[noobie reefer]

hello all i currently have cc as a substrate but am going to remve this and put in sand.

should i remove all of the cc and should i expect major algae probs?

im just worried a little

[Poseidon]

YES remove all the CC and you may get some algae. Keep the skimmer running full tilt boogie, and you may want to keep some ASW on hand in case you need to do an emergencey water change... (unlikely but you could get a spike depending on bio load.)

[NoSump]

Originally Posted by noobie reefer

hello all i currently have cc as a substrate but am going to remve this and put in sand.

should i remove all of the cc and should i expect major algae probs?

im just worried a little

Noobie:

How did your dive trip to Thailand go? I was there two weeks before the Tsunami (in Pattaya). I remember that you were planning to head over in January.

If you stuck to the resorts on the Gulf of Siam side, I imagine that you were relatively unaffected by the Tsunami after effects.

I was going to head back to Thailand in April, but due to the Tsunami, I'm going to head down to Belize instead (I plan to take another shot at the "blue hole").

In terms of your substrate question, Ninong and others recommended that I remove all of the crushed coral substrate. I replaced all of it with play a ground sand (supplemented with live sand) substrate. I did have a diatom algae bloom, but it completely cleared up within three weeks. I'm glad that I switched to a sand substrate, as it is already teaming with worms, and assorted other beneficial life (after two and half months).

Chuck

[noobie reefer]

Originally Posted by NoSump

Noobie:

How did your dive trip to Thailand go? I was there two weeks before the Tsunami (in Pattaya). I remember that you were planning to head over in January.

If you stuck to the resorts on the Gulf of Siam side, I imagine that you were relatively unaffected by the Tsunami after effects.

I was going to head back to Thailand in April, but due to the Tsunami, I'm going to head down to Belize instead (I plan to take another shot at the "blue hole").

In terms of your substrate question, Ninong and others recommended that I remove all of the crushed coral substrate. I replaced all of it with play a ground sand (supplemented with live sand) substrate. I did have a diatom algae bloom, but it completely cleared up within three weeks. I'm glad that I switched to a sand substrate, as it is already teaming with worms, and assorted other beneficial life (after two and half months).

Chuck

thailand was amazing, not diving yet i was just snorkelling and getting the girlfriend used to it, were heading back out for a few months early next year to chill and learn to dive in phuket. phuket was so beutifull, pattaya was ok but a bit too busy for us, it was like a big party24-7.we went on a dive/ snokkel trip from pattaya to a place called the fingers. there was quite a bit of tsunami damage along phuket but was well on the way to being sorted. we found a beutifull secluded beach called ya nui beach 5 mins from where we were staying. (phuket)divers would always be here

the sand sounds good as ive found a plce that sells it, cant wait to add it ..

thanks again

do a google search

ya nui phuket

so amazing we thought

[NoSump]

Originally Posted by noobie reefer

thailand was amazing, not diving yet i was just snorkelling and getting the girlfriend used to it, were heading back out for a few months early next year to chill and learn to dive in phuket. phuket was so beutifull, pattaya was ok but a bit too busy for us, it was like a big party24-7.we went on a dive/ snokkel trip from pattaya to a place called the fingers. there was quite a bit of tsunami damage along phuket but was well on the way to being sorted. we found a beutifull secluded beach called ya nui beach 5 mins from where we were staying. (phuket)divers would always be here

the sand sounds good as ive found a plce that sells it, cant wait to add it ..

thanks again

do a google search

ya nui phuket

so amazing we thought

Noobie:

I'm glad to hear that you had a good trip. The only reason that I recommended Pattaya, was because of the reported destruction on Phuket (and the great dive operator at the Nova Lodge). Pattaya can be more than a bit "scurvy".

It sounds as though things are getting back into shape on Phuket (the Thai's are an amazingly resourcefull people). How has Patong beach recovered? Most of the news coverage that I saw focused on the Patong area. Hmmm - I may want to change my Belize plans (great diving, but not the nicest locals).

Between business and pleasure, I have had the privledge of traveling to over 85 countries, people always ask my favorite place. Without hesitation, I always say Thailand (I get over there at least twice a year). It's a shame that most people associate Thailand with sleezy pastimes - as you know, there is so much more to the country.

If you enjoyed the quite side of Thailand, I would strongly recommend a trip up to Chang Mai next visit. You can take a two day Elephant trek, and river rafting trip through the "golden triangle' area. Another great side-trip is a visit to Angkor What in Cambodia (Siem Riep). I'm starting to make this sound like a travel web site - Regards,

Chuck

[noobie reefer]

lol

my dad said the exact same about doing chang mai

Patong was well on the mend, all the destruction i saw was more toward the south side of the bay and didnt go back much further than the buildings on the edge of the beach itself. So im thinking it will be fixed up soon, it was well underway when i went. The only thing about patong was that the beach was really empty compared to before although the night life was still quite busy.All the beaches and snorkelling we did, there was no sign of the tsunami in the water only on the land.

hope this helps

ps thanks for all the info i will def try some of yr suggestions when i go again