FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I put playsand in my tank, and it is dark, it isnt the white color like I see sand in reef tanks at my LFS.

Is there any way to make it look really nice?

Also, I was just thinking of getting that cycled sand in a bag stuff that they sell. It looks nice (mainly what I need) and it is already cycled, so I can put fish in at once.

Im not going to put much LR in, maby 1 or 2 pieces.

Also, what is the saltiny of a SW tank (im going to be housing firefish and clownfish) I was looking at a hydrometer, and the highlited range was 1.020 - 1.023 isnt it suppose to be around 1.024?

Another question, when i setup my bucket for my water change, i would make the saltinity the same as in my tank, right?

I was going to get alot of those little crabs, will they stir up the sand for me? If they wolnt, what can i get that will stir up the sand??

Well, you bought brown sand, so it simply will never look white, unfortunally. I also used playsand in my tank, but it is the white tropical variety.

Second, the 'sand in a bag' will not allow you to put fish in your tank right away, in fact, if its what Im thinking it is(agralive maybe?) it won't really do anything for you. You'll still have to cycle just like you would have without it, and it won't contrbute to it. Now if it was Live Sand from one of the LFS tanks, that would help, but it would not create an instant cycle like your hoping for. The best, and fastest way to cycle a tank is LR.

A reef tank usually has a salinity of 1.024. FO or FOWLR tanks can have a lower salinity level, hence the difference.

thanks.

I looked at the sand, and it isnt as dark as i origionaly thought it was (it is a light brown - mainly the same color at beaches)

I wonder how much my LFS would charge me for 10 pounds of their live sand?

I can get that, some LR and i can get a clownfish to help cycle it (I have heard the tank bread ones are good at that.

No....if your are using Live Rock, there isn't any need to use any fish to cycle. The live rock is doing that for you..and typically takes 4-8 weeks. The nitrite level will tell you whether your cycle is complete.

And if you are cycling with LR in your main tank, do not put sand in it yet (hope you haven't) because it will make your tank bottom very dirty and full of crap...and with sand in there makes cleaning a pain

I wonder what my LFS would charge me for 10lbs of live sand I would think that over first! The sand in thier tank may have all sorts of stuff in it....possibly Ich cycsts..etc.
Mabey a cup full of sand from a fellow aquarist that you trust to "seed " your new sand!

Defentinally no need for fish if you have LR.

When I cycled with only live rock, it took only several days, 6 I believe.

Of course I had A LOT of live rock.

Last edited by lil_mikey69 at 31-Oct-2004 11:53