Going Bigger!!!!

[lilolme]

I am goin to a bigger tank it is 48x24x24 I got a killer deal on it complete and established. but.... Tey guy run no substrate is ther a prob with this. It has 150 lbs of LR sump skimmer VHO lighting. I am also going to add 2 96w PC's to it will there be a problem there? I have got a aptasia garden there too so Looks like pep shrimp,copper banded and lots of kalk injections. BUt the substrate thing has me puzzled.

Jeff

[dark horge]

Running a barebottom tank is an acceptable set-up, and has been for a couple of decades now.

It's faster to stabilize than one with a live sandbed, but has lesser waste-processing capacity, and has a harder time providing a richer planktonic environment (the kind corals and othe critters just love).

hth, and congrats on the upgrade!
dark horge

[lilolme]

So what do you reccomend since I have almost no access to the Sountdown sand and will not pay carrib seas prices. I could use normal playsand but... one it scares me and 2 I dont like the brown color grin. Ideas?



me


[ 03-10-2001: Message edited by: lilolme ]

[Doug1]

Its really too bad we can't get the southdown sand here in the Pacific NorthWest, as the cost of aragonite or even fine coral runs about a buck a pound. Ouch!!!!! at about 150# for a decent sand bed thats gets up there quick. So heres a couple of suggestions.
Since the LFS pays about .50# see if you can find a shop that will order in 150# prepaid for about .60#, about $90 OR
Bite the bullet and buy one bag of aragonite or #0/#1 crushed coral and 100# of regular sand with aragonite in front against the glass and on top hiding the brown stuff. Dont worry about the lack of buffering from silica
sand you are gonna be buffering any way, and aragonite hardly dissolves at normal tank pH

[lilolme]

With sand sifters etc wont the brown sand come to the top? I can understand bout the buffering but thats not a biggie as I am goint to drip kalk and treat bith B-Ionic. If I decide to go with the bare bottom it was stated in a post that the good corals like the sand for Planktonic surroundings that a deep sand bed provides can this be supplamented in any way?

Jeff

[ 03-10-2001: Message edited by: lilolme ]

[Doug1]

By sandsifters, if you are refering to sifter stars, sandchewing gobies and jawfish or sea cukes you could get some regular sand showing on top. On the other hand all of the aforementioned creatures, cept the cuke, can be detrimental to a deep sand bed and eat everything in it and disrupt the anarobic areas leading to nitrate rises. A well seeded sand bed with a lot of worms, and nassarius shouldnt be a problem, depending on how deep the white layer was. FWIW Raszagil found an inexpensive dolomite in the garden center that was working out well for her nano tank.
Aas far as plankton enrichment a refugium could help, tho I tend to think the add on or intank units are mostly to small to be of much impact, esp the external ones that are lit opposite the main tank cycle. A small 2-5 gal refugium reverse lit isn't gonna impact CO2 and pH a whole lot on a 120g tank. My algaefugium thats currently developing has a footprint of better than half the display tank 34x14 fuge vs 48x18 tank

[ 03-10-2001: Message edited by: Doug1 ]

[lilolme]

OK do you have the Name and who sells the dolamite sand by chance? Thanks for the Help Doug

Jeff

[Doug1]

Heres the original thread re: dolomite http://www.thereeftank.com/ubbcgi/ul...c&f=1&t=000875
still pricy for a large tank but it may be available in larger bags at a better price.
I'm glad I looked this up, I was thinkin about getting some for my sumpfugium, love that magnesium,hehehehe

[lilolme]

Thanks again for the link I shot an email off to her to see how it was going. I noticed it was dated sept so since then it has time to age and do the whole SB thing.

Jeff