[zhenya]

Originally Posted by RevClyburn

Hey Zhenya

in Howell NJ, near Freehold.

Cool, you are about 20 minutes south from me if you take Rt.9.

I'll check in my local HD here in South Plainfield and Woodbridge(if you haven't checked there yet). However, if you call their main phone number and ask for the info I believe they'll help you out. There is no more sand in Toys-R-Us or the sand boxes becouse the season is over, as Ninong had indicated, most of the stores that did carry it are either out of stock or do not want to bring it anymore untill spring. I'm taking a trip today to Home Depot and will find out if any of the stores in NJ has it and will post back.

[RevClyburn]

Thanks for your help,

I too will keep my eyes open for this invisible sand, lol. I will call around later today and see if can locate a place with it and let you know if I should find it ok.

again, thank you and God bless

RevClyburn

[NoSump]

Ninong:


Thank you for the posts regarding the SeaClone - I seems to be a case of "you get what you pay for". Having done a search on skimmers, it is apparent that a higher quality skimmer will be needed.

In terms of the Garden State search for playground sand - there is a huge garden center on Route 22 in Greenbrook that might be worth a shot.

[RevClyburn]

Hey everyone,

I just found a pallet of it at Home Depot in Howell, N.J. I went to HD in Freehold, N.J., and they had some, mostly broken bags, which you can get at a discount. They in turned called the Howell store and they had 40 bags on the floor and a pallet in the racks. So, if you're in New Jersey, or near enough to want to drive here, they have it. The bags cost 4.99. Now I need some crushed puka shell, or something to mix with it to give it a little more realistic look, but this stuff looks great.

Thanks everyone, NOW GO GET THAT STUFF before the word gets out!

In His name, be safe and prosper,

Rev. Clyburn

[RevClyburn]

Ifound some, let me know if your looking for sme ok. I'll get it and you can meet me and get it, at the store price of course

Rev. Clyburn

Originally Posted by zhenya

Cool, you are about 20 minutes south from me if you take Rt.9.

I'll check in my local HD here in South Plainfield and Woodbridge(if you haven't checked there yet). However, if you call their main phone number and ask for the info I believe they'll help you out. There is no more sand in Toys-R-Us or the sand boxes becouse the season is over, as Ninong had indicated, most of the stores that did carry it are either out of stock or do not want to bring it anymore untill spring. I'm taking a trip today to Home Depot and will find out if any of the stores in NJ has it and will post back.

[NoSump]

Originally Posted by RevClyburn

Hey everyone,

I just found a pallet of it at Home Depot in Howell, N.J. I went to HD in Freehold, N.J., and they had some, mostly broken bags, which you can get at a discount. They in turned called the Howell store and they had 40 bags on the floor and a pallet.

Reverend:

Did the sand pass the "vinegar test"? I purchased some playground sand at my HD in Newark, DE and it did not pass the test. I also found sand at Southern States under the Yardright brand (which was mentioned as a brand to look for). It was white and fine powder, however; it was not labeled "tropical sand" and did not respond to vinegar. As a point of comparison, I have tested the LFS dolomite and it does respond with a pronounced fizz when subjected to vinegar.

Evidently the sand which is appropriate for acquarium use clearly states "tropical sand". If that's what you've found please let me know, as I have to travel to Piscataway, NJ later in the week, and Howell is on the way. Thanks.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by NoSump

I also found sand at Southern States under the Yardright brand (which was mentioned as a brand to look for). It was white and fine powder, however; it was not labeled "tropical sand" and did not respond to vinegar. As a point of comparison, I have tested the LFS dolomite and it does respond with a pronounced fizz when subjected to vinegar.

Is the LFS selling dolomite for use as a substrate (in lieu of sand) or as a supplement to regular aragonite media for calcium reactors?

Aragonite (calcium carbonate, CaCO3) is far superior to dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(CO3)2) as a reef aquarium substrate because of its buffering ability. The "vinegar test" isn't intended to test dolomite, just white sand that you want to make sure is really aragonite. I guess most people would know if they were buying dolomite or not because it would be called dolomite. Of course it will react with acid to release carbon dioxide gas (CO2) just as aragonite will but it doesn't dissolve as readily in a marine tank environment because it requires a much lower pH to dissolve than does aragonite.

Dolomite is often used in calcium reactors (10% CaMg(CO3)2 and 90% CaCO3) by people who need to raise their Mg levels. Or, if you're like me and don't have a calcium reactor, you can add MgCl (magnesium chloride) occasionally. You could even add MgSO4 (epsom salts) but if you do that a lot you might raise your sulfate levels too much.

I believe dolomite was more common as a substrate in marine tanks many years ago before people realized the benefits of aragonite. It won't hurt anything as long as it's pure but sometimes it's contaminated with other minerals depending on the deposit they're mining and how careful they are.

As you have already learned, the same companies that market calcareous sand (CaCO3) also market regular building sand (SiO2). And Play Sand can be either. Most play sand is just regular quartz sand. And Play Sand that is just regular quartz sand can have the same SKU number as Play Sand that is aragonite sand. So checking SKU numbers won't help any.

P.S. -- If the Play Sand has those magic words, "Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean," on the bag, you really don't need to test it. If you want to test it anyway after you get home, go ahead, but you don't have to test it at the store before buying it. Buy it while they still have it!

[NoSump]

Ninong:

Thank you - I mispoke the substrate that I tested which did pass the vinegar test was Aragonite.

The play sand from Home Depot and Southern States did not pass the test (and was not labeled "Tropical Play Sand".

[RevClyburn]

I have the real mccoy, Tropical Play Sand, with the packaging we all know so well, Blue with red writing, ad by OldCastle Stone Company. So, just let me know when you're coming this way and maybe we can meet or just email me and I'll tell you where the store is. But get there before the word gets out that it's there and all of it is ate up.

Rev. Clyburn

Originally Posted by NoSump

Reverend:

Did the sand pass the "vinegar test"? I purchased some playground sand at my HD in Newark, DE and it did not pass the test. I also found sand at Southern States under the Yardright brand (which was mentioned as a brand to look for). It was white and fine powder, however; it was not labeled "tropical sand" and did not respond to vinegar. As a point of comparison, I have tested the LFS dolomite and it does respond with a pronounced fizz when subjected to vinegar.

Evidently the sand which is appropriate for acquarium use clearly states "tropical sand". If that's what you've found please let me know, as I have to travel to Piscataway, NJ later in the week, and Howell is on the way. Thanks.

[NoSump]

Reverend:

Thank you. I was not able to make the trip up to Piscataway last week, but do plan to make the trip this week.

I will email you directly for follow-up. Thanks again.

[NoSump]

Ninong:

Thank you for your advice regarding skimmers. I took yours and Reeflands advice and purchased a Remora Pro (on ebay). I just hope that I don't have the problem with micro-bubbles that appears to be a requiring issue in many of the posts that I have read (it appears to be a major downside of HOT skimmers).

[RevClyburn]

Hey everyone,

well my tank is still a wee bit cloudy, clearing up, but GOODNESS! when will it all be ova, lol. I never had this situation with my tank before. Maybe I should have went with the old reliable aragonite sand, crushed coral, and crushed puka combination. It would be clear by now, but as it is written, patience is a virtue, so I'll practice it a little while longer.

So................. anyway, I want to buy some black mollies to cycle the tank with, even with it being cloudy. What do you think about that? Will they live in the tank as it is now? I have used them before to cycle my tank, so they work pretty well, just don't know with the tank being cloudy. Anyone try this before. I rather try the mollies instead of the shrimp. I don't want to be put out with the tank by my wife. So, any advice?

RevClyburn

[Poseidon]

It is cruel to the fish to use them to cycle the tank. You can accomplish a cycle Live Rock, it has all the ingredients needed. You would probably end up buying some anyway. I would get at least 10-15 lbs to start, OR if you are plannning a reef tank go ahead and get a full box, 40-50lbs. Because live rock is so expensive I supplemented mine with dry "lace rock" it is the same color and close in texture to the most common live rock. After a few months you won't be able to tell the difference between the 2, unless you pic them up out of the tank. (lace rock is heavier, more dense.) I paid $1.79 per pound for the Lace and about $8.00 per pound for the live rock....

[Ninong]

Please don't use black mollies or any live fish to cycle your tank. It's cruel and it isn't necessary. It isn't necessary to use the dead shrimp either, it's just something that I like to suggest if someone is starting up without live rock. The truth is that the beneficial bacteria will colonize your dead sand whether you give them any encouragement or not. And it's not necessary to buy any commercial "bacteria potions" either.

The bacteria have already started in your tank. Adding live rock will speed the process considerably.

Good luck!



P.S. -- One tiny shrimp or a very small piece of fish would not stink at all. I used a piece of fish (saltwater trout) that was approximately 2"x3"x1/2" thick and I didn't smell anything. And the tank's in my bedroom! Within days the piece of fish was reduced to just a few black flakes drifting around the sand bed. I didn't have it in a sock or anything and I didn't bother to remove anything. I added fully cured live rock on the 10th. day after starting up the tank. I wasn't about to put uncured live rock in a tank in my bedroom.

[NoSump]

Reverend Clyburn:

Thanks again for the tip on the HD in Howell. I stopped by yesterday and picked up a couple of bags - there weren't many left on the pallet.

Thanks again, and good luck with the decaying shrimp idea. I don't think that would fly with my wife either.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

[RevClyburn]

Glad I could help,

they had more than that when I went there. There's also a HD in Freehold that has some too. But most of their bags where busted, and that's putting it mildly. They said I could get them cheap if I wanted them. Maybe someone else on the board needs some sand, they are welcome to those for the discount price. I still have a bag left, been riding it around in my truck. I'll find a purpose for it someday. I sure don't want to put it in my tank. It was just clearing up until I put some live rock in the tank and causes a cloudy tank storm . I'm praying it clears us before Saturday, as I have company coming, in laws, and I don't want to be answering questions all night about the cloudiness. Also bought some damels to cycle the tank with. Will probably buy another 15 lbs of LR the next time I get paid. I want this tank stable and looking good in a couple of weeks. More family is coming.

Anyway, stay in touch and you and your family have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Years.

RevClyburn

Originally Posted by NoSump

Reverend Clyburn:

Thanks again for the tip on the HD in Howell. I stopped by yesterday and picked up a couple of bags - there weren't many left on the pallet.

Thanks again, and good luck with the decaying shrimp idea. I don't think that would fly with my wife either.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

[Poseidon]

Originally Posted by RevClyburn

Glad I could help,

Also bought some damels to cycle the tank with. Will probably buy another 15 lbs of LR the next time I get paid. I want this tank stable and looking good in a couple of weeks. More family is coming.

RevClyburn

[NoSump]

Reverend:

I found the cloudy water to be frustrating as well - but just as I was advised on this site, it did finally clear. I can now move live rock around the tank without stirring up a dust storm.

Also, if you use a enough live rock, and wait about one month - you should'nt need to use live fish to cycle your tank. I purchased Fiji Premium rock from LiveAquria.com. The cost was very reasonable, and I was pleased with the service, and quality of the rocks. Everything that I have read about this hobby seems to reinforce the idea that patience is a key to success. I am not planning on stocking my first fish until late February to early March.

I guess a sure sign that I have been bitten by the reef tank bug is that I was looking at the baptismal tank at my father in laws church the other day - and began thinking what a great reef tank it would make!

Merry Christmas