sand and LR

[ozorowsky]

Ok, so I have all pumps etc that I will need....


What is CHEAPEST I can get away with sand and live rock? I want to use dead or non live sand if poss. and then get mostly dead rock with like 20 pounds of Live Rock. This is 135 Gallon tank.

Would it be ok to get some live rock and the rest dead rock and sand? I don't care if it sits around for a while. Any help is appreciated.

 

[melosu58]

That will work. It will just limit the small critters in yout tank. But it will eventually become all LR. Your plan will work

 

[ozorowsky]

That will work. It will just limit the small critters in yout tank. But it will eventually become all LR. Your plan will work

Awesome, now for the next part of the plan, actually doing it...

1) Is there a particular salt mix I should get and where do I buy it? I'm going to get all the water in tank and pour the salt mix in and get the filtration going.

2) I'm going to put the sand in. Where is CHEAPEST place to get dead sand? ANY way I can take it from my local beach and let it cycle for a while and put stuff in the water to make it all correct? (There won't be any fish in there)

3) How many pounds of actual live rock do I need in the tank to kickstart it? Where is cheapest dead rock you know of and that way maybe I can buy like 25 pounds of live rock. Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Devilishturtles]

1. Nope. It's all up to you Instant Ocean, Oceanic, Reef Crystals, are just a few, and probably the most popular three. If you don't have a LFS to buy supplies from, you may want to check out DrsFostersmith.com. It is my understanding that they do NOT charge enormous prices for shipping. Roka64 just ordered a BUNCH of stuff from them, I believe, at very very little shipping. They may be a way to go with sand too.

2. Unfortanetly, there isn't really anything you can just add to the water to make it safe. Check out drsfostersmith.com first. You can also look into different bags of pool filter sand. It's usually browner in color, but it's cheap.

3. Sorry, I don' tknow of any baserock retailers. But, in a tank that size, I would also use the dead shrimp cycling method, in addition to adding the live rock. Throw a dead (or 2, or 3) raw shrimp in the tank, and let it rot. This will also produce enough ammonia to get your cycle going. I just don't think that little liverock will do anything at all in a 135.

HTH

 

[melosu58]

1) I agree with DT. It is your choice. We all have different preferences. I personally use oceanic.I like the way it keeps my calcium levels up.

2)You do not want to use sand from the beach. Pollution problems will hurt your water quality. If you have a LFS as DT stated you can ask him for sand.

3) IMO I would consider about 150 LBS of rock in your 135 gallon tank. Here is a dealer of base rock that is getting good reviews
http://marcorocks.com/

I dont know if you can get 20 lbs of LR online. Maybe you can but I know your LFS can get you that much. Here is a few LR dealers

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...h_in_description=1&parent_category=0&x=5&y=14

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=393

http://marinedepotlive.stores.yahoo.net/live-rock-sand.html

http://www.reefermadness.us/RM-LiveRock.htm

Good Luck on your endeavor

I forgot here is a good link on cycling your tank.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/article_view.php?faq=2&fldAuto=15

 

[roka64]

Man, you guys are taking the words right out of my mouth! LOL! drsfosterandsmith charged me $15.99 (for shipping) for 270Lbs of dry sand and some other things.