Live Sand In New Ref

[vito is hooked]

Just fiished the transformation (Bio Balls to Ref} Added 3" of live sand i had in a 5 with water and cover. Should i add some live sand from DT to get things going?

[Percula9]

It won't hurt to put sand in that is already established( colonized with bacteria).

[Zoophile]

If you add bagged live sand to your fuge, be aware that it will probably cause a die-off cycle in your main tank.

[vito is hooked]

Die off cycle?

[vito is hooked]

Should i take it out will it kill my fish?

[Zoophile]

If it's already in, just be ready to check your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and have some saltwater ready for a water change if anything looks like it's going wrong.

[vito is hooked]

The sand i added i had for about 2 months its from my main. been in a bucket with water from main. You mean, my tank might cycle all over again? i go 30gal on deck, was going to do water change tomorrow, should i wait? Thanks

[Zoophile]

Sorry, I must have misunderstood. I thought you were adding uncured live sand into a new system. If it's already been there, it's fine.

[Percula9]

I doubt your tank will cycle again. I don't know how much sand you added from your display. But if you added it directly without a period of inactivity there should be more then enough bacteria to handle any possible die off.

[vito is hooked]

Well, if something does go wrong, should ikeep doing water changes? the sand has been in a bucket for two months.and keep checking ammonia? will water changes save my fish if tank crashes? Sorry just a little nervous.

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by vito is hooked
Well, if something does go wrong, should ikeep doing water changes? the sand has been in a bucket for two months.and keep checking ammonia? will water changes save my fish if tank crashes? Sorry just a little nervous.

just keep checking your ammonia and nitrates--if you get a small spike then do a water change then.

[Percula9]

The sand that was in a bucket, did it come from your display?

[vito is hooked]

I will test twice a day Thanks Cap and yes the sand that was in the bucket did come from the main it had about 3 inches of water above that was clean once i moved it around all the bacterier dirtyed it up sifted it put it in with live rock from main and chaeto.

[capn_hylinur]

as a suggestion Vito==next time if your going to clean the substrate then you might as well clean it good--you've disturbed the surface bacteria and dislodged possible nitrates already so you might as well clean it good.

keep us posted how it goes

[vito is hooked]

So far so good. Ammonia 0 Trites 0 Trates 20 Going to do water change tomorrow 15 gal. Is it a good idea to vaccume half your substrate every couple of weeks? THANKS.

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by vito is hooked
So far so good. Ammonia 0 Trites 0 Trates 20 Going to do water change tomorrow 15 gal. Is it a good idea to vaccume half your substrate every couple of weeks? THANKS.

No
don't vacuum the substrate--you disturb the good bacteria. Once a week take a turkey baster and lightly baste all the rock and very lightly baste the substrate.
You have also direct a power head so you have a good current across the substrate---not enought to cause a snow storm but just enough to carry away detrius back up into the water column where it can be fitered out.

[vito is hooked]

Aii right, Gotcha. Gonna do a little rearrangeing. Thanks. Ammonia went to .025 water change back to 0, Water is crystal clear, no more micro bubbles. Meantime watching water Parms! I still have a few more handfulls of Bio Balls to take out when there all gone should i put my skimmer in the firs chameber or the last?

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by vito is hooked
Aii right, Gotcha. Gonna do a little rearrangeing. Thanks. Ammonia went to .025 water change back to 0, Water is crystal clear, no more micro bubbles. Meantime watching water Parms! I still have a few more handfulls of Bio Balls to take out when there all gone should i put my skimmer in the firs chameber or the last?

can you post a pic of your sump---the water should be skimmed before the refugium.. in my case I have filter sock, then the pump for the skimmer and finally a live rock chamber where the line from my fuge comes in,

[vito is hooked]

OK, lets see if i got this. The two overflows on the outside, one in the ref the other in the sock, overflow from ref back into return?

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by vito is hooked
OK, lets see if i got this. The two overflows on the outside, one in the ref the other in the sock, overflow from ref back into return?

thats right---acutually one overflow from the tank--teed into two each with valves to control the flow separtely. gravity feed from refug to sump. a 3600mag return pump

[vito is hooked]

I think i got a handle on it now. Thanks for ALL your help, YOU the man CAP!