experimental tanks for Utah sand and rock

Jon stated, "All I'm interested in now is how Mark's tank progresses from here..."
I'm starting to feel the pressure.  I try lots of things, but most of the time I only bring up the stuff that works.  Don't forget that my friend Chad and my brother Rodney's tanks have been working with Utah rock and sand since early Spring 2002.

Just to show that I'm not completely blind to, or trying to hide the facts....The clam died. It looked great before I went on a 7 day vacation, but after weeks of low light and no feeding because of trying to eradicate flatworms, it and also the remaining Green Chromis are gone. Though the unsuccessful treatment of Salifert's Flatworm Exit about five or six weeks ago, weakened the clam and Chromis more than others, I believe the recent lack of attention led to their demise. I cannot say that it wasn't due to the rock and sand, but everything else is doing just fine.

On the bright side, I saw only two flatworms in a corner on the glass the day I returned, but they too are now gone. None have been visible for more than a week as of this writing, so I am claiming success.

The treatment for these flatworms, in my experience, is to get some predators like the Yellow Tailed Blue Damsel, and/or the Mandarinfish, reduce the feeding and turn off most of the lights. I don't have the formula for how much or how long, but in my case I watched and waited. The Damsels and Green Mandarinfish had full bellies all through the course. If the rest of the tank started looking too hungry or in need of light, I would add a little/turn on the lights for a day or two. I'd say it took about three weeks of this, but haleluyah, now I can give frags away without cursing the recipient with the dreaded flatworm!

I promised Mike Dawson a frag or two and Carlos Gurr wanted some Green Star Polyps that are spreading fast across the back glass. There is one of the Jones' purple plate coral I will give away for $10 and a large specimin (5 inches) of extinct Palau Green Nepthia for $5. The red grape algae has grown back. I give these sprigs away for free. Also there are three frags of yellow polyps, two small ones for free and one large for $5. I give away pieces of photosynthetic sponge which every tank needs. Oh and there is a rock with Woods Polyps, Finger Leather and pink Sponge that I'll let go for $10.

Does anyone need a free, unopened bottle of Greenex?

Quote: Originally posted by tomason on 22 July 2003

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At this point, the whole debate has reached a stalemate which wouldn't be helped by this experiment.  It's a fact that some aragonite rock has bad stuff in it, specifically copper.  Some one got a piece with some in it.  It's also a fact that there are hundreds of pounds of aragonite in healthy aquariums throughout the area.  The debate seems to just be whether people are willing to risk it.  Some say yes, some say no.  Because that's just a matter of opinion, there's no experiment which will help either side.

Now that's just my take on the debate.  I don't recall hearing (or reading) anyone say aragonite is BETTER, nor do I recall anyone saying that aragonite WON'T work.  It just seems to be a matter of risk, which is a matter of personal opinion.

Like I said at the beginning though, I think this would be a fun "experiment" for curiosity's sake.  It'd be interesting to see them side-by-side to fully appreciate the differences.

-Tom

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Well said. That's what I was trying to say. I'm not saying that the debate is a bad idea if it is kept under control. My concern is that new members, or "visitors" to this board may become overwhelmed by the Oolitic/Aragonite debate. I'm referring more to some of the personal "comments" that have come up regarding the issue than anything.

Personally, I have a bit of both of these items in my tank, primarily used as a filler for my imported live rock, and live sand. I don't think it has hurt anything in my tank so far. While I admit that I have endorsed the Oolitic/Aragonite method in the past, I will say that if I could do it all over again, (and had the money when I did it,) that I would have used 100% Imported Live Rock, and Live Sand. The only reason why is because every time something happens in my tank, It's hard not to look directly at my use of the rock specifically, and wonder if it's the cause of some underlying problem. While I haven't had anything thus far that would implicate the rock or the sand, it would be nice to eliminate it from my thought process. 

For what it's worth though, a good alternative to the experiment might be just to agree that both methods work, and that one is not necessarily better than the other. I think we can all agree that one method is cheaper, but at the risk/cost of the person who uses it.

 

This maybe alittle late. but I have a 20gallon tank that if you Mark have 100% all this Utah stuff I will run and see what happens.  I think it would be a fun experiment for me.

Way to fan the flames!! (is it getting hot in here?) 

I think that the general census of this forum is that the "experiment" should not happen, which was the point of this thread.  Since, the conclusion has been drawn, maybe the moderator should close this thread to further comments.

Quote: Originally posted by Marcus on 23 July 2003

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I think that the general census of this forum is that the "experiment" should not happen, which was the point of this thread.  Since, the conclusion has been drawn, maybe the moderator should close this thread to further comments.

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No mo bets!  Bonzai!

Well no one ever got back to me so I guess this Utah stuff is not all its cracked up to be.  But on a better note thanks for saving me some mony.

=Joking

I'm going back to Vermont and setting up a prop tank with all utah aragonite and 1 piece of ocean live rock (for seeding purposes).  I'll let everyone know how it works. 2 20g tanks, DSB, 1 tank MH the other 96watt pc connected together.

Brad