? To learn, ask questions, and share your experiences? If your intention is to engage with people when they ask a question, you need to take yourself somewhere else.
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Tube anemones can not catch a healthy fish. It can however catch a sick or injured fish. As far as the carpet goes, why would you keep adding fish if it keeps grabbing them. I had a huge carpet years ago and had the common sense to not put any fish besides saddle backs in there. Don’t go trying to push your $hit with me if this is what you think you know.
Test the sand before you use it as many beaches in New England areas has silica based sand as I was told.
But if you find an area with carbonate based sand, please share.
I used ESV Oolithic sand in my tank.
That sand is still listed as available on the ESV website, though I’m not sure they offer retail sales or sell direct to hobbyists, any local store that carries ESV products should be able to order it.
CaribSea also offers oolite sand and I think CaribSea products are on sale this week at Premium Aquatics.
Regarding the posts about deep sand bed or no deep sand sand bed, I read through the posts in this thread and you’re not doing one here any favors with the passive aggressive “old ways” posts and backhand “imo” comments. It’s kind of uncalled for here.
You can be extremely successful with or without sand in your reef tank, it’s all about preference and proper care.
My frag tank has no sand, and it works for me there, so point taken.
That sand is still listed as available on the ESV website, though I’m not sure they offer retail sales or sell direct to hobbyists, any local store that carries ESV products should be able to order it.
CaribSea also offers oolite sand and I think CaribSea products are on sale this week at Premium Aquatics.
Regarding the posts about deep sand bed or no deep sand sand bed, I read through the posts in this thread and you’re not doing one here any favors with the passive aggressive “old ways” posts and backhand “imo” comments. It’s kind of uncalled for here.
You can be extremely successful with or without sand in your reef tank, it’s all about preference and proper care.
My frag tank has no sand, and it works for me there, so point taken.
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Full disclosure. I have not read every post here, but stand by my claim that there is plenty of evidence that there is sand in the ocean. There is also a theory that some is created by a mythical creature called a "parrot fish"
Also, we are a store and a sponsor here. Y'all probably won't buy much from us if you can just order it on Amazon and have it land on your doorstep. Oh wait, we can do that too, lol! However, you can at least take advantage of us for the heavy "free shipping not included" stuff like salt, sand, etc.
We are an ESV, Caribsea, Worldwide Imports dealer and can access all the parrot fish poop dust you need
Also, we are a store and a sponsor here. Y'all probably won't buy much from us if you can just order it on Amazon and have it land on your doorstep. Oh wait, we can do that too, lol! However, you can at least take advantage of us for the heavy "free shipping not included" stuff like salt, sand, etc.
We are an ESV, Caribsea, Worldwide Imports dealer and can access all the parrot fish poop dust you need
@Blue Light Aquatics love your shop and dedication i have purchased fish coral and equipment from you and recommend you all the time wish you were not soo far away. But as you and I both know a parrot in reef tank is a bad idea but good for a natural reef....
@ReeferMedic your a funny guy definitely stuck in his ways. And leaning from Joe makes it ironic to me. I wouldn't recommend asking for advice if you already think you know all. But at least listen to Dong. As this is the appropriate awncer for using local sand. Using sand directly from a New England beach to start a reef tank is not recommended as it is likely to contain contaminants like pollutants, and debris that could harm your reef ecosystem, even after thorough rinsing and filtering; it's best to purchase specifically designed "reef sand" from a pet store that is already cleaned and safe for marine life. Tube nems can catch spooked fish that swims into it.
Deep sand beds are a thing of the past as thats your experience you can stick with it and enjoy.
Come at me with there is sand in the ocean yep but guess what you got a small box of water your trying to control the environment in not a ocean. So you don't run heaters or a skimmer i don't see them in the ocean? I am thinking of asking to host a meeting thus summer/fall or be a tank tour stop this year If can get that going again and your more then welcome to come by and see my tanks and talk tanks.
@Mike A was never about sand or no sand was about deep sand... thats all i wanted to say and I got but do you know who I am and I don't and don't really care when people say that as it's a corvette owner phrase and I work on acutely rare cars so i get it..
@ReeferMedic your a funny guy definitely stuck in his ways. And leaning from Joe makes it ironic to me. I wouldn't recommend asking for advice if you already think you know all. But at least listen to Dong. As this is the appropriate awncer for using local sand. Using sand directly from a New England beach to start a reef tank is not recommended as it is likely to contain contaminants like pollutants, and debris that could harm your reef ecosystem, even after thorough rinsing and filtering; it's best to purchase specifically designed "reef sand" from a pet store that is already cleaned and safe for marine life. Tube nems can catch spooked fish that swims into it.
Deep sand beds are a thing of the past as thats your experience you can stick with it and enjoy.
Come at me with there is sand in the ocean yep but guess what you got a small box of water your trying to control the environment in not a ocean. So you don't run heaters or a skimmer i don't see them in the ocean? I am thinking of asking to host a meeting thus summer/fall or be a tank tour stop this year If can get that going again and your more then welcome to come by and see my tanks and talk tanks.
@Mike A was never about sand or no sand was about deep sand... thats all i wanted to say and I got but do you know who I am and I don't and don't really care when people say that as it's a corvette owner phrase and I work on acutely rare cars so i get it..
The deep sand bed getting someone upset is kinda funny . I had a 5 inch dsb in a reef no skimmer no water changes for 15+ years was the best tank I ever had running but to say it don’t work anymore is a load of crap . Stop being so salty already over the topic .25 million was to wipe your a** still comes out clean ……..
Thanks man. Definitely appreciate that and your posts. The parrot fish thing was part of me joke tho
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