aquashelle's 55 gallon tank diary

[FrontosaurusRex]

i personally think you need another filter on the other side of the tank. I have a whisper 60 exactly like yours on my 65g tank, and it wasnt enough. I added an Aquaclear 110 to it and my water stayed clean. I still have the other Whisper 60 if you're interested. i'll trade it to you for 2 of your Leleupi.

[aquashelle]

FrontosaurusRex, I shall deffinately consider, depending on what fish I decide to keep. Thaks for the offer, and I'll pm you if I decide to trade. :)

[Fire_chair]

You'll probably get more for baby Cyps, but it might be easier to sell Peacocks. I think you'd be a little better off with a nice group of a rarer Peacocks, but I'm not known for being right very often.

[aquashelle]

Alright, I've decided to go with peacocks!

I'm taking down the tank this weekend and switching to leslie's pool filter sand. I am quite excited about that. I sold all my tangs except the julies, but they just hang out in their cave. I enjoy them, plus I know I'll have fry soon.

I will be attending the auction sunday, hopefully that will help stock the tank.

[alexrex20]

i use "wild caught" sand from Spring Creek. it's a silica sand (inert) and once you thoroughly rinse it, you're left with a beautiful white sand that looks more natural than pool filter sand, and is just as easy to clean.

silica sand from Spring Creek and Mexican river stone from the local landscaping yard for $0.80/lb.

[aquashelle]

Beautiful tank Alex!

I went to Leslie's, and they thought I was crazy when referring to white pool filter sand for an aquarium. They said all they had was dusty brown sand..then I headed to Petco, they had nothing. Ended up at Petsmart buying aragonite sand (Sugar gained) For that was my only option. My dad said one way or another I had to pick my substrate from there. I've rinsed it thouroughly, empties the 55, and just added it in, I'm working to set up the hose to refill it, as the water from before is a lovely brown from the last sand.. :/

[Complexity]

Just for future reference, Leslie's only sells one kind of pool filtering sand. So no matter what color they claim it to be, it's the same color we all have. I'd call it a light tan when wet, but it appears white in pictures. I think it's a prettier color than stark white.

[aquashelle]

Alright, thanks for the advice!

When I questioned about it, they said it was a dark tan/brown, and they caimed it was quite dusty, therefore useless.

I guess I should have tried anyway, but I have a feeling I'll like the aragonite. My fish are floating right now, waiting to get back inside.

[Zulaab]

I promise you I have bought 6-8 bags in my time from them and NEVER once ever rinsed it and its been perfect every single time... I have been to a ton of other peoples homes and its been always the same. I believe the people at Leslie's dont know what dusty sand really looks like.. because once they see it.. they would all turn to their own and say, its not dusty.

[Complexity]

Agreed. I poured my sand directly from the bag into the tank. No rinsing whatsoever.

I had more crud come out of the eco-complete substrate that specifically says do not rinse. The Leslie's pool filter sand was the cleanest substrate I have ever used in any of my tanks, past or present.

[aquashelle]

Well, its too late to change now. I love the aragonite sand, and the fish seem to as well. I grabbed a pair of taiwan reefs at the auction today, I am thrilled, and all the fish seem happy.