dieselndixie Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Ok, here is the deal - 55g display tank - 260w pc lgihts - 16g sump - 16g fuge - CC - 60lbs LR I finally went ahead and made my own rock this weekend...turned out looking really cool, no now I want to totally re-arrange my tank (as soon as the new rock is fully cured) here is my question....I currently have CC and would like to move to LS at the same time that I go in and rearrange rock. Can this be done without too much disturbance to the inhabitants....will this start another cycle? what should I do. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammondegge Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 put some sand in the fuge now to start the seeding. you should have enough bacteria in your rock to handle the transition what did you use to make the rock? how bout some pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 I was thinking of that...putting some regular sand in the fuge now....the rocks wont be ready for about 8 weeks anyway. that sand should be LS by then. Also, what if I started taking out a few cups of CC each week until the big overhaul....would that make things any easier pics are coming...I just pulled the rocks out of the sand molds this morning and put them in a wheelbarrow of water to let the concrete harden to its fullest. my mix was 1 part portland I/II, 1 part play sand, 3 parts crushed oyster shell. they look pretty cool....so far robert, if you want to try it...dont buy any cement....I bought a 94lb bag, and used about 5 lbs of it...you are welcome to some of it if you like, but I used all the oyster shell in the mix and the molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I think the idea of slowly removing the CC is a good one. That way you don't stir up too much detritus at one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedude Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I'm scared of removing the CC one cup at a time. How long has the tank been setup with the CC? Reason I ask, is that if a large packet of sulphur or other poisonous detritus is released when you take a cup out, you'd nuke your tank. If it was my tank overhaul, I do as Robert suggested with some sand in the fuge. Tank everything out of the tank into holding vats, drain as much water as possible, and rinse the CC out of the tank, making sure to clean out the tank very well after. This way, there is no chance of releasing nasties hiding in the old CC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Watch the rocks carefully. Using cements and such can leach out lime and other metals into your water. Also could cause huge shifts in PH. I applaud you for making your own rock but as many many threads about doing so say to rinse the rock everday for months. I have always loved the tip about placing it the holding tank for your toilets, it will rinse the rock everytime you flush. PICS......... Wanna hold a class? I've seen a member on Maast offer to hold a class for $25 a person. Local would be much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 I have let the rocks "cure" for 24 hours under sand (in the mold) and fro 48 hours under water. This is supposed to make them as stronge as possible. I know that they need to be in constantly changing water for atleast 6 weeks, then, into saltwater for 2-3 weeks. I will start testing PH after about 6 weeks and see what the deal is. when I get home, I will pull them out of the water and take pics....I had one that I used a half inflated rubber glove inside of the mold...it turned out very cool. pics coming so, no one on here has done this yet? I actually wanted to use the rest of my mikx...make a TON more, and start trading rocks for frags...or something like that. If these turn out to be great, I will post my exact steps. btw, anyone think of any reason not to cure them in the toilets? that is by far the easiest...let me know if there are any negatives to this....to either my plumbing or the rocks. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 p.s. can I go get some cheap sand from like walmart/homedepot....and just go to the LFS and buy like 2 cups of their LS and put that in my fuge? also....how deep of a sand bed should be in the fuge....when I do the CC to LS in my display tank....I really only want like 1.5 inches of sand in that. thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhayden Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 I made my rocks and only cured them for about a week with daily water changes. Have had no problems with PH. If anything they have buffered the tank a little. only about 5lbs out of 25 or so in the tank though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedude Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 No you cannot get sand from Home Depot in this part of the county unfortunately. Home Depots in the northeast have access to southdown which is aragonite based but all of the sand available to us is silicate based. Not good to use in a reef tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 The Dude is right. Silica sand will cause diametaceous algae blooms as they live off the silicates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 ok, so here are some pics....not great cam quality though...had to use the camcorder camera. http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i77/dies...ie/IMGA0090.jpg http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i77/dies.../IMGA0095-1.jpg http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i77/dies...ie/IMGA0096.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 so, concern.... I used play sand that I got from homedepot in my sand molds....so the outside of my rocks...has that sand stuck in it small amounts, but that sand is in my rocks is this an issue? I will be curing in FW for 6 weeks, and SW for 2 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammondegge Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 i dont believ the small amount of silica sand on your rocks will harm anything. best to knock most of it off if it is loose. use aragonite sand in your fuge, not extremely deep but up to 6 inches would be ok. oh and thanks for the offer on the concrete. i should be ready to do mine fairly soon. i will need it in a month or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted August 23, 2006 Author Share Posted August 23, 2006 where should i get the sand from, and is there a specific brand. how much regular sand do I need in relation to actual LS...or do I need any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammondegge Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 here is a thread about Southdown and alternatives. http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpB...light=southdown Chances are that you will not be able to find Southdown or Yardright in Austin unless someone has a stash in thier garage. CaribSea special grade from a LFS will be the easiest to come by. you will not need to purchase any live sand, though if you have the opportunity it is benefitial to grab a cup of sand from other's tanks, the more the better, to diversify your fauna. i can spare a cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 If I remember correctly Austin Aquariums has several varities of grain size sand available by the pound. $1 each lb if I am correct. I also can spare a cup of live sand if you want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhayden Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I used some "paver sand" and some carib sand, but that stuff is expensive. The paver probably has silicate in it. I have had no issues with diatoms yet.... It been a few months. I think I roughly used 1 part crushed carib, 1 part paver sand, 1 part carib sand, 1/2 parts acryllic shreds; bound it all together with some Home depot concrete mix. Used paver sand as the molds. No issues with PH or Diatoms. I even have a few pounds of it in one of my 3 gals. No issues yet. That tank has kept better parameters than my other one with all LR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted September 15, 2006 Author Share Posted September 15, 2006 so, my rocks have been curing for like 4 weeks now....ph was like 9 last night....i wish I had a way to put these in a stream or lake.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 Guys, silica based sand will not cause an algae problem of any kind, if that were the case, everyone who has a glass tank would be in trouble. I know many folks who use it with zero issues other than being butt ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieMEDIC Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 there is some stuff that a lot of people have been using up here for a sandbed. it is made by Pavestone it is called pulverised limestone. up here it is hit and miss as to wether Home Depot has it. i know the one near me does, and it is like $5 for a 50lb bag. only problem is that it needs washed REALLY well before placing it in your tank i will see if i can find the thread on the DFWMAS forum it discusses the pro's and cons will edit my post once i have found it EDIT here is the link - i have a few as it has been discussed many times on this board http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=15394 http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=21034 http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=18762 http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=16620 http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=14931 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieMEDIC Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 and PICS ok where is the add attachments button or do we have one?[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselndixie Posted September 18, 2006 Author Share Posted September 18, 2006 wow, i read the post....most people dig it can i see pics of what it looks like in a tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieMEDIC Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 how do i post pics???? there is no button to hit to add. do pics have to be on photobucket or can they be uploaded from your HD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Here is a description on what to do: http://www.austinreefclub.com/forums/viewt...topic.php?t=193 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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