My son and I put together his 75gal tank today. We have a wet/dry filter, protein skimmer, and heater all set up. Tank is filled and filter and pump are working and no leaks. From here I plan to add a couple raw shrimp to start the cycle process. So my question is can I put down live sand at this point or do I wait. Also, since I am in sunny Florida, can I just go down to the beach, walk out a ways into the surf and get some sand? I know this is kind of a weird question, but I figured it would save me a ton of money. And since I am between coasts, which coast, if this is possible, would be better?
Newbie with stupid questions
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Andrewz00
Aquarium Advice FINatic
well im not a SW kinda guy... but...
i wouldnt recommend putting anything from the "wild" into your tank... there can be all types of toxins and junk in there that the local fish have adapted to.... and will be magnified in your tank.
as far as adding the sand during the cycle, that i cant answer.
i wouldnt recommend putting anything from the "wild" into your tank... there can be all types of toxins and junk in there that the local fish have adapted to.... and will be magnified in your tank.
as far as adding the sand during the cycle, that i cant answer.
anyway...welcome to AA....
im not kinda of experience SW here...but as andrewz said, i believe that taking sand from the beach is not applicable...there might be toxins....i might prefer buy it from LFS.....about the cycle, i put sand before cycle...i dont know if can put after or while water cycle.....
im not kinda of experience SW here...but as andrewz said, i believe that taking sand from the beach is not applicable...there might be toxins....i might prefer buy it from LFS.....about the cycle, i put sand before cycle...i dont know if can put after or while water cycle.....
Floyd R Turbo
Aquarium Advice Addict
Welcome to AA! And the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.
I think it would be fine to add the sand during the cycle, since the bacteria colonize on surface areas and that's a big surface area.
Don't bother with "live sand" because it's not really live, it's just marketing. Dry sand is fine. I like "Special Grade Reef Sand" it's not as fine and won't blow around, but doesn't trap waste like Crushed Coral.
+1 on no sand from the ocean/beach. I'm not even sure it's legal.
I think it would be fine to add the sand during the cycle, since the bacteria colonize on surface areas and that's a big surface area.
Don't bother with "live sand" because it's not really live, it's just marketing. Dry sand is fine. I like "Special Grade Reef Sand" it's not as fine and won't blow around, but doesn't trap waste like Crushed Coral.
+1 on no sand from the ocean/beach. I'm not even sure it's legal.
pat8you
Aquarium Advice Addict
^^ What he said
iDream
Aquarium Advice Addict
yeah, i live in sunny florida and id never consider that
floyds right with the dry sand, i bought live and my cycle went no quicker than anyone elses.
floyds right with the dry sand, i bought live and my cycle went no quicker than anyone elses.
If I were you I would not hesitate getting the sand from the beach and putting all the wild (and ET included if any) into the tank to start the cycle. I would also use the beach sea water! Crazy? No not really. It is only for water cycle. Once the water is about to matured I would replace the natural seawater with synthetic sea water.
I would have all the natural inhabitants minus the toxins.
If you want to use the natural sea water you got to go far to the sea some 3 miles to collect. The cost would then be higher than buying synthetic?
I would have all the natural inhabitants minus the toxins.
If you want to use the natural sea water you got to go far to the sea some 3 miles to collect. The cost would then be higher than buying synthetic?
I dont think using sea water for your marine system is a very good idea i dont keep marine fish but i see it as gonig to a lake and filling my aquarium up with that water.. it just wouldnt happen. Sea water will contain all sorts of metals: iron oxide, (rust from ships, bouys, etc), calcium, alot of pollutants and it can also contain alot of bad bacteria and dieases that could destroy your saltwater aquarium.
I would go with buying some salt and mixing your own water, that means you know everythings going to be ok.
It would probably alot easier aswell. Transporting more than 30g of water anywhere is going to be difficult.
I would go with buying some salt and mixing your own water, that means you know everythings going to be ok.
It would probably alot easier aswell. Transporting more than 30g of water anywhere is going to be difficult.
Would it not cost more anyway? Paying to get the seawater then emptying it all out and using water that you have mixed? Seems alot less hassle and money to just mix your own water up.
Floyd R Turbo
Aquarium Advice Addict
water from offshore (way, way offshore) would probably be better, from about 50 ft down and 2 miles offshore. that would be a totally educated guess, though I'm sure that would be much safer than beach water.
I know that there are some public aquariums that use ocean water, they have it tankered in, and I'm sure there's one or two out there that are adjacent to the ocean that lay a pipe far enough out and bring it in that way. Still, I'm sure they highly filter and treat the seawater for bad buddies.
That being said, it's way cheaper to make your own.
I know that there are some public aquariums that use ocean water, they have it tankered in, and I'm sure there's one or two out there that are adjacent to the ocean that lay a pipe far enough out and bring it in that way. Still, I'm sure they highly filter and treat the seawater for bad buddies.
That being said, it's way cheaper to make your own.
cmor1701d
Aquarium Advice Addict
Public aquariums using seawater use different filter methods including sand bed reactors (like a swinning pool filter) to remove impurities and harmful organisms that may find their way to your tank from the ocean.
That sais, I've heard of people doing it. I just don't how long they have gone without a problem.
That sais, I've heard of people doing it. I just don't how long they have gone without a problem.
glassbird
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
- Messages
- 449
When I was young, and not too bright, I had a saltwater tank with some native critters. At the time, I lived on Cape Cod, so that meant a lobster, and some fish given to me by fisherman friends. I drove down to the shore once a week with 2 5-gallon buckets and scooped up whatever water I could get to. (This was lots of fun during the winter months...) Then I drove the buckets home, and did a water change. I kept it all going for just over a year, which is pretty amazing considering I had no knowledge of the cycle. Then everything died...I bet I scooped up something bad in one of the buckets, and did not know it. And as a side effect, all that salt water sloshing around in my car contributed to rotting floor boards...not a nice thing to do to a '69 Mustang. (Yes, I was a teenager, and I kick myself everytime I think about it now...)
six2sevenproductions
Aquarium Advice Activist
Buying live sand is a waste of money. It will all cycle together anyway. Start you tank off right and use salt mix. You don't want any problems before you even get fish.
clark4feathers
Aquarium Advice Freak
I would say add sand before the shrimp. I would purchase sand from the LFS to make sure you do not bring in anything unusual. Same for the water. I know it makes no sense not to use the sea water however you do not know what exactly is in it. Be safe, not sorry
SAAVE853
Aquarium Advice Freak
Theres a LFS near me that uses ocean water for their entire store and they even sell it but they also go out on a boat to get it.... i would not use anything near shore due to pollution and sewer runoff.
Floyd R Turbo
Aquarium Advice Addict
Wow that's cool. If I only had an ocean nearby.
six2sevenproductions
Aquarium Advice Activist
I'm sure florida was must be so much cleaner than Los Angeles but I still would not trust Natural Ocean Water. Here, the water is collected by boat all the way out from the north side of Santa Catalina Island. You still get different water each time. Water can be polluted by so many different reason and you can still pick up unwanted organics in the water.
My opinion is if you mix or buy mixed water, there is no chance you will get anything unwanted.
