DurocShark Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 So having changed my QT to a nano display tank, I didn't want a bare bottom. I ordered some fine aragonite sand thinking it wouldn't be a huge deal. Heck, I've added and replaced gravel and crushed coral beds in live tanks before. Easy peasey. I was soooo wrong. I originally tried using the long funnel as others have recommended. But the sand from Crystal Reef clumps too easily when damp, such as after rinsing. It wouldn't go down the funnel. So my first dust storm came. But it cleared quickly. So this time I MADE a funnel using a much larger tube. I cut the neck of the funnel to just smaller than the tube, then used CA glue (super glue) and duct tape to hold it together. The sand went in MUCH easier with this new funnel, and I was able to place it where I wanted. However, it still "poofed" all over the water column. You can see the funnel and results here: The filter is slowly clearing it. The first attempt cleared in a few hours. This attempt is taking longer, I'm not sure why, but I suspect my filter is clogged. I'll pull it apart when I get home tonight. Here's a live dropcam of the tank. I've made it public for a little while. It looks like the aftermath of a blizzard! ROFL! http://dropc.am/p/DurocShark Link to comment
DurocShark Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Wow. When it cleared I found I had knocked my pipe organ over into the sand. I picked it up with tongs and moved it and BOOM! Fresh snow storm. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Carib Sea Special Grade. This stuff has been amazing and after rinsing it doesn't cloud up the water too bad. Took about 24 hours and it was clear. I can vacuum the gravel and do whatever without causing a sand storm. Link to comment
DurocShark Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Yeah, I should have done that. I've seen this Crystal Reef stuff in person and it was amazingly white. But I didn't realize just how poofy it was. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Haha poofy! Just sounds funny. I am also a fan of the fine stuff, but I can totally see how it would cause massive cloudyness when added to a tank with water in it already... Hopefully it settles soon for you, looks like a nice tank in the works. Link to comment
spllbnd2 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Best substrate that I've used so far in my 15+ years in the hobby has to be Tropic Eden Reef Flakes and Mini Flakes combination. The stuff stays very clean too! Never an issue of dirty sand and never any sandstorms. Cheers, Alex Link to comment
Legendary Corals Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I came here to el oh el. Mission accomplished. I also use Tropic Eden, love that sand! Link to comment
DurocShark Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 It's clear again this morning. (Lights don't come on for a few more hours though.) I like the look, I just hope it doesn't get white out conditions every time a fish digs a hole. I really want a goby... Link to comment
DurocShark Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 The good news is that top photo made a great lockscreen for my phone: :D Link to comment
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