Time for Sand!

Alright, got the tank a little more then 3/4 full and my Coralife Hydrometer is reading 1.025 (sometimes 1.024-1.026 but mostly 1.025). Not sure how accurate these readings are on these might have to upgrade down the road, but I've done all the mixing that I can handle and have had a couple HOB's and a nice circulation pump running (supposed to have 2 but 1 didn’t work outta the box).

Just about ready to add sand, going for a pretty shallow sand bed. Gonna add the first layer as dry sand then (LFS convinced me to buy it :/) add a top layer of the "live" sand. Guess the "live"/dying sand won’t be too bad to help cycle/seed my base rock.

Anyone can answer quickly if they think I should run the HOB's while I add the sand or do you think soo much debris will cause motor failure in these? Just running the HOB's during the cycle/until I get my BA DIY 30gal. sump setup (lol). Probably throw these in a couple freshwater tanks after I’m done with them, but no real need so not overly worried about them.

 

Hi,

As a precaution, I'd pull the plug until the sand has settled on the bottom.

 

Its fine to run HoB's while your substrate settles. Save some money & just fill it with some floss to help filter & reduce the debris in the water. Live/Dry sand mix isnt bad. You wont neccessarily get the same bang as you will with live rock, especially if it is bagged live sand.

definitely ditch the hydrometer & go for a refractometer. much more precise & better off in the long run.

 

Thanks guys think I'll just run them. Already running them with some filter floss I already had.

 

Alright... Sand is in live layer on top. Put it in by cutting the bag while inside the tank, still pretty cloady maybe I should have rinsed the dry before putting it in. Re-checked the gravity getting readings no higher then 1.023-1.024 could be because the unsettled sand? If i need to add more salt I guess I would have to do it in a bucket and then add it.

 

i would just run your filters thats what i did and the tank took about 2 days for it to all settle and become clear again.

 

I wouldn't rely on the hydrometer for pinpoint readings. Definitely need to invest in a refractometer. Since you're just now putting sand in, I'd leave the salinity where it's at until getting a refractometer. I had 2 hydrometers, one said 1.024 and the other said 1.030. The truth when I got a refractometer was about exactly in between the 2 LOL.

 

The sand goes away. Just give it time. And do the cycle right that's what I've learned in the week and a half I've had mine. I had put twenty puonds of live sand from the keys. I put 15 pounds of live rock. Will add more. In my 30 gallon. Its been about a week and a half and its still cycle so take your time. And enjoy it.

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