Gooch's 12 gallon Aquapod

[gooch]

So I decided to put some black sand into the tank to give it a little contrast and thought the salt and pepper look would be neat. I have mixed views on that now that it is done. But I am not changing it now.

The ceramic dust is so fine it reminded me of a guinness getting poured into a glass. After two hours I put the rock into the tank. I used Natural Sea Water for this tank. Figured after rock and sand it would be less than 10 gallons of water(It was 9.5 gallons to be exact.). Five hours later I can see the rock but it is still prety cloudy. By morning it should be clear.

 

[JGoslee]

That rock looks really good. I also like the salt and pepper look. I'm not a fan of all white sand. I think it looks more natural with black sand mixed in.

 

[Pitcom]

Thats alot of sand! I only used 5 pounds for my 11.9 gallon nano. I could have used more but wanted to keep it thin on this tank. You definately have to do a pistol shrimp and goby with that thickness!

 

[gooch]

Yeah my daughter(who is twelve) has demanded these go in there and a jawfish. I sure hope these are gone before I am ready for fish. although they are cool.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?ddid=35205&siteid=20

I planned a dsb the whole time. Main reason the structure stayed the size it did. I know a dsb is pretty much useless in a nano but you know how it goes with kids. I am just glad they are excited about the tank.

 

[gooch]

One thing I know I am gonna end up doing is pulling the top of this thing and hanging a halide. The fan is loud and is driving me nuts already. I figure I'll hang a 150 watt hqi pendant over the top. Heat shouldn't be an issue. I'll mount it about a foot over the top of the tank.

 

[gooch]

How it looks this morning. It was clearer this morning until I moved the rock and kicked up some dust.

 

[gooch]

Water has been crystal clear for two days now. I promise these will be the last pics until I have something to see in it.

 

[shred5]

Lookin nice Gooch.... Really liking the ceramics. Iguess what ever the link was too sold because the link no longer works.


Dave

 

[MarvinsReef]

really nice!!!

 

[chadfarmer]

looks good

 

[gooch]

Well looks like I have to rip the tank apart and start over. My wife decided to clean the glass for me the other day. Then she showed me this.

That black sand just jumps onto the magnet. Destroyed the new pads I just put on it. I ran it over the sand bed five times and five times it filled the magnet up on both sides. I would highly reccomend not using the live black reef sand anymore. I told the store where I purchased it at what it did as well.

What sucks is I really wanted to use my ceramic sand from my kiln. Now I have to throw that out too. Really ticked that I gotta blow another $110 for nothing and thefact that my custom ceramic piece that I spent hours building and making might have to get tossed if I can not get all the metal out of the tank.

Scott

 

[edwing206]

Aawww man, that sucks big time. Hope it doesn't get you discouraged.

 

[143gadgets]

I'm lost! Where did this metal come from? The sand? I wonder how it got there.

 

[gooch]

Yes it was in the black sand. I ran the magnet over some more ceramic dust I had in my kiln and nothing stuck to it. So the only thing I could blame is the black sand.

Plus I knew it wasn't the ceramic. I have been using this clay fo rover three years with no issues.

Trust me, after 10+ years in the marine hobby very little discourages me anymore. I don't get high, don't get low. It just is what it is.

 

[shred5]

Holly crap metals in the sand... That is bad. what brand was that?
arag alive black reef sand

Dave

 

[gooch]

Natures Ocean

 

[gooch]

http://www.naturesocean.com/live_sand.htm

This is the stuff I used.

 

[gooch]

They must have scraped it off a hull of some sunken ship.....lol.

 

[shred5]

You should contact them and find out what is going on...

By the way you remeber the whole southdown sand and caribsea? Remember they were the same sand (mined from the same place) the only difference is caribsea said they ran magnets through their sand to remove any metals.

I also remember people thinking the metals may have come from the mining equipment. But holy cow I could see a peice or two but that is unbelievable.

Dave

 

[gooch]

I sent them an e-mail. With a link to this thread. I asked them to do a recall. But I think that may be a little hard to do.

When i took down the tank I ran the magnet over the bottom of the tank with 95% of the sandbed removed. Same results. Everything black stuck to it.