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View Full Version : Sand bed advice needed.......help me! Thx


miserkris
06/05/2011, 02:29 PM
Hi

For my new 75g ...(moving from a 55g reef).....i am not using the old coarse sand.
I want new dry sand that isn't live......but needs to be fine.

How many lbs sand do I need for a 75g in order to get a thin 1" sand bed?

( gonna move about 70lbs LR from 55 to new 75)

looking this , seems like best deal for fine sand.. is this too fine? Very fine looks good to me.

Is there any thing wrong with going with very fine grade?

If u know any dry fine sand deal...pls lmk.
:D
Pls help...thanks!
http://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=70&HS=1

shifty51008
06/05/2011, 02:38 PM
I am not sure how many lbs I have in my 75 gal. but it is enough to fill a 5 gal. bucket full and it gives me a 1" bed.

the downside to have very fine sand is that it will blow all over dependig on how much flow you have in the tank.

i use the fiji pink sand from Fosters and smith and it works very good IMO.

pmrossetti
06/05/2011, 05:33 PM
wouldn't go too fine. blows around. carib sea seafloor special grade is a good size or Fiji pink a little finer.

use the sand bed calculator on RC home page to calculate your sand amount.

skrillnet
06/05/2011, 05:39 PM
IMHO I would go with coarser sand. The fine looks great on the bottom but not so much when it gets blown all over your corals. 75lbs would give you pretty close to the depth you want. But like I said, I would rather have a barebottom than deal with the sandstorm that fine sand brings.

miserkris
06/05/2011, 08:22 PM
Thanks guys.....
I might mostly go for caribsea spl grade seaflor sand.this isn't live right ?....just dry sand isn't it, coz I might just seed the bed from my fuge tank.

If anyone could advice where to get it, even in huge qty for the best deal...free ship etc
I'd appreciate it...
Thx!

blue736
06/05/2011, 09:07 PM
I put 150# of fine sand in my 75.. gave me approx. 3-4" sand bed. I'd use about 40# of fine for an inch depth.

miserkris
06/05/2011, 09:34 PM
Is the spl sea flor really white or tan.?

Iam gettin 40 lb for my 75...from dr.f&s.

Can I mix it with my coarse sand from my 55, planning to put the coarse in back of dt...and
Sea Flor in front....to save on money.

pmrossetti
06/05/2011, 10:33 PM
it's white, it's what i use. sure you can mix them.

be sure to rinse it real good.

miserkris
06/07/2011, 07:17 PM
Ok rinsing in ro water right? Since it isn't live?

pmrossetti
06/07/2011, 08:13 PM
Ok rinsing in ro water right? Since it isn't live?


regular water is fine for rinsing it.put it in a bucket and use your garden hose.

miserkris
06/08/2011, 07:12 AM
regular water is fine for rinsing it.put it in a bucket and use your garden hose.

That's easier wow.
The tap/garden hose water has chlorine in it.....is there a risk?

W hen will I know that sand is well "rinsed"?

...and thanks.

Captainfester
06/08/2011, 07:33 AM
i have 60 lbs fine sand in my 55 long i have around a 3-4 inch bed. prob get 2 bags and put 1 in then add the second slowly till ur happy.

pmrossetti
06/08/2011, 11:20 AM
That's easier wow.
The tap/garden hose water has chlorine in it.....is there a risk?

W hen will I know that sand is well "rinsed"?

...and thanks.


no risk

when the cloudiness goes away.

miserkris
06/11/2011, 08:19 PM
My bed will be a thin bed, 1 to 1.5".
For *looks* only , what sand is best:

Caribsea special grade sea flor?
Or
Fine white oolite sand(sugar size)?

Thanks!

pmrossetti
06/11/2011, 10:35 PM
special grade,oolite blows all over the place.

miserkris
06/13/2011, 09:40 AM
special grade,oolite blows all over the place.

Yeah but "beauty" wise, isn't white sugar size oolite better than spl grade seaflor?;)

SkullV
06/13/2011, 09:50 AM
http://reefcentral.com/index.php/sand-bed-calculator

miserkris
06/14/2011, 08:16 PM
Yeah but "beauty" wise, isn't white sugar size oolite better than spl grade seaflor?;)

Bump!
Forgetting the blowing around In high flow Factor......

What looks best in dt?

THANKS!

BrklynArch
06/14/2011, 08:28 PM
Bump!
Forgetting the blowing around In high flow Factor......

What looks best in dt?

THANKS!

I think that's a matter or personal preference
If your not concerned about it blowing around, then look at the two and decide which you like best and go for it

richie1m
06/15/2011, 02:23 AM
I agree fine sand makes a mess. Had some for a short while.

AlexS95
06/15/2011, 07:45 AM
I have the fine sand from marcorocks and I really like the look of it, but it does blow around a lot.

Gtt1988
06/15/2011, 09:24 AM
i just got caribsea special grade flor i love it. I hate the cloudyness tho be sure to rinse it with a hose. ro water would take over 300 gallons with 100 lbs of sand to remove cloudyness IME

lotsoftats
06/15/2011, 10:38 AM
IMO.....I think the best look is a combo for 2-3 different grain sizes....if you are looking to get the natural look....I have even thrown in small pieces of rubble to get a more natural look.......I think it boils down to personal preference though.

Again JMO

miserkris
06/19/2011, 05:28 PM
Ihave decided on fine sand.

Has anyone got this fine sand?...seems like best deal for sugar size sand with free shipping.
http://www.FosterAndSmithAquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7321

Is this sand white?.....kinda looks tan brown in pic that's why.

How do I rinse this fine sand without being washed away?

Thanks....

miserkris
06/20/2011, 08:48 PM
Ihave decided on fine sand.

Has anyone got this fine sand?...seems like best deal for sugar size sand with free shipping.
http://www.FosterAndSmithAquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7321

Is this sand white?.....kinda looks tan brown in pic that's why.

How do I rinse this fine sand without being washed away?

Thanks....

Bump-ee-dee bump....

Is this sand white? Thanks

vorm
06/20/2011, 09:14 PM
While I haven't used that, it says "White in color" in the description so I would assume it's white.

Has anyone mentioned that really fine sand like that will blow all over the place? (kidding!) :D
:deadhorse:

miserkris
06/20/2011, 09:31 PM
While I haven't used that, it says "White in color" in the description so I would assume it's white.

Has anyone mentioned that really fine sand like that will blow all over the place? (kidding!) :D
:deadhorse:

Yeah but when the seaflor special grade arrived, it was too coarse.

I think I need bit bigger than sugar size....so that it is heavy enough but without coarse look. Can anyone suggest that size/brand!?

Thx much.. .i suck at this sand thing.

vorm
06/20/2011, 10:33 PM
It's really a matter of personal preference of what you like. You can see the different types that CaribSea has here: http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/dry_aragonite.html

Or, go to your local fish store or big box pet store and look at them in person through the bag.

I have the Special Grade Reef and really like it, but that's my personal preference. Look and find the one you like best and go with it. :)

miserkris
06/21/2011, 06:03 PM
Hey all....
This might work for my needs.
http://www.caribsea.com/pages/buy_it/aragalive/buy_bahamasoolite.html
If I add this to an existing reef tank will this cause a cycle since its alive?

How to add this to an existing running reef tank?
Thanks