Finally Have A Tank

Only got lost twice trying to find the seller's house but managed to come back with a 65 gal tank, skimmer, RO/DI and a lot of other stuff. 3 pumps and a tank that I think is a 29gal that he used for a sump. I took it because he has a really nice set of baffles in it that I am hoping to salvage.

Also a 5gal bucket of sand. Should I just throw this? The tank has been down for a week.

You can try and rinse it, but if it were me I'd toss it and get new.

Toss it, some people seed there sand bed by using some old but I would not!

If it was me, I wouldn't use it either. I'd get new sand.

toss it or rinse and use it to make frag plugs. Don't use it in the tank though as a substrate.

Where is the best place, and what is the best size of grain of sand to get? I am thinking about 160-170lbs (approx 5" deep bed)

Thanks-

http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/TE-TE03616R30.html

I use this stuff. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+7326&pcatid=7326

This is what I am currently using:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+16764&pcatid=16764

Now I will tell you why... I first tried this really cool super white sugar sand. I couldn't keep it on the bottom of the tank and found out the filer particles were actually a sand that is not good for gobies.

Then I tried my current brand of sand and loved it.

Next I tried another different brand that was a little finer but not as fine as the first one but I didn't like it. It was the aggramax stuff I believe.

Back to Caribsea I went as I had the best luck. Make sure to rinse it first really well. Easy way is to put it in a pillowcase and run water through it until it flows clear. Then if you don't like the larger particles or chunks, run it through a strainer or scoop like a cat litter scoop. That will help get the big particles out.

I used the live sand from Rick's in town and had no problems, other than I didn't know I supposed to rinse it first. LOL. One thing I have liked about this sand, is that it doesn't appear to be easily blown around, as my critters move in and out, teeny tiny shells are surfacing and my leaping polyps and mushrooms root on them quickly. So that's my vote.

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I have it narrowed down. Does anyone mix one or two kinds/sizes? It is a fairly deep tank at 24" so I want 4-5" substrate. What is that kind they keep mentioning that a person can buy at Home Depot etc to use as a cheaper base? Starts with a "S" or "D" I think.

My very long range goal with this tank will be gobies, shrimp, plants, blenny, and eventually a couple of mandarins. Possibly. Corals of course.

NO tangs.

The stuff you are thinking of is south down sand. I'm not sure you can find it anymore.

tinkerman wrote:The stuff you are thinking of is south down sand. I'm not sure you can find it anymore.

I think you are right on both accounts there.

You wouldn't rinse live sand. Curtis probably started with dry which is much cheaper. If you don't mind waiting out your cycle, you'll save a lot by starting with dry and let one of us in town give you a scoop of sand from our tanks to seed it with.

It doesn't look like it from what I can see. Thanks- I just couldn't think of the name.
I've been reading everything I can on sand- to the point of obsession.

I am planning on a framework of pvc to support the rockwork so I want the sand fairly deep.

Yes, I will be getting dry sand definitely. I just want to make sure the size is right for what I want to keep. I haven't doen much research on plants to see if there is a recommended size. I'm not sure the fine grain would compact too much or if it would be better.

More research I guess.

I've done a bit of research on real plants, like the grasses. The plants, from what I have read, need a mud base too. If you go on the seahorse forum, there are some good articles about growing grasses etc. I would eventually like to do a seahorse tank with the grasses and other plants. I have halmedia (sp?) now. Mine turn white/pale overnight and green up once the day starts. I like them, I know some members don't. Oh, by the way, my mushrooms are still leaping off their rocks, but seem to happy where they land. Oh well.