friends new tank

[laurabolyard]

My sons friend just set up an aquarium. I wish that I had a chance to discuss some things with him before he did, but he talked to the guy at the LFS who tried to sell me codium macro algae as a $60 coral

Anyway, I would have liked to have discussed his options with him, and asked here for some advice. I just remember finding out after I did a 2 month cycle that there may have been some things I could have done differently. I would have liked to have found out if nsw would have been better than mixing salt, if my friend could have given me some of his water during his water change, etc.
Max used dry sand, and dead rock, and now damsels times three!

Do you think he would benefit from some of my sand or water? I think the tank has been set up for about a week.

[Phurst]

Sand for sure. I guess the best you can do is try to mentor them and/or get them over to TR

[laurabolyard]

He came over to look at ours and of course I asked him if he spends much time online I mentioned the site and told him how insightful, informative, and nuber-friendly it is (is it ok to make up words like that ).
I hope to get him here! So, I will probably trade some sand with him. What do you think of the water? Probably not worth the trouble? I CANT BELIEVE lfs didnt suggest the nsw they SELL!!

[Phurst]

There IS some beneficial bacteria and microfauna in the water, but not enough to matter in this case I don't think. Used water can be beneficial in some cases though. I basicly skipped the cycle in both of my nanos by using cured rock from my sump and water from waterchanges in my 120.

Does he have all base rock, or some LR as well?

[laurabolyard]

NO live rock. Though he thought thats what he was buying. This could take him awhile I'll give him some sand, there may be ONE peice of rock I can part with! Maybe I should trade him some rocks for awhile

[Phurst]

Trading isn't a bad option. He's gonna need something

[lReef lKeeper]

to bad shipping is so dang expensive ... or i could send him about 50lbs from my sump to use for a while.

[laurabolyard]

so, maybe its not a bad idea with the rocks also, gosh, I JUST redecorated! Good thing I did, found a razor blade!

[lReef lKeeper]

it will just take a little bit of your sand, so dont take a ton of it out. i would go with a couple of cups at the most. you just want to SEED his sand, not colonize it.

trading rocks is a great option, i wish i had someone around to do this stuff for me when i started the hobby !!

BTW ... how big is this tank ??

[laurabolyard]

Me too, big time!! All of the "I could have..."

his tank is just 35 gal. I could definalty trade a couple of cups. BTW, I have a deep sand bed, I dont get far down in there very often (never), but I was pushing/moving things around in there last night, whats thhe clumpy stuff that kind of falls apart in your hand, a greyish color? Lost critters of days gone by, or something else?

[lReef lKeeper]

sounds kind of like the bacteria sort of binding the sand together. kind of hard to say with seeing or feeling it, like everything else in this hobby.