- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
- Messages
- 200
What kind of aquarium subsrate do bimacs need? Does it need to be fine sand about 1 inch? And do they need a heater or a chiller?
-
Welcome to TONMO, a community of cephalopod experts, hobbyists and enthusiasts. Established in 2000, we are the founders of TONMOCON, and birthplace of World Octopus Day and Cephalopod Awareness Days. To contribute to the discussion, register here, and perhaps Introduce Yourself. To rid yourself of ads and enjoy other perks, become a Supporter for just $50/year. Follow us on Twitter for more cephy goodness.
Do Bimacs need...
- Thread starter Rockthis11
- Start date
Hi Rockthis,
The Equipment List suggests fine sand to the depth of 1 inch - that's a good recommendation for a bimac.
It's best to bring the temperature down to at least the lower seventies. You usually don't need a heater with a bimac, but may have to cool down the tank in the summer, with a fan or chiller or other method.
Some of this will depend on where you live, how much you air condition your home, and so forth.
Nancy
The Equipment List suggests fine sand to the depth of 1 inch - that's a good recommendation for a bimac.
It's best to bring the temperature down to at least the lower seventies. You usually don't need a heater with a bimac, but may have to cool down the tank in the summer, with a fan or chiller or other method.
Some of this will depend on where you live, how much you air condition your home, and so forth.
Nancy
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 29
Another question
HI!! First time poster, long time lurker, short time member.
I was wondering (for a bimac).. live sand or not? Does it depend on whether or not there is live rock? My guess is live sand wouldn't do enough and you would need live rock anyways - or is this overdoing it?
I'm basically trying to figure out filtration, I guess...
thanks!
HI!! First time poster, long time lurker, short time member.
I was wondering (for a bimac).. live sand or not? Does it depend on whether or not there is live rock? My guess is live sand wouldn't do enough and you would need live rock anyways - or is this overdoing it?
I'm basically trying to figure out filtration, I guess...
thanks!
Hi Cortum,
Welcome to TONMO.com.
Most people are using live rock, both for filtration and to provide lots of hiding places for their octopuses. A third thing in its favor is that live rock looks so good.
If you have live rock, is isn't necessary to buy live sand (although I did that for my smaller aquarium because I got better looking sand that way).
Nancy
Welcome to TONMO.com.
Most people are using live rock, both for filtration and to provide lots of hiding places for their octopuses. A third thing in its favor is that live rock looks so good.
If you have live rock, is isn't necessary to buy live sand (although I did that for my smaller aquarium because I got better looking sand that way).
Nancy
- Joined
- May 15, 2003
- Messages
- 2,028
Hi and 
to TONMO.com Cortum!
It really isnt necessary to get live sand as a sufficient amount of live rock will do the job. However, you can use it to decorate your tank like nancy.
to TONMO.com Cortum!It really isnt necessary to get live sand as a sufficient amount of live rock will do the job. However, you can use it to decorate your tank like nancy.
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 29
thanks!
thanks for the input!
thanks for the input!
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2002
- Messages
- 3,749
Rockthis11-
Love your choice of Avatar!!!
Carol
Love your choice of Avatar!!!
Carol
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
- Messages
- 200
thanks alot 
I dont think that a live sand bed would keep up with the waste from an octopus unless it was a huge tank to begin with... and a bimac doesnt seem to dig so much so I just have a very fine scattering of sand and that's the easiest to keep clean and makes sure no waste gets missed
A couple more observations about sand and my bimac:
Ollie often looks for fiddler crabs buried in the sand, so there is a remendous blowing of sand and shifting its position. Because of this, there is sand on all my live rock, and I just get it cleaned off when he Ollie goes at it again.
And, something I didn't expect - there are a couple of places in the tank where Ollie likes to stay, and there he's gotten rid of most or all of the sand on the bottom. He's a very tidy housekeeper, too
Nancy
Ollie often looks for fiddler crabs buried in the sand, so there is a remendous blowing of sand and shifting its position. Because of this, there is sand on all my live rock, and I just get it cleaned off when he Ollie goes at it again.
And, something I didn't expect - there are a couple of places in the tank where Ollie likes to stay, and there he's gotten rid of most or all of the sand on the bottom. He's a very tidy housekeeper, too
Nancy
