Southdown Explosion?

[djheywood]

I put southdown in my 26 about 1 year ago and the tank was cloudy for about 1 full day. I just put sand in a 60 gallon (100# new, 50# from the 26) and the water is like milk. I have had a magnum hot filter with carbon running the whole time, along with another hang on power filter. 1 maxijet 600 running in the water. It's been over 48 hours and I still can't see anything. I don't want to put my fish and corals in the tank until I can at least see into the tank.

Anyway, how long did your explosion last?

[vtec si]

It took my 180 almost 2 weeks befor it was clear!

VTEC SI

[djheywood]

damn, that's a long time! How cloudy was it when you put your fush and corals back in the tank?

[naser]

were are you finding southdown dj?

[djheywood]

I had some in my garage I got about a year ago from Joyce (macimage on Reef Central I think) She had some from time to time. I think there is another guy up here in LA that has some. You may want to look in the for sale section of the boards. I don't remember the guy but I know some people have been getting it here lately.

[naser]

i was just curiuos if you found it in a home depot? cause i can buy aragonite sugar sand for 20 bucks a bag just trying to get it cheaper.

[dattack]

There is still someone selling southdown for 15$ for a 50 lb bag in Chino Hills. A few weeks ago, he ordered another pallette, I believe. I only bought one bag from him because I only needed to setup a 20 gallon. He is still advertising in other forums for the sand also. If you want some, I will give you the link.

http://www.reefs.org/cgi-bin/ultimat...c&f=3&t=002952

[JustPhish]

Use an external filter packed with filter floss. When setting up some recent tanks they were clear within a few hours. Of course I also took great caution in adding the sand, but I added 200lbs so it should work for you.
HTH

[RobG]

If you have a Magnum filter, use the water polishing cartridge instead of the standard filter cart. for the carbon. Mine cleared up in < 12 hours using the water polisher and rinsing it out about 3 times during the process.

[Green Mariner]

I set-up a tank about 1 month ago, used Southdown sand and the tank was completely clear after 24 hours!

I suggest that anyone who is adding sand to a new tank try this as it works extremely well!

1. Add sand to empty tank
2. Use a 5gal. IO salt bucket lid, place in the bottom of the tank.
3. Pour water onto the lid.

The difference between this method and using a "dinner plate" is the IO salt bucket lid floats, so it will stay on top of the water's surface without creating a "sand storm" in the tank! I have used this method successfully 2 times now with no problems!!

HTH

[JustPhish]

Yep, I use a tpperware container which also floats to the top as the water level rises. Works well for me but not for the wife ;)

[bongobrian]

Question- I've been thinking of switching my DSB from crushed coral to sand. What is the best type of sand to use? I've been hearing a lot about this southdown. Is Southdown better than argonite sugar sand? which one is easiest to find? it sounds like southdown is a very hard to find item.

[db]

Southdown isn't "better" it's basically the same stuff for less money. If you happen to live in the right place you can buy exactly the same sand for under $5 for a 40-lb bag at home depot as opposed to paying $25 for a 20-lb bag of sugar-sized aragonite at the old LFS.

[mrok12]

I just put another 50# in my tank ( 65 gallon ) and it only took one day to clear up. I rinsed it and then used a funnel attached yo 3.25 inch pvc. This helped with the dust explosion I think. Tank looks great now, just my 2cents

MROK12

[FishKid]

i agree with mrok! his method can help reduce clouding almost 5 fold! i did it that way when i first set up, and it was cloudy for a whole 10 minutes!

mark

[golfish]

naser, and anybody else in So Cal who needs SD sand. Murray from Chino Hills was over last weekend, he said he has 4 pallets left so get it while it last (should be sometime) If you have frags (SPS, LPS) he'll probably take those in trade.......

[organicreefer]

golfish,
i would be careful about putting southdown in my tank,i heard its not potable

[naser]

ive debated and debated and have come to one conclusion for my new 125 reef!!! sandless. see im a current freak and sand just start whipping and swirling all over the place. so i have chosen no sand. and lots of live rock.

[FishTechie]

dj, the magnum with the carbon insert wont really get out the larger particles which is whats clouding your water, what you should be running is the white micron cartridge and even that needs to be rinsed every couple of hours when filtering a new sand added tank...hth

p.s. this is what i've used on 4 tanks i set up