substrate from cichlid tank for saltwater?

Discussion in 'Sand' started by bje, Apr 26, 2010.

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  1. bje

    bje Long-fin Bannerfish

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    can i use my caribsea eco complete sand for saltwater?

    Caribsea Eco Complete African Cichlid Sand 20 lb

    i have ~60lbs of that in a 55gal that i want to make a predator tank. will i be able to reuse that sand? right now its a cichlid tank. so im guessing id have to do something to the sand as well prior to making it a saltwater tank
     
    bje, Apr 26, 2010
    bje, Apr 26, 2010
    #1

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  2. Night-Rida

    Night-Rida Finback Whale

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    probly rinse it good.. and I take this new salt tank will have time to cycle.. probly want to add some live sand from your existing reef tank on top of this sand.
     
    Night-Rida, Apr 26, 2010
    Night-Rida, Apr 26, 2010
    #2
  3. bje

    bje Long-fin Bannerfish

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    thanks night-rida
     
    bje, Apr 26, 2010
    bje, Apr 26, 2010
    #3
  4. Telgar

    Telgar Snowflake Eel

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    Ciclids are dirty, vacume it out as completely as possible then rinse it out again with a hose. Spread it out on a tarp in the sun to dry it out and kill all the fresh water bacteria, once its back in the tank for the cycle see it as night-rida mentioned.
     
    Telgar, Apr 27, 2010
    Telgar, Apr 27, 2010
    #4
  5. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Bad idea, don't do it. I tried re-using sand in my last set up and it was a nightmare. It went through a pretty detailed curing process also.
     
    missionsix, Apr 27, 2010
    missionsix, Apr 27, 2010
    #5
  6. Night-Rida

    Night-Rida Finback Whale

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    could he clean/rinse/boil it/dry it ?
     
    Night-Rida, Apr 27, 2010
    Night-Rida, Apr 27, 2010
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  7. bje

    bje Long-fin Bannerfish

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    hrmm...
     
    bje, Apr 27, 2010
    bje, Apr 27, 2010
    #7
  8. bje

    bje Long-fin Bannerfish

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    one would think sand is sand, and that it wouldnt be 'ruined' by any certain type of bacteria. this logic would lead me to believe i could boil off the bacteria and dry it on a tarp in the sun... bringing it back to organic free aragonite sand.
     
    bje, Apr 27, 2010
    bje, Apr 27, 2010
    #8
  9. missionsix

    missionsix Super Moderator Staff Member

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    I obsessively rinsed, then bleached and obsessively rinsed again. I cooked it in the sun for a few days and obsessively rinsed again. A lot of stuff gets left behind to rot in the new system.
     
    missionsix, Apr 27, 2010
    missionsix, Apr 27, 2010
    #9