Here's my situation. The tank is empty. Im going to cure the live rock directly in it in place of where it will stay. ow do I go about doing this now? Do I put the 4" sand bed down first and then the rock and then the water? Do i put the water first then the rock the the sand? What do I do?
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Sand before Rock or vise versa?
- Thread starter IcantTHINKofONE
- Start date
I'd go like this:
Water
Salt
Mix for 12-24 hours-Check salinity
Rock
Wait 2-3 weeks till parameters are good.
Vacuum detritus off bottom-bare glass during large water change.
Add sand.
Putting the rock directly on the bare glass insures a stable base.
Adding the sand last keeps the sand clean. A lot of detritus will slough off the rock during the first 2-3 weeks due to die-off, etc. It is much easier to vacuum ot off the bare glass than the sand bed.
BTW-are you putting in a 4-6" DSB? What kind of sand are you using?
Louey
Water
Salt
Mix for 12-24 hours-Check salinity
Rock
Wait 2-3 weeks till parameters are good.
Vacuum detritus off bottom-bare glass during large water change.
Add sand.
Putting the rock directly on the bare glass insures a stable base.
Adding the sand last keeps the sand clean. A lot of detritus will slough off the rock during the first 2-3 weeks due to die-off, etc. It is much easier to vacuum ot off the bare glass than the sand bed.
BTW-are you putting in a 4-6" DSB? What kind of sand are you using?
Louey
You guys have great timing. I just added some southdown to my tank today. I used an 1-1/2" PVC with a funnel attached to the top. Made a complete mess anyway. I'm sure it's not as bad a just dumping it in. The tank cleared up in about 5 hours. I need to use a turkey baster to clean of the rocks and a few corals, but all and all it wasn't as bad as I expected. I probably added about 8 cups. I'm going to do this every few days, or maybe just once a week on the weekend, until I increase my dsb a couple of inches.
BTW-The southdown I added had been cycling in a 20G tank before I put it in. I would be much more messy adding dry SD. In fact I would recommed adding dry SD to an exising tank.
BTW-The southdown I added had been cycling in a 20G tank before I put it in. I would be much more messy adding dry SD. In fact I would recommed adding dry SD to an exising tank.
I second Louey's advice. Rock first, wait for the inevitable heavy detritus from organic losses, syphon, then add sand.
In regards to the isuue raised by mjh this is what I do. Instead of placing the rock on the bare glass I build a eggcrate platform with legs made from pvc pipe. The legs are connected to the eggcreate with cable ties. I drill holes in the legs to allow critters to enter and exit. I make the legs about half an inch shorter than my desired sand bed depth.
Placing the rock on ghis platform does several things: It provides similar stability to placing the rocks on the glass. Animalsburrowing under the rocks will not topple them. It keeps life on the lower rocks from being burried and eliminates the need for dead base rock underneath. It keeps the rocks from compacting the sand as opposed to placing the rock on top of the sand which is the normal alternative to placing the rock on the glass. It also eliminates hard points on the glass and reduces scratching the bottom.
Just fill with sand about 1/2 inch aboive the platform and you're done. The downside is that it eliminates the use of larger burrowers. That's something I don't want in my dsb anyway, but some people may. I have had no problem using this method with nassarius, conchs, or any other small sand sifter. My sand beds on which I have used this method are the healthiest ones I have had. Just a thought.
In regards to the isuue raised by mjh this is what I do. Instead of placing the rock on the bare glass I build a eggcrate platform with legs made from pvc pipe. The legs are connected to the eggcreate with cable ties. I drill holes in the legs to allow critters to enter and exit. I make the legs about half an inch shorter than my desired sand bed depth.
Placing the rock on ghis platform does several things: It provides similar stability to placing the rocks on the glass. Animalsburrowing under the rocks will not topple them. It keeps life on the lower rocks from being burried and eliminates the need for dead base rock underneath. It keeps the rocks from compacting the sand as opposed to placing the rock on top of the sand which is the normal alternative to placing the rock on the glass. It also eliminates hard points on the glass and reduces scratching the bottom.
Just fill with sand about 1/2 inch aboive the platform and you're done. The downside is that it eliminates the use of larger burrowers. That's something I don't want in my dsb anyway, but some people may. I have had no problem using this method with nassarius, conchs, or any other small sand sifter. My sand beds on which I have used this method are the healthiest ones I have had. Just a thought.
I agree with 2poors suggestion, except for one thing...
I would use the pvc (at least 3 or " for stability) pillars and egg crate, but make it so the rock is about an inch above the sand in most places.
Carefull trimming can make the structure nearly invisible (especially once it is covered in life), and water will move much more freely through the tank.
HTH
Adam
I would use the pvc (at least 3 or " for stability) pillars and egg crate, but make it so the rock is about an inch above the sand in most places.
Carefull trimming can make the structure nearly invisible (especially once it is covered in life), and water will move much more freely through the tank.
HTH
Adam
I agree with 2poors suggestion, except for one thing...
I would use the pvc (at least 3 or " for stability) pillars and egg crate, but make it so the rock is about an inch above the sand in most places.
Carefull trimming can make the structure nearly invisible (especially once it is covered in life), and water will move much more freely through the tank.
HTH
Adam
I would use the pvc (at least 3 or " for stability) pillars and egg crate, but make it so the rock is about an inch above the sand in most places.
Carefull trimming can make the structure nearly invisible (especially once it is covered in life), and water will move much more freely through the tank.
HTH
Adam
You don't list your location but if you're in the states then you can find these materials at home depot or similar home improvement/building supplies outlet. PVC or poly vinyl chloride pipe is plastic pipe that is often used in cold water applications such as underground sprinkler systems. It comes in standard sizes. You cut it to length with inexpensive cutters or saws.
Eggcrate is typically used for light diffuser for florescent lighting applications, is plastic, and has a honeycomb type format. I cut mine with time snips or a hacksaw.
Just cut the materials to fit. I drill my pipe and use plastic cable ties to attach the pvc pipe legs to the eggcrate. Should look just like a table, with pvc leg supports spaced periodically depending on the width, length, and amount of weight that needs to be supported.
Eggcrate is typically used for light diffuser for florescent lighting applications, is plastic, and has a honeycomb type format. I cut mine with time snips or a hacksaw.
Just cut the materials to fit. I drill my pipe and use plastic cable ties to attach the pvc pipe legs to the eggcrate. Should look just like a table, with pvc leg supports spaced periodically depending on the width, length, and amount of weight that needs to be supported.
Got this idea from LFS. Took 8 8x10” pieces of ¼” acrylic, drilled rows of ½” holes in each, like pegboards. Then cut 4 ½”-5 ½” pieces of ½” acrylic rod. Stick rods in holes and you have a slick, invisible bed to put rock on so it is just supported above DSB. Since my stand is 6wks behind schedule I have a lot of time to fiddle around.
i haved had to move my tank a stupid number of times and have tried about every method. what seemed simplist to me was to put in about half the water first then add one inch of sand. let it settle till it clears. stack your rock as you see fit setting it with a twisting motion so it is on or at least near the bottom. add the rest of your sand then the rest of your water. for me that worked pretty slick although it was with cured rock so i had one less concern
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