sump sand
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Posts that don't fit in any of the other categories.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=54945
Printed Date: November 26 2025 at 1:26pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: sump sand
Posted By: xessive force
Subject: sump sand
Date Posted: March 09 2012 at 6:22pm
I am adding a 10 gal refigium to my reef set up tomorrow. I have a questions about the sand in the refigium, does it need to be live sand? I used just your standard home depot sand to start the tank with and seeded it with live sand and used live rocks. I will use live rubble rock in the sump but do not have any live sand and was wondering if I could just use the non live sand from HD in the sump and let it liven up?
-------------
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that's why they call it the present.
|
Replies:
Posted By: wickedsnowman
Date Posted: March 09 2012 at 10:06pm
|
It does not need to be live the other sand in the tank will make it live. I would be concerned with using sand from HD though. Who knows whats in it and what it could leach into your tank.
|
Posted By: MIK3B
Date Posted: March 11 2012 at 9:43am
|
There once was a type of reef safe sand at HD, I think it was called Southdown, but the regular play and leveling sand has way too much Silicate and yes, who knows what else in it. Utah Oolitic sand is safe - there's posts about it here somewhere, just takes a drive out to the west side of the Great Salt Lake. With the weather as nice as it's been and is going to be today, I bet you could drive out there very soon, if not already!
|
Posted By: Tanuki
Date Posted: March 11 2012 at 10:49am
Sand isn't really that expensive, just buy the right stuff and don't be cheap about it.
-------------
Defending Reefscape Champion (I Think)
|
Posted By: Lewy
Date Posted: March 11 2012 at 11:29am
I got a 30 lb bag of carib from Petsmart for like 15$. Make sure you get the stuff that doesn't need to be buffered but the actual reef sand.
-------------
40 gal w/ 20 sump
|
Posted By: xessive force
Date Posted: March 11 2012 at 6:43pm
What does high levels of silicate do to your tank?
-------------
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that's why they call it the present.
|
Posted By: Lewy
Date Posted: March 11 2012 at 8:16pm
Diatom blooms. Diatom bodies are made of silica, it's like calcium for corals.
-------------
40 gal w/ 20 sump
|
Posted By: xessive force
Date Posted: March 12 2012 at 12:20am
Okay so before I finished reading this on sat I got to excited to have a sumpgoing and i went ahead and used play sand .. But my water has been for lack of a better word milky ever sense. Would this be due to the play sand? I did rinse it out good ect and I am planning on changing it out tomorrow either way after reading this however just wondering if that's what's causing in the milky water?
-------------
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that's why they call it the present.
|
Posted By: Dionysus
Date Posted: March 12 2012 at 8:05am
|
Yes that sand will make your water very cloudy =(
|
|