Adding Live sand to an established tank

Vargklo · 07/06/2008, 09:01 AM

I just puchased two bags (total of 18 kg/40 lbs) of Natures's Ocean "Bio-active live aragonite" sand for my 425 litre (112 gal) Fish Only tank. The manufacturer does not give a hint on how to use it in an established tank. Could/should I add it directly into the tank, or should I first clean/rinse it in a bucket of RO water to avoid any risks of getting excess amounts of dead matter (including phosphate) into the tank? I believe that the bags are relatively "fresh" from the manufacturer, i.e., probably just a month old or so from packaging.

davocean · 07/06/2008, 10:23 AM

Rinsing in RO will kill what you paid for.
Just add, maybe use a pvc tube to eliminate sandstorm.

ludnix · 07/06/2008, 10:56 AM

Out of curiosity why did you choose to add more live sand to an already established tank? All of the sand you currently have should be live if your system is established.

Vargklo · 07/06/2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ludnix
Out of curiosity why did you choose to add more live sand to an already established tank? All of the sand you currently have should be live if your system is established.

I experienced such problems with slime algae that I had to siphon it out regularly. With each siphoning some sand came along, and after a few months not much sand was left, leaving me with bare bottom.

davocean · 07/06/2008, 02:55 PM

Yeah, I didn't want to say neg about your purchase, but really you probably would have been better off using dry sand, cheaper, and live usually has dieoff that can actually have a small cycle to deal with.
Dry sand seeded w/ just a cup of established sand would be my preference.

Slakker · 07/06/2008, 03:04 PM

Bagged live sand is definitely a waste of money. Most sits in the bag for weeks/months with no circulation with wildy varying temperatures during shipping. Most, if not all, bacteria in the sand is probably dead by the time it gets into your tank.

Vargklo · 07/07/2008, 12:33 PM

OK,
Thanks everyone for the response!

ReefEnabler · 07/07/2008, 01:50 PM

I was an an LFS recently and the guy tried to sell me the "live sand" that was in a bag.

At first I thought he was joking.

And now I still think he was joking

didn't look like much other than some moist argonite :P

waste of money IMO.

07/06/2008, 09:01 AM	#1
Vargklo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sollentuna, Sweden Posts: 23	Adding Live sand to an established tank I just puchased two bags (total of 18 kg/40 lbs) of Natures's Ocean "Bio-active live aragonite" sand for my 425 litre (112 gal) Fish Only tank. The manufacturer does not give a hint on how to use it in an established tank. Could/should I add it directly into the tank, or should I first clean/rinse it in a bucket of RO water to avoid any risks of getting excess amounts of dead matter (including phosphate) into the tank? I believe that the bags are relatively "fresh" from the manufacturer, i.e., probably just a month old or so from packaging. __________________ Carl Farberger, Sollentuna, Sweden Current Tank Info: 650 litre reef tank, 425 litre Fish Only tank

07/06/2008, 10:23 AM	#2
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Rinsing in RO will kill what you paid for. Just add, maybe use a pvc tube to eliminate sandstorm. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

07/06/2008, 10:56 AM	#3
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	Out of curiosity why did you choose to add more live sand to an already established tank? All of the sand you currently have should be live if your system is established. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

07/06/2008, 02:55 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Yeah, I didn't want to say neg about your purchase, but really you probably would have been better off using dry sand, cheaper, and live usually has dieoff that can actually have a small cycle to deal with. Dry sand seeded w/ just a cup of established sand would be my preference. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

07/06/2008, 03:04 PM	#6
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	Bagged live sand is definitely a waste of money. Most sits in the bag for weeks/months with no circulation with wildy varying temperatures during shipping. Most, if not all, bacteria in the sand is probably dead by the time it gets into your tank. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

07/07/2008, 12:33 PM	#7
Vargklo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sollentuna, Sweden Posts: 23	OK, Thanks everyone for the response! __________________ Carl Farberger, Sollentuna, Sweden Current Tank Info: 650 litre reef tank, 425 litre Fish Only tank

07/07/2008, 01:50 PM	#8
ReefEnabler Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 3,760	I was an an LFS recently and the guy tried to sell me the "live sand" that was in a bag. At first I thought he was joking. And now I still think he was joking didn't look like much other than some moist argonite :P waste of money IMO. __________________ - Ryan B "that is enough skimmate to ruin lives." - GSMguy Current Tank Info: 220g Display, 70g sump, 35g frag, 50g fuge, 2x250w MH, 1x400w MH, 2x80w T5, 2x140w VHO Actinic