Well I found out today from the guy I bought my 180 tank from (was a fish only tank) that the sand in the tank is at least 5 years old. So is the sand still good? Maybe cause of my super high nitrate problem? Nitrates still threw the roof. Ive pulled the fish and stopped the water changes guess Im waiting on it to finish the cycle (if that is whats its doing). I have chalupra and chaeto in my sump blah blah blah im sure everyone has read the other posts.
5 year old sand
- Thread starter youtoo54
- Start date
Cathic
Fish Wrangler
Age of sand shouldnt matter. Someone correct me if im wrong.
little_fish
Reef pro
Old sand is not always bad sand, depends on how the tank and the sand bed were taken care of during that time.
Personally, at this point i would remove all the sand from your set up. Let it run bare bottom for a bit, and then put in new sand.
It may or may not solve the nitrate issue, but we might as well just rule out the sand bed as being the issue.
Personally, at this point i would remove all the sand from your set up. Let it run bare bottom for a bit, and then put in new sand.
It may or may not solve the nitrate issue, but we might as well just rule out the sand bed as being the issue.
BL1
.............
Did you rinse the sand out at all before you put it back in the tank?
Dana42078
Dana
I tried this right when i started my tank, ended up takin everything out and started with all new stuff.
Bifferwine
I am a girl
That sand could have 5 years of crud trapped in it. I'd do what Hannah says, or BL1 -- clean the sand.
Dana42078
Dana
Me? Yep....my substrate came right from a 7 year old tank and I filled with 1/4 of his water and 3/4 new. I couldn't stabilize anything and pretty much just drained the tank and bought all new stuff. That's jus me. If u want you could re drain your tank and rinse the sand...like Brian stated
Bifferwine
I am a girl
Sand from Petco is fine.
Dana42078
Dana
make sure your buying the right stuff.....live sand. =)
BL1
.............
It doesn't have to be live. Dry aragonite sand is cheaper and the live rock will make the sand live over time.
Dana42078
Dana
I guess yer right....
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