Rock, sand, salt....quick questions

03sonicstang · 07/20/2010, 08:03 AM

Hi everyone: Well I think tonight is the night to do some aquascaping...I have 150 lbs of dry Marco rock and 200 lbs of Bahama Sand. I have a couple of Newbe questions.

Can I use Aquarium Safe Silicone to keep the rock stable?
I was going to add Rock, then Sand then RO/DI water and salt last...is this OK?

Tank will cycle for at least (4) weeks before I consider stocking it with anything...

Thanks
Tom

Jocephus · 07/20/2010, 08:07 AM

You can use silicone, it is not as strong as the reef safe epoxies. Be sure to let it cure before adding water. And yes, it is ok to mix the initial batch in the tank, although you may get some settling in low flow areas. Just be sure to keep it well circulated.

ShawnKPD · 07/20/2010, 08:12 AM

That 2 part puddy you buy at walmart for about $3 works really well if your rock is dry. It's the stuff you pinch off a section and mesh it together until it turns gray. Also, why don't you just buy you a 32 gallon Brute trash can with a dolly, fill it with your water and mix the salt in there while your waiting for your aquascape to cure? You'll use the heck out of the container for water changes anyway.

03sonicstang · 07/20/2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jocephus

You can use silicone, it is not as strong as the reef safe epoxies. Be sure to let it cure before adding water. And yes, it is ok to mix the initial batch in the tank, although you may get some settling in low flow areas. Just be sure to keep it well circulated.

Great; thanks. I'll try the LFS for epoxy as well. I also saw people use "the great stuff". Scares me as it smells crazy!!!!!!

03sonicstang · 07/20/2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShawnKPD

That 2 part puddy you buy at walmart for about $3 works really well if your rock is dry. It's the stuff you pinch off a section and mesh it together until it turns gray. Also, why don't you just buy you a 32 gallon Brute trash can with a dolly, fill it with your water and mix the salt in there while your waiting for your aquascape to cure? You'll use the heck out of the container for water changes anyway.

So just the standard stuff is reef safe? I have some at home...crazy stuff.

I have a Brute can in the basement all pumped in for my water changes...I appreciate the suggestion, just the wife I'm sure does not me rolling anything around the hard wood floor.....boy shes going to love me when I flood it!!!!

J'k of course!

Chris27 · 07/20/2010, 08:29 AM

Oh don't worry, you'll flood it eventually, it happens to everyone at some point or another. She'll get more used to as time goes on

03sonicstang · 07/20/2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris27

Oh don't worry, you'll flood it eventually, it happens to everyone at some point or another. She'll get more used to as time goes on

Reefing is the true test of a strong marriage....if she can make it thru this i think our relationship is safe!!! I wish I recorded how mad I was trying to build my canopy last night....she never added fuel to my fire!

Palting · 07/20/2010, 08:54 AM

One piece of equipment most people neglect to get early: A wet-dry vac!

Problem with putting the sand first then the water then salt is that the salt can settle into the sand and crystalize into cakes. That takes a little longer to dissolve. Problem with putting the water and salt first then sand is the sandstorm. Pick your poison. I chose the sand storm, so I put the water, then salt, waited 24 hours, then sand, for both my tanks.

03sonicstang · 07/20/2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

One piece of equipment most people neglect to get early: A wet-dry vac!

Problem with putting the sand first then the water then salt is that the salt can settle into the sand and crystalize into cakes. That takes a little longer to dissolve. Problem with putting the water and salt first then sand is the sandstorm. Pick your poison. I chose the sand storm, so I put the water, then salt, waited 24 hours, then sand, for both my tanks.

So how long did it take before the sand settled? If I chose the sand storm I assume I should not run my overflows into the sump....thank you all for your responses!

Palting · 07/20/2010, 09:06 AM

I cheated and used a polishing filter pad on a powerhead, along with the usual filters in my sump and ran the return and sump. Rinsed the filter pads like every several hours. Cleared up within a day.

03sonicstang · 07/20/2010, 09:15 AM

Thanks for the input..something to think about....always options....

07/20/2010, 08:03 AM	#1
03sonicstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 500	Rock, sand, salt....quick questions Hi everyone: Well I think tonight is the night to do some aquascaping...I have 150 lbs of dry Marco rock and 200 lbs of Bahama Sand. I have a couple of Newbe questions. Can I use Aquarium Safe Silicone to keep the rock stable? I was going to add Rock, then Sand then RO/DI water and salt last...is this OK? Tank will cycle for at least (4) weeks before I consider stocking it with anything... Thanks Tom

07/20/2010, 08:54 AM	#8
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	One piece of equipment most people neglect to get early: A wet-dry vac! Problem with putting the sand first then the water then salt is that the salt can settle into the sand and crystalize into cakes. That takes a little longer to dissolve. Problem with putting the water and salt first then sand is the sandstorm. Pick your poison. I chose the sand storm, so I put the water, then salt, waited 24 hours, then sand, for both my tanks. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

07/20/2010, 09:06 AM	#10
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I cheated and used a polishing filter pad on a powerhead, along with the usual filters in my sump and ran the return and sump. Rinsed the filter pads like every several hours. Cleared up within a day. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: Live rock/live sand	twm01	Tampa Bay Reef Club	0	04/01/2010 07:13 AM
Making my own live rock... With dolomite limestone	chewitback	The Reef Chemistry Forum	6	03/23/2010 05:07 AM
You guys rock! Just a quick question.	merek123	Blue Zoo Aquatics	4	08/05/2009 01:58 PM
Quick Question about salt mixes and skin irritation	pk1	The Reef Chemistry Forum	1	02/12/2007 04:54 PM
Well Cured Live Rock and Aptasia!! Quick Question!	balticbsc3	Nano Reefs	8	02/06/2007 11:53 AM

07/20/2010, 08:07 AM	#2
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	You can use silicone, it is not as strong as the reef safe epoxies. Be sure to let it cure before adding water. And yes, it is ok to mix the initial batch in the tank, although you may get some settling in low flow areas. Just be sure to keep it well circulated.

07/20/2010, 08:12 AM	#3
ShawnKPD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: TX Posts: 86	That 2 part puddy you buy at walmart for about $3 works really well if your rock is dry. It's the stuff you pinch off a section and mesh it together until it turns gray. Also, why don't you just buy you a 32 gallon Brute trash can with a dolly, fill it with your water and mix the salt in there while your waiting for your aquascape to cure? You'll use the heck out of the container for water changes anyway.

07/20/2010, 08:29 AM	#6
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Oh don't worry, you'll flood it eventually, it happens to everyone at some point or another. She'll get more used to as time goes on

07/20/2010, 09:15 AM	#11
03sonicstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 500	Thanks for the input..something to think about....always options....