Is live sand required for a new setup?

xenon · 01/03/2007, 07:49 PM

I have 60lb of live rock that is now cured but there was no life on it.

Do I need to get some Caribsea live sand before I add a cleanup crew?

sunfish11 · 01/03/2007, 07:51 PM

You don't need to add live sand. Regular argonite sand will work and will be seeded by the live rock. Try to get a small amount from another established tank or you LFS. A cup will do to seed your sand bed with more diversity.

Lisa

Shagsbeard · 01/03/2007, 08:01 PM

Don't need it.... don't buy it. Get your live rock, sand and water working for a month or so and your tank will be fine. In order to get the "life" you want in your sand you need to look into a detrivore kit, or simply get some sand from a healthy established tank... but you can do this at any time.

Live sand is useful in systems without live rock. You know, those resurant tanks with the plastic "furnature" in them? Setting up a sterile tank with no life forms in it at all can benifit from live sand.

My LFS just got some in and the date on it was use by Feb 2008. You think something can live for over a year in a sealed bag with no food, air, waste removal... maybe. I doubt it.

xenon · 01/03/2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shagsbeard

My LFS just got some in and the date on it was use by Feb 2008. You think something can live for over a year in a sealed bag with no food, air, waste removal... maybe. I doubt it.

Yeah I was sceptical about livesand in a sealed bag. lol

There was no life on my liverock thats for sure.

I dont know anyone who would give me some sand from their tank so what other options do I have?

zoomfish1 · 01/03/2007, 08:12 PM

ask the LFS for some, or find a club in your area. Club people are great to help.

xenon · 01/03/2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zoomfish1
ask the LFS for some, or find a club in your area. Club people are great to help.

My LFS is Bigals and they are the worst people in the world when it comes to customer service. If I asked them for some they would look like deer in headlights.

A friend of mine said live sand in a sealed bag is a "marketing" thing and that I donâ€™t need any. I asked him how does my sand become alive and he said fish poop.. lol

Is this accurate information?

sunfish11 · 01/03/2007, 08:36 PM

No, fish poop doesn't cause the sand to live although it may feed some of the organisms in the sand. Live sand is full of microbes, crustaceans, worms, mini stars, etc. You will get some of that from your rock even though you didn't see life on the rock. Many of these critters are too small to see with the naked eye. Just ask the LFS guy for a small bag of sand from a reef tank (as long as you don't see flat worms or some such). If he looks like a deer just explain that you only need a small sandwich bag full and offer to pay him something for it. If that doesn't work than ask for some from a reef central member in the trading forum. If that doesn't work, I just don't know what to tell you.

Lisa

xenon · 01/03/2007, 08:54 PM

I guess what I am trying to ask is do I "need" it.

sunfish11 · 01/03/2007, 08:59 PM

You don't 'need' it. Your sand will eventually become live anyway to an extent. It just helps to add some diversity...a lot.

01/03/2007, 07:49 PM	#1
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Is live sand required for a new setup? I have 60lb of live rock that is now cured but there was no life on it. Do I need to get some Caribsea live sand before I add a cleanup crew?

01/03/2007, 08:12 PM	#5
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	ask the LFS for some, or find a club in your area. Club people are great to help. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

01/03/2007, 07:51 PM	#2
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	You don't need to add live sand. Regular argonite sand will work and will be seeded by the live rock. Try to get a small amount from another established tank or you LFS. A cup will do to seed your sand bed with more diversity. Lisa

01/03/2007, 08:01 PM	#3
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Don't need it.... don't buy it. Get your live rock, sand and water working for a month or so and your tank will be fine. In order to get the "life" you want in your sand you need to look into a detrivore kit, or simply get some sand from a healthy established tank... but you can do this at any time. Live sand is useful in systems without live rock. You know, those resurant tanks with the plastic "furnature" in them? Setting up a sterile tank with no life forms in it at all can benifit from live sand. My LFS just got some in and the date on it was use by Feb 2008. You think something can live for over a year in a sealed bag with no food, air, waste removal... maybe. I doubt it.

01/03/2007, 08:36 PM	#7
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	No, fish poop doesn't cause the sand to live although it may feed some of the organisms in the sand. Live sand is full of microbes, crustaceans, worms, mini stars, etc. You will get some of that from your rock even though you didn't see life on the rock. Many of these critters are too small to see with the naked eye. Just ask the LFS guy for a small bag of sand from a reef tank (as long as you don't see flat worms or some such). If he looks like a deer just explain that you only need a small sandwich bag full and offer to pay him something for it. If that doesn't work than ask for some from a reef central member in the trading forum. If that doesn't work, I just don't know what to tell you. Lisa

01/03/2007, 08:54 PM	#8
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	I guess what I am trying to ask is do I "need" it.

01/03/2007, 08:59 PM	#9
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	You don't 'need' it. Your sand will eventually become live anyway to an extent. It just helps to add some diversity...a lot.