Mixing Substrate

casssch · Post by **casssch** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:12 pm

What's the best way to mix substrate for a new tank? I have one 50 lb bag of sand, and tomorrow I'll have a brick of EE delivered. I think I need a second bag of sand to get it deep enough (it's a 20 gallon tall). Would it be possible to mix it all in the tank? Would you layer it before mixing? Do I need to moisten the EE before putting it in the tank? I know the entire mix needs to be sand castle consistency.

Crabinski · Post by **Crabinski** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:47 pm

I have a 29g (18"Hx30"Lx12"W) and did an EE-heavy mix: one 50lb bag of playsand and 3 bars of EE. Yes, it's easier if you wet the EE block(s) in dechlorinated SW first as they can take a while to break down. When I did the 7" substrate, I put in about 20lbs of the playsand, added some dechlorinated SW and handfuls of the moist EE, mixed it manually (wearing latex gloves as the mixture was just too icky to squeeze and blend barehanded), added 10lbs more playsand, a bit of SW and more moist EE, blended again, etc, etc. Even though I already had the EE premoistened, it still took me a good 60-90 minutes to get it all in there and blended to sandcastle consistency. When I was done, my already fragile back and knees were begging for mercy

!

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:01 pm

It all depends on your comfort. If you have a strong back, long arms, and good height, mixing it right in the tank would be the best. You wont end up getting sub EVERYWHERE as you're dumping it in. Be warned, bending over to mix 100+ lbs of sub is VERY HARD WORK!
If you're short, weak, and tank too high (like me) i found it easiest to mix in a bucket, then scoop large scoops up and into the tank. You can even mix it all in a tote and then scoop it to the tank, but have a plan on how to toss sand+ water. It's so heavy! Stuff gets EVERYWHERE! I used a hand vac and washed it afterwards.
Layering is visually pleasing but it doesnt really do much for you and the crabs till it up anyways.
Have a gallon each of FW and SW ready. Use the SW first and the FW if you dont have enough.

Crabbers unite!!!

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:38 pm

These are amazing for mixing out of tank: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Blac ... /205451550

It depends what I'm mixing, but I generally like to mix out of tank because it's easier to move around heavy wet substrate, and then scoop it in with a heavy duty plastic feeding scoop (for farm animals) when it's ready.

soilentgringa · Post by **soilentgringa** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:46 pm

When I set up the 55 gallon, the first thing I did was wait for my son to be asleep (haha). Adhd plus sand and wet EE equals a mini natural disaster!
All jokes aside, these are the steps I used for 300 lbs of sand in 50 lb bag increments.
Supplies
Empty plastic packing bin (sterlite from Wal*Mart-already owned
Old large cooking spoon
Old saucepot
4-5 bricks of EE in second bin already moistened with dechlorinated salt water and broken down
I dumped a couple of bags of sand into the empty bin, then mixed a pot or so of EE in. Stirred it up with the kitchen spoon at first but noticed that really wasn't doing the job. In the end I just mixed it by hand.
After achieving the consistency I wanted I used the pot to scoop the sub into the tank. Repeated those steps till I had 12-13".
This took a couple of hours working at a pretty quick pace and after dragging 50 lb bags of sand and dumping all the sub it was a sweaty workout!
It took more scoops with the sauce pot than it would have taken with a bucket but I couldn't find my 5 gallon one and I think the wet sand would have just been too heavy and unmanageable like that.
I think next time I will rig a pulley system over the tank.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:07 pm

Mixing by hand with gloves on is the best. Make sure they're good gloves that fit properly. Slippery loose gloves, blegggghghhhhhghghh
Hauling buckets of sand... Well i was about 9 months pregs when i was doing my first build (crazy, dont try at home) but i say, watch your back! That is some strenuous stuff!
NEXT TIME, which i hope will be this summer, i'm going to have a sand scooping party and enlist in the help of family and friends. I'm going to buy a buncha $1 buckets from dollar tree and treat everyone to pizza and ice cream.

Crabbers unite!!!

casssch · Post by **casssch** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:20 pm

The tank is on a relatively short dresser, and I'm quite tall (6'1), so I can easily reach the bottom of the tank empty. I think I'll mix the one bag of sand and brick of EE to see how deep that gets me and go from there. From what the pet store said today, their biggest crabbies are the size of a fifty cent piece, so I think for now I could go with 5ish inches vs 8-10 inches deep? I completely forgot about it needing to be sw for the substrate, so awesome everyone for the reminders on that! I'll have to go fill a few jugs of water from my mom's house (she has much better water quality than I do) tomorrow (or Thursdya) before I start mixing. We're supposed to get a nasty snow storm tonight/tomorrow so that might delay my EE and other crabby supplies. YYWW the sand scooping party sounds fun! Doing something that strenuous while preggo doesn't sound fun at all!

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:20 am

I always mix in the tank if I can. I just find it easier. Less mess, less clean up. I let the cocofiber soak in a gallon of sw per brick, then mix in dry play sand with my hands, adding fw if it's still too dry. I prefer more sand than cocofiber in the mix.

casssch · Post by **casssch** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 5:43 pm

I was able to get it mixed in the tank with no issues.

Now I just have to wait for my other packages to arrive today to set up the moss pits and cut the plastic canvas for them and the pools. Everything else is set up.

crabnewb · Post by **crabnewb** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:21 pm

Is EE cheaper to buy loose or in bricks? It sounds like it would be easier to moisten loose EE but im going to have a lot of substrate in a 40 gallon so i'd like the cheapest option. Also, is there a website to order from for the best price? I haven't seen a whole lot.

Crabinski · Post by **Crabinski** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:30 pm

crabnewb wrote:Is EE cheaper to buy loose or in bricks? It sounds like it would be easier to moisten loose EE but im going to have a lot of substrate in a 40 gallon so i'd like the cheapest option. Also, is there a website to order from for the best price? I haven't seen a whole lot.

Brick form is cheaper ($8 for a three-pack at PetSmart) but takes longer to break down as it's insanely densely packed.

megmaholm · Post by **megmaholm** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:01 pm

Bricks are way cheaper. I think Petsmart and Petco are pretty comparable in price. Online may be cheaper but shipping will get you. A brick does take a while to break up, so I drop one in a 5 gallon bucket with some salt water, let it soak for 10ish minutes, and then gradually break off the softened parts. It seems to make it go a little faster, but your hands get nasty in the process.

Post by **wodesorel** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 9:59 pm

Use half the amount of hot water the directions say and cover the bucket with plastic wrap. In about half an hour it should be the perfect consistency. If not, add a little more hot water and wait a bit.

It just takes time, and then there's no work.

I have bought the bags in the past, and I keep those around to mix up more since I use it for my snakes twice a month. Toss a brick in the bag, fill with some water, and let it sit overnight, adding more in the morning if needed. Cheaper and just as easy as buying bagged.

crabnewb · Post by **crabnewb** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:35 am

wodesorel wrote:Use half the amount of hot water the directions say and cover the bucket with plastic wrap. In about half an hour it should be the perfect consistency. If not, add a little more hot water and wait a bit. It just takes time, and then there's no work.

I have bought the bags in the past, and I keep those around to mix up more since I use it for my snakes twice a month. Toss a brick in the bag, fill with some water, and let it sit overnight, adding more in the morning if needed. Cheaper and just as easy as buying bagged.

Thats a pretty easy way to do it. Is there a good way to measure out the amount of sand you use or do you just do that by feel?

Post by **wodesorel** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:46 am

I go by feel. I think my 10 gallon has 70 pounds of sand and a quarter bag of EE, and one cup of oyster shell. I wanted it to be a little lighter in color and with a full hood wasn't worried about humidity.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association