Live Sand question

Bike2k · 08/05/2012, 06:48 AM

As a Newb I was reading Reefkeeping 101 - Natural Filtration II and the article indicated that the live sand found at the LFS is not really live. My LFS sells Caribsea which totes itself as live. Is it live or dead? If it is dead where is a good place to get the live stuff other than running to the ocean?

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

alanbates12 · 08/05/2012, 06:53 AM

If its in a bag I'm not sure how it could be live either. Maybe it's got some type of bacteria that activates in water but I really don't know. I've read the best thing is to buy sand suited for the aquaria hobby then get a cup of sand from a fellow reefer to jump start your bacterial colonies.

sucker_fish · 08/05/2012, 07:04 AM

The live sand that they sell is questionable, if it's in a sealed bag there's no oxygen reaching it. It may be live when it's packaged but how long before the beneficial bacteria dies off? I still seed it with live sand which can be obtained from a fellow reefers tank.

Bike2k · 08/05/2012, 07:17 AM

Yeah that was my concern. I live in FL not far from the ocean I could get sand there but I am concerned with what I might bring into the tank.....

jon99 · 08/05/2012, 09:41 AM

I would go with dry sand. Live, IMO is just a gimmick. Dry sand is cheaper and will become live in a short manner of time. Just put a piece of liverock in with the sand or as mentioned above get a scoop from an established tank.

cloak · 08/05/2012, 09:43 AM

The live sand is not live in a sence where there's pods and worms living within it. The sand is packaged in the same bacteria you might buy in a bottle though. This is the way I understand it.

http://www.petco.com/product/13403/N...upplement.aspx

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...cmpid=PPC-B-NA

Bike2k · 08/18/2012, 07:48 AM

Thanks Cloak

ken55 · 08/18/2012, 07:57 AM

I would be very leery of using sand right off the beach. Who knows what could be in it (pollutant wise).

I used the Carib Sea stuff when I set up my first tank and I honestly don't know if I got any benefit from it at all. I do know it was 3x the price.

I think the suggestion of regular arragonite sand and a cupful from a local reefer is the best route. Try looking online for a local reef club if you don't happen to already know somebody.

someone19 · 08/18/2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bike2k

Yeah that was my concern. I live in FL not far from the ocean I could get sand there but I am concerned with what I might bring into the tank.....

Be warned, taking sand from Florida beaches is illegal in most if not all areas. NSW is fine but not the sand.

downbeach · 08/18/2012, 08:50 AM

I would just go with the dry sand. I think the "live" sand is just wet sand in a bag, and is about 30% more expensive than the dry. If done right a DSB is one of the cheapest, and easiest forms of NNR. Here is an artilce:

http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html

Here is a good source for your activator/infauna:

http://www.ipsf.com/reefworms.html

Here is one of the best, available substrates:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...21&pcatid=7321

If you have a good LFS nearby, they will probably carry it.

125G Reefer · 08/18/2012, 12:48 PM

Its the bacteria in the LS that your getting, not all the crap about Live Worms and such. You'll want to take a look at the dating on the bag, find out how long its been sitting.
Your in Florida, go get it from the beach, but then again if your worried about the hitchhickers, you'll be rinsing it out with FW anyways. So, this is where its your decision about what you want in the tank. If your worried about biological filtration, don't, its a timing thing, in due time, it will be full of bacteria.

Neptune_Fan · 08/18/2012, 01:08 PM

Definitely dont take sand from the beaches in Florida. Unlike the "live sands" that are harvested in a controlled environment there is to many risk from getting it from the beach, not to mention illegal. +1 to getting dry sand and adding a scoop from a fellow reefer.

worm5406 · 08/18/2012, 02:56 PM

I got my LS from a Brick and Mortar (BM) store. I got my LR from two different LFS. (is there such thing as a Dead Fish Store??)

I have little tube worms and everything in my sand. I mean little like 1-2 sand grains across. (I have fine sand too)

I have had no problem with it. MY LR is prob what has caused helped my sand get live anyway. I got some that had some aptasia on it on purpose because I know that was really live and I got some peppermints to get rid of it a few days after I got the LR... so It never spread or anything.

I have a few videos that show my peppermint.

Neptune_Fan · 08/18/2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worm5406

I got my LS from a Brick and Mortar (BM) store. I got my LR from two different LFS. (is there such thing as a Dead Fish Store??)

I have little tube worms and everything in my sand. I mean little like 1-2 sand grains across. (I have fine sand too)

I have had no problem with it. MY LR is prob what has caused helped my sand get live anyway. I got some that had some aptasia on it on purpose because I know that was really live and I got some peppermints to get rid of it a few days after I got the LR... so It never spread or anything.

I have a few videos that show my peppermint.

The L in LFS stands for Local i Believe, not Live. LOL

worm5406 · 08/19/2012, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neptune_Fan

The L in LFS stands for Local i Believe, not Live. LOL

I know.. most people that I know call it live... hahaha...

08/05/2012, 06:48 AM	#1
Bike2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 251	Live Sand question As a Newb I was reading Reefkeeping 101 - Natural Filtration II and the article indicated that the live sand found at the LFS is not really live. My LFS sells Caribsea which totes itself as live. Is it live or dead? If it is dead where is a good place to get the live stuff other than running to the ocean? Your help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

08/05/2012, 07:04 AM	#3
sucker_fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Covington, TN Posts: 441	The live sand that they sell is questionable, if it's in a sealed bag there's no oxygen reaching it. It may be live when it's packaged but how long before the beneficial bacteria dies off? I still seed it with live sand which can be obtained from a fellow reefers tank. __________________ <------- Have you ever seen tortoises playing leapfrog? Current Tank Info: 40 B w/ T5's and tunze 9002 skimmer. no sump. 90 gal. mixed reef, 36"x16"x16" sump/fuge, reef octopus xp2000 skimmer, water blaster hy5000 return.

08/18/2012, 07:48 AM	#7
Bike2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 251	Thanks Cloak __________________ Bike2k Water parameters:PH: 8.0, SG:1.025, Ammonia:0, NO2:0, NO3:5, PO4:0.08,dKH:6.2,Ca :375,Mg:1080__75g DT, Solarmax H.O. (2) 54 watt T5 lights & night LEDs, RO NWB-150 skimmer, Eheim 1262 main pum

08/18/2012, 07:57 AM	#8
ken55 A wing and a prayer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoChes Posts: 635	I would be very leery of using sand right off the beach. Who knows what could be in it (pollutant wise). I used the Carib Sea stuff when I set up my first tank and I honestly don't know if I got any benefit from it at all. I do know it was 3x the price. I think the suggestion of regular arragonite sand and a cupful from a local reefer is the best route. Try looking online for a local reef club if you don't happen to already know somebody. __________________ Current tank info: Last time I saw them they were leaning against a tree in my ex's backyard.

08/05/2012, 06:53 AM	#2
alanbates12 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 900	If its in a bag I'm not sure how it could be live either. Maybe it's got some type of bacteria that activates in water but I really don't know. I've read the best thing is to buy sand suited for the aquaria hobby then get a cup of sand from a fellow reefer to jump start your bacterial colonies.

08/05/2012, 07:17 AM	#4
Bike2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 251	Yeah that was my concern. I live in FL not far from the ocean I could get sand there but I am concerned with what I might bring into the tank.....

08/05/2012, 09:41 AM	#5
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	I would go with dry sand. Live, IMO is just a gimmick. Dry sand is cheaper and will become live in a short manner of time. Just put a piece of liverock in with the sand or as mentioned above get a scoop from an established tank.

08/05/2012, 09:43 AM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	The live sand is not live in a sence where there's pods and worms living within it. The sand is packaged in the same bacteria you might buy in a bottle though. This is the way I understand it. http://www.petco.com/product/13403/N...upplement.aspx http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...cmpid=PPC-B-NA

08/18/2012, 08:50 AM	#10
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I would just go with the dry sand. I think the "live" sand is just wet sand in a bag, and is about 30% more expensive than the dry. If done right a DSB is one of the cheapest, and easiest forms of NNR. Here is an artilce: http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html Here is a good source for your activator/infauna: http://www.ipsf.com/reefworms.html Here is one of the best, available substrates: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...21&pcatid=7321 If you have a good LFS nearby, they will probably carry it.

08/18/2012, 12:48 PM	#11
125G Reefer Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale,AZ Posts: 913	Its the bacteria in the LS that your getting, not all the crap about Live Worms and such. You'll want to take a look at the dating on the bag, find out how long its been sitting. Your in Florida, go get it from the beach, but then again if your worried about the hitchhickers, you'll be rinsing it out with FW anyways. So, this is where its your decision about what you want in the tank. If your worried about biological filtration, don't, its a timing thing, in due time, it will be full of bacteria.

08/18/2012, 01:08 PM	#12
Neptune_Fan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 224	Definitely dont take sand from the beaches in Florida. Unlike the "live sands" that are harvested in a controlled environment there is to many risk from getting it from the beach, not to mention illegal. +1 to getting dry sand and adding a scoop from a fellow reefer.

08/18/2012, 02:56 PM	#13
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	I got my LS from a Brick and Mortar (BM) store. I got my LR from two different LFS. (is there such thing as a Dead Fish Store??) I have little tube worms and everything in my sand. I mean little like 1-2 sand grains across. (I have fine sand too) I have had no problem with it. MY LR is prob what has caused helped my sand get live anyway. I got some that had some aptasia on it on purpose because I know that was really live and I got some peppermints to get rid of it a few days after I got the LR... so It never spread or anything. I have a few videos that show my peppermint.