Aragamax VS Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand

Scuba_Steve · 07/12/2007, 05:50 PM

I assume they are pretty much the same, and I can get the caribsea a few dollars cheaper. Does anyone prefer one over the other, and why. Do you think the reef central sand bed calculator is pretty accurate with both set to 90 ppsf.
Thanx,
Steve

Scuba_Steve · 07/13/2007, 03:37 PM

Bump..........

kysard1 · 07/13/2007, 04:01 PM

There is very little info on RC about argamax. I started a tank with it 15 days ago and the water column is still full of 5 micron sand particles. I think they have a quality control issue.

drummereef · 07/13/2007, 04:38 PM

The aragamax is an oolitic (sugar sized) sand, where the aragamax is a slightly larger grain size. In the 1.0-2.0mm range. I like Caribsea's Fiji Pink sand personally. Nice grain size and won't cause a sand storm with higher flow rates.

fraggin · 07/13/2007, 04:56 PM

i been looking at the argamax.
i was also looking at the fiji pink and another carib type sand thats larger than the argamax.
thx for the info drummereef

reznor252 · 07/13/2007, 06:04 PM

I prefer Caribsea's select size over the special due to the size. The select is in between special and sugar as far as the size goes.

sirreal63 · 07/13/2007, 06:11 PM

I have 100 #'s of southdown and have no issues with sandstorms. I have lots of flow and it does get moved around a little but mostly just to the ends of the tank. Once it is populated it doesn't cause sandstorms, the same is true of the oolitic sands.

Scuba_Steve · 07/13/2007, 08:31 PM

The reason I chose those 2 is thats all f&s carries, and I love thier shipping and dodge discount

sirreal63 · 07/13/2007, 08:38 PM

I prefer the finer oolitic types and it seems more friendly to dentrivores. I have a 40# bag of the special grade reef sand and noticed it was not as populated in my old 58 as the southdown in the 125.

Musho3210 · 07/13/2007, 09:06 PM

my oolictic aramax is so light that the flow is taking it away from one side of my tank and blowing it to my otherside. But i like the white color to it and you dont really see the grains but more of a smoother type surface and i like that.

Peter Eichler · 07/13/2007, 11:10 PM

If you're going to have a good amount of flow don't use oolitic sand. Other than that, unless you're going for anoxic zones in the sandbed just choose which you think looks best.

Scuba_Steve · 07/13/2007, 11:50 PM

I am going for a 4" bed, so yes anoxic zones are the plan. Boy I wish I knew a reliable source to get some southdown!

sirreal63 · 07/13/2007, 11:54 PM

My southdown does move but has never been a sandstorm. I have enough flow in my tank to keep the center of the tank bare bottom and the ends have the sand piled up in them. I push it back to the middle every few weeks and within a few days it has all moved back. Flow and small grain sizes can be a pain but I only have about 1-1/2" of sand in the bottom.

07/12/2007, 05:50 PM	#1
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	Aragamax VS Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand I assume they are pretty much the same, and I can get the caribsea a few dollars cheaper. Does anyone prefer one over the other, and why. Do you think the reef central sand bed calculator is pretty accurate with both set to 90 ppsf. Thanx, Steve

07/13/2007, 03:37 PM	#2
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	Bump.......... __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

07/13/2007, 04:38 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	The aragamax is an oolitic (sugar sized) sand, where the aragamax is a slightly larger grain size. In the 1.0-2.0mm range. I like Caribsea's Fiji Pink sand personally. Nice grain size and won't cause a sand storm with higher flow rates. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/13/2007, 06:11 PM	#7
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I have 100 #'s of southdown and have no issues with sandstorms. I have lots of flow and it does get moved around a little but mostly just to the ends of the tank. Once it is populated it doesn't cause sandstorms, the same is true of the oolitic sands. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/13/2007, 08:31 PM	#8
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	The reason I chose those 2 is thats all f&s carries, and I love thier shipping and dodge discount __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

07/13/2007, 04:01 PM	#3
kysard1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 827	There is very little info on RC about argamax. I started a tank with it 15 days ago and the water column is still full of 5 micron sand particles. I think they have a quality control issue.

07/13/2007, 04:56 PM	#5
fraggin DVRC Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: elverson,PA Posts: 589	i been looking at the argamax. i was also looking at the fiji pink and another carib type sand thats larger than the argamax. thx for the info drummereef

07/13/2007, 06:04 PM	#6
reznor252 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 69	I prefer Caribsea's select size over the special due to the size. The select is in between special and sugar as far as the size goes.

07/13/2007, 08:38 PM	#9
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I prefer the finer oolitic types and it seems more friendly to dentrivores. I have a 40# bag of the special grade reef sand and noticed it was not as populated in my old 58 as the southdown in the 125. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

07/13/2007, 09:06 PM	#10
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	my oolictic aramax is so light that the flow is taking it away from one side of my tank and blowing it to my otherside. But i like the white color to it and you dont really see the grains but more of a smoother type surface and i like that. __________________ Ryan

07/13/2007, 11:10 PM	#11
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	If you're going to have a good amount of flow don't use oolitic sand. Other than that, unless you're going for anoxic zones in the sandbed just choose which you think looks best. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

07/13/2007, 11:50 PM	#12
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	I am going for a 4" bed, so yes anoxic zones are the plan. Boy I wish I knew a reliable source to get some southdown! __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

07/13/2007, 11:54 PM	#13
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	My southdown does move but has never been a sandstorm. I have enough flow in my tank to keep the center of the tank bare bottom and the ends have the sand piled up in them. I push it back to the middle every few weeks and within a few days it has all moved back. Flow and small grain sizes can be a pain but I only have about 1-1/2" of sand in the bottom. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.