All you EVER wanted to know about Southdown - Page 40

WaterKeeper · 08/30/2007, 10:36 AM

There are some myths about silica sand. They tend to promote the idea that it leaches silicates into the water column. That is not true and they are no more soluble, for the most part, than the glass panels in one's tank. True they do have sharper edges than aragonite sands but not enough so to be a concern. Even with true aragonite, its contribution to maintaining alkalinity and Ca levels is not all that great. I prefer aragonite but see nothing wrong with silica sands.

clowntang · 08/30/2007, 11:19 AM

Somewhere in this thread I mentioned about Southdown,
and I still have 6" of it in my reef, and about 3" in the sump
.... well for over 5 yrs at least.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

I prefer aragonite but see nothing wrong with silica sands.

Agreed. Now, with that said, I have my doubts that the silica in the sand (SiO2) and the glass of our tanks (~70%+ SiO2) is completely inert in saltwater. But, when and if glass/quartz releases any usable silicates, it will readily be taken up by other lifeforms, most likely without the aquarist ever noticing. Now, I contribute the original blooms of any algaes (micro, macro, diatom, etc) to the purity of the sand itself. Often "play sand" (and even aragonite or crushed limestone) is pretty nasty and dirty, and the nutrients and other chemicals that are in it can quickly be taken up by lifeforms and visually seen by the aquarist as a "bloom". Once all this stuff is taken up, you'll rarely see any blooms again.

WaterKeeper · 08/31/2007, 07:25 AM

I've always attributed the diatom bloom in a newly setup tank to be caused by encrusting sponges dying on the LR and releasing soluble silicates into the water column. I've never attempted to quantify this however so it is speculation on my part.

BZOFIQ · 02/15/2008, 12:18 PM

is this sand still available anywhere....is there a replacement.

I wish someone is NYC area is willing to part with bag(s), as I would be interested in buying.

Please reply.

dja1980 · 02/15/2008, 12:45 PM

I'm not sure if this is entirely accurate or not, but I did a google search on this topic, and found this:

Marcona Ocean Industries was the company who formerly supplied Southdown with their sand. This is the same company who supplied Caribsea, Old Castle, and YardRight with their sand. It was originally all mined and collected from a cay in the Bahamas, which is why all those brands used to be the exact same thingâ€¦ only Southdown was selling a 50lb bag for $5 and Caribsea was selling a 25lb bag for $30!

From what I found, since Southdown was becoming so popular with reefers due to price, and Marcona had a â€œno-competeâ€ agreement Caribsea, they had to start labeling the Southdown bags with â€œNot For Aquarium Useâ€. However, this all changed when Southdown got bought out by a company in Mexico called Cemex, which changed the collection site.

I believe Caribsea is still supplied by Marcona, however, I remember hearing something a while back about the consistency changing in the new stuff due to hurricanesâ€¦ but I can't remember where I heard that. Anyway, itâ€™s only the old Caribsea stuff thatâ€™s the same as Southdown, and the only advantage Southdown had (back in the day) was price.

Can anyone confirm the accuracy of this information?

dahacker · 02/15/2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoomer
is this sand still available anywhere....is there a replacement.

I wish someone is NYC area is willing to part with bag(s), as I would be interested in buying.

Please reply.

I loved the days when you could go to the hardware store to get carrib. play sand. But those days are long gone.

Just order the aragamax sand from Drs Foster Smith

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=7321

Its the sugar sized Carib Sea sand. They don't charge by the weight for shipping. You could literally order 120 lbs for about $100 including shipping.

BZOFIQ · 02/15/2008, 08:59 PM

^^^ Heah, I saw it today. I recently spend over a grand over there and still don't have the replacement tank nor the new stand. I have to save here and there for now, but you are right it seems like the best place to buy as they don't charge extra for shipping.

pdyp · 02/21/2008, 09:17 AM

I have some. Quite a bit actually. I'll have to check when I get home. I'm in Chicago if anyone cares. ;-)

revclyburn · 02/21/2008, 09:20 AM

pdyp

what do you have, Southdown or Aragmax?

rev

dja1980 · 02/21/2008, 09:30 AM

pdyp - ygpm

RedDmon · 02/21/2008, 11:36 AM

Does Aragonite sand actually exist? Not one place here in South Florida has it, with the exception of Caribsea at the LFS. Anyone in my area have a lead on where I can get Aragonite for less than $1 a pound?

Red

DgenR8 · 02/24/2008, 08:49 AM

The now mythical Southdown came from the Bahamas. If you can't find it in South Florida, there isn't much chance anyone else will ever see it again.

marduc · 02/24/2008, 10:30 AM

This is probably already covered earlier in this thread, possibly even by me, but we are approaching 1000 posts here so a lot of info buried back there.

The source of the Southdown sand was from the Bahamas, a company called Marcona industries shipped aragonite sand in to Fort Pierce Florida, where some of it was sold to a Pennsylvania company (forget the name off the top of my head) and bagged as southdown.

Marcona industries has abandoned their aragonite operations where it was dredged in favor of more profitable endeavors for them at the bahamas site, and no longer uses the Fort Pierce facility at all, nor in any way produces aragonite sand.

Unfortunately that source has become a dry well.

seanb1 · 02/24/2008, 11:48 AM

petsmart sells 20 pound bags of oolitic arrgonite sand. 18.99.

my local petsmart just clearanced all theirs out at 6.99 a 20 pound bag.

revclyburn · 02/25/2008, 10:43 AM

Really

I wonder if other petsmarts are doing the same. Need to check that out.

rev

aceheart1976 · 03/07/2008, 06:34 PM

im about to go check out the petsmarts and see if they doing that around here lol

Haxer · 03/15/2008, 11:49 AM

QuikreteÂ®
60 Lb. Pro Pak Coral Sand

Item #: 169625 Model: 1-04-2005

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...005&lpage=none

This appears to be natural "reef" type sand. Has anybody tried it?
It's not stocked in my local lowes store, but i am going to sak them about ordering some.

RedDmon · 03/15/2008, 11:55 AM

Not in ANY of the local Lowes here either.

pnosko · 03/15/2008, 02:03 PM

I've still got about 500 lbs of southdown in the original bags. Maybe I should hold an auction.

NeveSSL · 03/15/2008, 02:40 PM

Let us know what they say, Haxer.

I may ask as well.

Brandon

sikpupy · 07/23/2008, 03:10 PM

Hey, pnosko, you just won a million dollars. I live next to Dulles airport, whats your address so I can deliver your check to you, lol

pnosko · 07/23/2008, 07:33 PM

Got your PM attempt.

How did I win it?

CoralCaps · 07/23/2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Haxer
QuikreteÂ®
60 Lb. Pro Pak Coral Sand

Item #: 169625 Model: 1-04-2005

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...005&lpage=none

This appears to be natural "reef" type sand. Has anybody tried it?
It's not stocked in my local lowes store, but i am going to sak them about ordering some.

Any news on how this is? I've seen reviews on the Construction Grade sand by Quikrete but not this particular type.

BTW: Great information throughout the thread. Needed a bump anyways.

JohnL · 07/23/2008, 10:39 PM

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1437287

08/30/2007, 10:36 AM	#976
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	There are some myths about silica sand. They tend to promote the idea that it leaches silicates into the water column. That is not true and they are no more soluble, for the most part, than the glass panels in one's tank. True they do have sharper edges than aragonite sands but not enough so to be a concern. Even with true aragonite, its contribution to maintaining alkalinity and Ca levels is not all that great. I prefer aragonite but see nothing wrong with silica sands. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

08/31/2007, 07:25 AM	#979
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I've always attributed the diatom bloom in a newly setup tank to be caused by encrusting sponges dying on the LR and releasing soluble silicates into the water column. I've never attempted to quantify this however so it is speculation on my part. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

02/21/2008, 09:20 AM	#985
revclyburn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Neptune, N.J. Posts: 1,853	pdyp what do you have, Southdown or Aragmax? rev __________________ " In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God" Robert F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: One day I'll get it right. 55 Gallon, reef, softies, gorgorians, ricordia, EVENTUALLY!

02/21/2008, 11:36 AM	#987
RedDmon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 385	Does Aragonite sand actually exist? Not one place here in South Florida has it, with the exception of Caribsea at the LFS. Anyone in my area have a lead on where I can get Aragonite for less than $1 a pound? Red __________________ Gun Control Means Never Having To Say I Missed You. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef; Ricordea; Red Open Brain; Star Polyps, 'smrooms, Finger Leather, Zoanthids

02/24/2008, 08:49 AM	#988
DgenR8 I'm an American and I remember Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 43,992	The now mythical Southdown came from the Bahamas. If you can't find it in South Florida, there isn't much chance anyone else will ever see it again. __________________ “I wish there was a way to know that you were IN the good old days, before leaving them.” ~Andy Bernard Regional Manager, Scranton branch Dunder Mifflin Current Tank Info: Unknown slow drip, over 20 years damaged my house and heating system. No more tank.

08/30/2007, 11:19 AM	#977
clowntang Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 22	Somewhere in this thread I mentioned about Southdown, and I still have 6" of it in my reef, and about 3" in the sump .... well for over 5 yrs at least.

02/15/2008, 12:18 PM	#980
BZOFIQ Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 446	is this sand still available anywhere....is there a replacement. I wish someone is NYC area is willing to part with bag(s), as I would be interested in buying. Please reply.

02/15/2008, 12:45 PM	#981
dja1980 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sycamore, IL Posts: 1,375	I'm not sure if this is entirely accurate or not, but I did a google search on this topic, and found this: Marcona Ocean Industries was the company who formerly supplied Southdown with their sand. This is the same company who supplied Caribsea, Old Castle, and YardRight with their sand. It was originally all mined and collected from a cay in the Bahamas, which is why all those brands used to be the exact same thingâ€¦ only Southdown was selling a 50lb bag for $5 and Caribsea was selling a 25lb bag for $30! From what I found, since Southdown was becoming so popular with reefers due to price, and Marcona had a â€œno-competeâ€ agreement Caribsea, they had to start labeling the Southdown bags with â€œNot For Aquarium Useâ€. However, this all changed when Southdown got bought out by a company in Mexico called Cemex, which changed the collection site. I believe Caribsea is still supplied by Marcona, however, I remember hearing something a while back about the consistency changing in the new stuff due to hurricanesâ€¦ but I can't remember where I heard that. Anyway, itâ€™s only the old Caribsea stuff thatâ€™s the same as Southdown, and the only advantage Southdown had (back in the day) was price. Can anyone confirm the accuracy of this information?

02/15/2008, 08:59 PM	#983
BZOFIQ Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 446	^^^ Heah, I saw it today. I recently spend over a grand over there and still don't have the replacement tank nor the new stand. I have to save here and there for now, but you are right it seems like the best place to buy as they don't charge extra for shipping.

02/21/2008, 09:17 AM	#984
pdyp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 11	I have some. Quite a bit actually. I'll have to check when I get home. I'm in Chicago if anyone cares. ;-)

02/21/2008, 09:30 AM	#986
dja1980 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sycamore, IL Posts: 1,375	pdyp - ygpm

02/24/2008, 10:30 AM	#989
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	This is probably already covered earlier in this thread, possibly even by me, but we are approaching 1000 posts here so a lot of info buried back there. The source of the Southdown sand was from the Bahamas, a company called Marcona industries shipped aragonite sand in to Fort Pierce Florida, where some of it was sold to a Pennsylvania company (forget the name off the top of my head) and bagged as southdown. Marcona industries has abandoned their aragonite operations where it was dredged in favor of more profitable endeavors for them at the bahamas site, and no longer uses the Fort Pierce facility at all, nor in any way produces aragonite sand. Unfortunately that source has become a dry well.

02/24/2008, 11:48 AM	#990
seanb1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: bettendorf, iowa Posts: 668	petsmart sells 20 pound bags of oolitic arrgonite sand. 18.99. my local petsmart just clearanced all theirs out at 6.99 a 20 pound bag. __________________ he who knows how, will always work for he who knows why..... David lee Roth. Current Tank Info: 125 reef/29 gal sump/29 gal fuge 3- 175w 20k xm mh/4 65w actinic, octopus nw-200 skimmer3 k-4s mag-12. 2 returns. 2 phosban reactors, GFO/carbon.

02/25/2008, 10:43 AM	#991
revclyburn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Neptune, N.J. Posts: 1,853	Really I wonder if other petsmarts are doing the same. Need to check that out. rev __________________ " In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God" Robert F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: One day I'll get it right. 55 Gallon, reef, softies, gorgorians, ricordia, EVENTUALLY!

03/07/2008, 06:34 PM	#992
aceheart1976 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: aiken, south carolina Posts: 188	im about to go check out the petsmarts and see if they doing that around here lol

03/15/2008, 11:49 AM	#993
Haxer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cross Hill, SC Posts: 250	QuikreteÂ® 60 Lb. Pro Pak Coral Sand Item #: 169625 Model: 1-04-2005 http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...005&lpage=none This appears to be natural "reef" type sand. Has anybody tried it? It's not stocked in my local lowes store, but i am going to sak them about ordering some.

03/15/2008, 11:55 AM	#994
RedDmon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 385	Not in ANY of the local Lowes here either. __________________ Gun Control Means Never Having To Say I Missed You. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef; Ricordea; Red Open Brain; Star Polyps, 'smrooms, Finger Leather, Zoanthids

03/15/2008, 02:03 PM	#995
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	I've still got about 500 lbs of southdown in the original bags. Maybe I should hold an auction. __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

03/15/2008, 02:40 PM	#996
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	Let us know what they say, Haxer. I may ask as well. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

07/23/2008, 03:10 PM	#997
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	Hey, pnosko, you just won a million dollars. I live next to Dulles airport, whats your address so I can deliver your check to you, lol

07/23/2008, 07:33 PM	#998
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	Got your PM attempt. How did I win it? __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

07/23/2008, 10:39 PM	#1000
JohnL RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 14,431	This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1437287