A dip into the local knowledge pool

[IceTurf]

ok I was just 'shooting ideas' out and seeing what you guys thought, I'm cheap tank persuasion myself, so buying white or black sand in 5 pound *or w/e I can find* bags from the hardware store is allot cheaper then buying live rock at the current prices (: *not that I wouldn't have some live rock, just not as much*

BTW I agree with you, 1.5-2pounds/gallon is allot of live rock, *but of course, this recommendation is given by live rock selling pet/other stores*

What is a recomended anemone for nano's, not that I would be getting one anytime soon? *I personally don't like the idea of a major stinging organisms in my tank*

[howdy20012002]

is this the same tank that you want to put the acro's in?
If it is, a small tank with a anemone and SPS will not work in my opinion.
All anemones sting to some point and like to move around.
SPS don't like to be stung and can react negatively to it (ie..die).
just my opinion, but I don't think you should have both in the same tank.
BTW, not all stores suggest 1.5 - 2 lbs per gallon. I think it is more personal preference and I think that the suggested norm is about 1 lb per gallon.
I dont' think however that by putting alot of sand in you tank is going to do anything for you except take up space. BTW, you can buy 50 lbs of playsand at homedepot for about 4.99
For a small tank, say a 20 gallon, 15 - 20 lbs of rock isn't going to cost all that much....there are times you can buy it here for 3.00 - 5.00 a lb.
I think that the typical 20 gallon tank would be sufficient for 2 clowns and an anemone.
anything smaller than that will be a bit small for the clowns when they get bigger...as well as the anemone will grow as well.
HTH
Neal

[digital-audiophile]

You don't want to put "home depot" sand in a fish tank.

[howdy20012002]

i have lots of times.
I haven't noticed any problems at all.
why do u say that?

[digital-audiophile]

I tried it in my very first SW tank and it ended in a mess, the sand clumped together and the water would not clear and I ended up having to drain and start over. (It was a 10 G so it was not that much work mind you) I just went and got the agrimax sand and have used it since with success.

[howdy20012002]

Interesting
I have used in in about 10 of my tanks and haven't noticed any problems at all.
obviously, if money isn't an issue than agri is the way to go.
However, it sounds like money might be a concern, so I just made of a suggestion.

[michika]

Do you know which brand of HD sand it was, or the specific name of the product? They sell playsand, colored, and I grabbed the MSDS sheets, and they seemed to be okay, but I haven't tried it yet.

So your water was really murkey?

[digital-audiophile]

Alas, I couldn't tell you the name, it was a couple years ago I tried this and I already had the sand in the house from another unrealted project. I think the problem was that it was too fine of a paticle so the water was really murky and even after a week it never calmed down with the flow on (I was using a modded AC500 and a seio on that time)

It almost seemed like the sand molecules bonded with the h20 and there were whispy clumps of sand constantly in the water.

[IceTurf]

Hmm ok 5 pounds of sand may be inaccurate but u get the idea, I think I'll skip the anemone till another 10 gallons. *goes for xenia*