Will I get a spike if I added live sand?

dous · 06/19/2006, 11:24 PM

I was thinking of adding a bag of Caribe Sea crushed aragonite live sand into my existing 40lbs of Caribe Sea crushed aragonite (non live). The month has been running for 1 month now and hasn't had any spikes for 3 weeks now. I have 80lbs of cured LR as well.

The reason I wanted to add it is to add more microorganisms/micro cleaners to my tank somehow similar to the GARF grunge (which they can't ship to Canada).

I have a few inhabitants in the tank which includes shrimps, fish, snails, hermits and a serpent star. I don't want them to be affected if I do this.

Any thoughts?

bertoni · 06/20/2006, 01:12 AM

The sand likely won't cause a spike, but if it's prepackaged bulk sand, it's probably not very live. Also, mixing fine sand with coarse crushed coral doesn't work well, IME. The crushed coral works its way to the top over time.

dous · 06/20/2006, 07:40 AM

Thanks, Jonathan. I can always count on you for expert advice.

The sand is in a bag soaked up in SW (I assume) and has a shelf life of 12 mos. So you wouldn't recommend it then?

techigirl78 · 06/20/2006, 07:53 AM

No, don't get it. It is a waste of money. If you want live sand, ask the LFS for some out of a long-running reef tank, a fellow reefer, or get some from one of the online vendors. Just a few cups is needed or a couple pounds. Overtime, your sand will allow become live.

bertoni · 06/20/2006, 02:27 PM

If you want good quality live sand, it's quite expensive. Getting a few pounds from other reefers can work well, as suggested, although I'd be carefuly about getting pests with it.

dous · 06/20/2006, 02:42 PM

Where would I find good quality live sand? And how would I know it's of good qualities?

bertoni · 06/20/2006, 03:58 PM

BillsReef.com gets good reviews, and there are kits of animals available at InlandAquatics.com and IPSF.com that I've liked.

The only way to determine whether the sand is any good is to look at it under a dissecting scope and get some idea of the animal population. If you're not planning on a DSB, the live sand might not be worth the cost. I haven't seen any data or biology that really pins down the value in a shallower sand bed.

six.line · 06/20/2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

The crushed coral works its way to the top over time.

Or the fine sand works its way to the bottom over time, right?

(sorry, just teasing)

dous · 06/20/2006, 06:07 PM

Thanks, Jonathan.

I actually have about 3" of sand bed already and wanted to just add to the micro cleaning population. It's been running for a bit over 1 month now and wanted to just make it "livelier" even though there are some small pods walking it already.

Think it's worth it?

bertoni · 06/20/2006, 06:10 PM

I really don't know how much it'd help. Some of the cleanup animals from InlandAquatics.com and ipsf.com (the various worms, small starfish, and snails) are often good bets.

dous · 06/20/2006, 07:08 PM

Unfortunately, none of these places you mentioned ships to Canada.

bertoni · 06/20/2006, 07:25 PM

Oh, sigh, sorry about that.

06/19/2006, 11:24 PM	#1
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	Will I get a spike if I added live sand? I was thinking of adding a bag of Caribe Sea crushed aragonite live sand into my existing 40lbs of Caribe Sea crushed aragonite (non live). The month has been running for 1 month now and hasn't had any spikes for 3 weeks now. I have 80lbs of cured LR as well. The reason I wanted to add it is to add more microorganisms/micro cleaners to my tank somehow similar to the GARF grunge (which they can't ship to Canada). I have a few inhabitants in the tank which includes shrimps, fish, snails, hermits and a serpent star. I don't want them to be affected if I do this. Any thoughts? __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/20/2006, 01:12 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The sand likely won't cause a spike, but if it's prepackaged bulk sand, it's probably not very live. Also, mixing fine sand with coarse crushed coral doesn't work well, IME. The crushed coral works its way to the top over time. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/20/2006, 07:40 AM	#3
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	Thanks, Jonathan. I can always count on you for expert advice. The sand is in a bag soaked up in SW (I assume) and has a shelf life of 12 mos. So you wouldn't recommend it then? __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/20/2006, 02:27 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you want good quality live sand, it's quite expensive. Getting a few pounds from other reefers can work well, as suggested, although I'd be carefuly about getting pests with it. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/20/2006, 02:42 PM	#6
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	Where would I find good quality live sand? And how would I know it's of good qualities? __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/20/2006, 07:53 AM	#4
techigirl78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,739	No, don't get it. It is a waste of money. If you want live sand, ask the LFS for some out of a long-running reef tank, a fellow reefer, or get some from one of the online vendors. Just a few cups is needed or a couple pounds. Overtime, your sand will allow become live.

06/20/2006, 03:58 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	BillsReef.com gets good reviews, and there are kits of animals available at InlandAquatics.com and IPSF.com that I've liked. The only way to determine whether the sand is any good is to look at it under a dissecting scope and get some idea of the animal population. If you're not planning on a DSB, the live sand might not be worth the cost. I haven't seen any data or biology that really pins down the value in a shallower sand bed. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/20/2006, 06:07 PM	#9
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	Thanks, Jonathan. I actually have about 3" of sand bed already and wanted to just add to the micro cleaning population. It's been running for a bit over 1 month now and wanted to just make it "livelier" even though there are some small pods walking it already. Think it's worth it? __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/20/2006, 06:10 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I really don't know how much it'd help. Some of the cleanup animals from InlandAquatics.com and ipsf.com (the various worms, small starfish, and snails) are often good bets. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/20/2006, 07:08 PM	#11
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	Unfortunately, none of these places you mentioned ships to Canada. __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/20/2006, 07:25 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Oh, sigh, sorry about that. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni