what do you think?

[scalesandfins]

as some of you may have read i am thinkin about putting together a reef tank. it went from 30 gal to 40b and last night i just decided to look at craigslist and found a 85 gal bow front fully setup for $500......
so i am goin to look at the tank tom and see what it looks like. it was setup by a lfs and has all the live rock and fish. it has black sand in it now. i am thinkin about switchin it out but would that mess with the system at all?
i will have a few more questions like a always do

 

[Heathd]

as some of you may have read i am thinkin about putting together a reef tank. it went from 30 gal to 40b and last night i just decided to look at craigslist and found a 85 gal bow front fully setup for $500......
so i am goin to look at the tank tom and see what it looks like. it was setup by a lfs and has all the live rock and fish. it has black sand in it now. i am thinkin about switchin it out but would that mess with the system at all?
i will have a few more questions like a always do

What all is coming with it equipment wise? What type of fish, and how much LR?

I posted it in the other thread, but the black sand is likely to be silicate based. Silicate based sand can be used in saltwater, but it will likely cause you more grief then it is worth. Changing it out wouldnt do that more damage then all the disturbing you would do to the existing sand bed. Scooping all the black sand up and putting it into buckets will likely cause a lot of die off in its own right.

Either way, you are going to have to test on a regular basis for the first few weeks and keep a close eye on those parameters. That black sand is going to be filthy (I'm betting on it anyhow). Once you move it and refill it, all the crap that was setting on the sand, or in it, will disolve back into the water and cause the ammonia to skyrocket. Its something I experienced on a 55 I broke down and moved back to my place.

If the equipment is right, it sounds like a good deal.

 

[scalesandfins]

so far i have gotten from the guy is a sump a new pump a protien skimmer and t5 lighting with hood. he says it has alot of purple algea
an imperor angel,a coral beauty, volitan lion,and a yellow tang
he doesnt know how much rock but he said its pretty full which i believe bc of who set it up.
he said the sand it fiji black sand...?
idk whay that is. unless he means tahitian. but the lfs says that its prob blck beach sand.
i would transport the sand in the tank with a thin layer of water to make sure the sand stays alive. if i didnt change it. my fiance likes the black sand but if its goin to be a hassel then i would rather change it

 

[Heathd]

If what he says is true, the it shouild be calcium carbonate based and good to go. Just make sure you and your buddy are up to carrying an 80 gal aqaurium with wet sand in it

My 75 with my dsb and no water weighs about 325 lbs

 

[scalesandfins]

ok cool
n oh yea.... i always forget about the wieght of these big tanks
what is the best way to get the sand out without damaging the sand too much?

 

[Heathd]

ok cool
n oh yea.... i always forget about the wieght of these big tanks
what is the best way to get the sand out without damaging the sand too much?

i have a 4 inch sand bed, thats why mine is so heavy with just the sand. The tank itself only weighs~ 100lbs. If its an inch or so sand bed, you could carry it with ease.

Get some five gallon buckets with lids, put the sand in there, then put some aqaurium water in the bucket up to the level of the sand. Thats about it. You will always have some degree die off when you majorly distrub a sand bed, its much more so when it is a DSB. Just dont let it get really hot or really cold during transport.

Use the same method for moving the LR.

 

[scalesandfins]

yea im hoping it wont be very deep.
the lr will go in trsh cans with the water.
so have you heard of fiji black sand ?

 

[FLESHY]

I dont recommend anything other than aragonite...the black sand is problems with everyone I know that has tried to do reefs with it.

 

[Heathd]

yea im hoping it wont be very deep.
the lr will go in trsh cans with the water.
so have you heard of fiji black sand ?

Never heard of it. You can always take some of the sand, rinse it, let it dry and put it with a cup or 100% white distilled vinegar. If it fizzes, then it is calcium based. Otherwise, its something other then what you would want to use in a SW aqaurium.

Lucky for you, marcorocks is have a sale on their sand, its aragonite, and would be about 60 bucks for 80lbs.

I just nabbed this from a website, sounds like it is going to be obsidian based, and likely have good amount of iron content as well. I dont think you should use it.
"Are there any black sand beaches in Fiji?

• Yes. Though the predominant number of beaches are white (due to fringing coral reefs), the islands are of volcanic origin and some black sand beaches can be found where there is an absence of fringing reef. "

 

[scalesandfins]

Never heard of it. You can always take some of the sand, rinse it, let it dry and put it with a cup or 100% white distilled vinegar. If it fizzes, then it is calcium based. Otherwise, its something other then what you would want to use in a SW aqaurium.

Lucky for you, marcorocks is have a sale on their sand, its aragonite, and would be about 60 bucks for 80lbs.

I just nabbed this from a website, sounds like it is going to be obsidian based, and likely have good amount of iron content as well. I dont think you should use it.

"Are there any black sand beaches in Fiji?

• Yes. Though the predominant number of beaches are white (due to fringing coral reefs), the islands are of volcanic origin and some black sand beaches can be found where there is an absence of fringing reef. "

thats very interesting. so i just need to switch to basic sand. aparently he is doin fine with it.
what wound it do to my corals?