play sand and Live sand

Fireworm · 05/29/2009, 05:52 PM

Ok, I had a 90g mixed reef, and downsized to a 50g breeder. I was going to save some of the sand out of my 90 to move over, but it was nasty gross. Instead of putting in 2 bags of live sand at $40 or so a bag, I thought of doing a layer of play sand as a base, and then put a bag of LS on top of it. I have to get the play sand anyway for my son's lizard tank, so I was thinking I could split the bag with him.

I am hoping to put sand in it this weekend and get it up and cycling. I miss all my coral in my club members tanks.

What is the thought on this, will this be ok or not?

Fireworm · 05/29/2009, 05:53 PM

also I know that there are other threads about this, but I can't find them in the search. If anyone know where they are, post a link.

1blackchicken · 05/29/2009, 07:21 PM

I would go for it. I used play sand in my last tank and it worked great. I did not have any of the crazy outbreaks of algae or any of the other million horrible things that people guarantee will happen if you use it. It works great and is wonderfully cheap.

Fireworm · 05/29/2009, 07:35 PM

How about using the live sand on top just for a good seed base?

Fireworm · 05/29/2009, 07:35 PM

Did you clean good before hand, and if so, how did you do it.

Imzadi · 05/29/2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1blackchicken
I would go for it. I used play sand in my last tank and it worked great. I did not have any of the crazy outbreaks of algae or any of the other million horrible things that people guarantee will happen if you use it. It works great and is wonderfully cheap.

No one ever did GUARANTEE anything would happen... but there is a definite risk. If I knew that one of a million horrible things COULD go wrong by cheapening out and buying something that wasn't meant to be used for the intended purpose... especially when living creatures were involved... not to mention money spent on that livestock... I think I would spend the extra money to start things off right. And play sand has no set quality assurance standards for use in aquaria environments... so a bag of play sand in different areas could be different contents. Different brands get stuff from different places. There is no consistancy.

Secondly... even if I DID use it, AND everything worked out... I don't think I could honestly recommend it, knowing that it could possibly do one of a million horrible things. No one says 'I guarantee it will go badly!'.... but are you will to say that you GUARRANTEE that it wont?

ed102475 · 05/29/2009, 09:02 PM

After that I will just say I use play sand 150lbs in a 55 gal. with no problems.

stumpovrtyme · 05/29/2009, 09:02 PM

I think if was you if your gonna rinse play sand why not rinse your live sand you already have and put new on top of it. Its already cultured and will take less time to cycle your tank if you dont rinse it. Theres never any certainty with stuff like that. If you do use it I would wait at least a month before adding anything to it so that maybe the tank fixes any problems it might create. And I would rinse it before with r/o water.

Dont recommend it to anyone please!

saltjohnswharf · 05/29/2009, 10:09 PM

I am using play sand in my 55. I bought the kiln dried stuff and washed it thoroughly. I made a deep sand bed out of it and added a few pounds of live sand from another tank. Using this substrate I am able to hold nitrification. My nitrates registered 10 for a week. Then 5. Now 0. Works fine! It also does not clump together like other sands. DOWNSIDE!! It does NOTHING to buffer the water. I seriously wish I had a calcium based substrate for buffering purposes. However I have a 4" deep sand bed that works for denitrification and cost me just over $10. Take a look at the picture below showing my tank with play sand. Sorry it is not bigger.

Fireworm · 05/30/2009, 04:18 AM

Thanks guys.

I can't use my old sand, as it is in the storm sewer some place now. I wish I would have kept some of it, but it was nasty stuff. I burned candles in the garage for 2 days after cleaning that tank.

Electrobes · 05/30/2009, 10:20 AM

I wouldn't suggest play sand. It does carry a risk, and even at a small chance of problems it's still not worth the savings. JMO

Fireworm · 05/30/2009, 01:27 PM

I think I will just go with the live sand, and maybe some araognite mixed in to it. I don't want to take the risk of problems down the road. I want to be able to set this tank up and enjoy it more than mess with it.

05/29/2009, 05:52 PM	#1
Fireworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ft. Wayne, IN Posts: 2,967	play sand and Live sand Ok, I had a 90g mixed reef, and downsized to a 50g breeder. I was going to save some of the sand out of my 90 to move over, but it was nasty gross. Instead of putting in 2 bags of live sand at $40 or so a bag, I thought of doing a layer of play sand as a base, and then put a bag of LS on top of it. I have to get the play sand anyway for my son's lizard tank, so I was thinking I could split the bag with him. I am hoping to put sand in it this weekend and get it up and cycling. I miss all my coral in my club members tanks. What is the thought on this, will this be ok or not? __________________ Proud member of FWMAS. Current Tank Info: Empty 75g sitting in the garage. Needs to be up and running

05/29/2009, 05:53 PM	#2
Fireworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ft. Wayne, IN Posts: 2,967	also I know that there are other threads about this, but I can't find them in the search. If anyone know where they are, post a link. __________________ Proud member of FWMAS. Current Tank Info: Empty 75g sitting in the garage. Needs to be up and running

05/29/2009, 07:35 PM	#4
Fireworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ft. Wayne, IN Posts: 2,967	How about using the live sand on top just for a good seed base? __________________ Proud member of FWMAS. Current Tank Info: Empty 75g sitting in the garage. Needs to be up and running

05/29/2009, 07:35 PM	#5
Fireworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ft. Wayne, IN Posts: 2,967	Did you clean good before hand, and if so, how did you do it. __________________ Proud member of FWMAS. Current Tank Info: Empty 75g sitting in the garage. Needs to be up and running

05/29/2009, 09:02 PM	#7
ed102475 Reef Custodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: FL. Posts: 954	After that I will just say I use play sand 150lbs in a 55 gal. with no problems. __________________ Stromalitic cyanobacteria!... Gather. An entire ecosystem contained in one infinitesimal speck.

05/29/2009, 07:21 PM	#3
1blackchicken Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marina, Ca. Posts: 232	I would go for it. I used play sand in my last tank and it worked great. I did not have any of the crazy outbreaks of algae or any of the other million horrible things that people guarantee will happen if you use it. It works great and is wonderfully cheap.

05/29/2009, 09:02 PM	#8
stumpovrtyme Reef Junkie Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buckeye State(Lancaster,Ohio) Posts: 489	live sand I think if was you if your gonna rinse play sand why not rinse your live sand you already have and put new on top of it. Its already cultured and will take less time to cycle your tank if you dont rinse it. Theres never any certainty with stuff like that. If you do use it I would wait at least a month before adding anything to it so that maybe the tank fixes any problems it might create. And I would rinse it before with r/o water. Dont recommend it to anyone please! __________________ If everyone with a reef traded a frag would you have to buy any? My spelling sucks I know! Im a reefer not a teacher! Current Tank Info: 90 g. display, 55 g. planted tank/fuge,and 30g. sump

05/29/2009, 10:09 PM	#9
saltjohnswharf Conscientious Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 524 Blog Entries: 1	I am using play sand in my 55. I bought the kiln dried stuff and washed it thoroughly. I made a deep sand bed out of it and added a few pounds of live sand from another tank. Using this substrate I am able to hold nitrification. My nitrates registered 10 for a week. Then 5. Now 0. Works fine! It also does not clump together like other sands. DOWNSIDE!! It does NOTHING to buffer the water. I seriously wish I had a calcium based substrate for buffering purposes. However I have a 4" deep sand bed that works for denitrification and cost me just over $10. Take a look at the picture below showing my tank with play sand. Sorry it is not bigger.

05/30/2009, 04:18 AM	#10
Fireworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ft. Wayne, IN Posts: 2,967	Thanks guys. I can't use my old sand, as it is in the storm sewer some place now. I wish I would have kept some of it, but it was nasty stuff. I burned candles in the garage for 2 days after cleaning that tank. __________________ Proud member of FWMAS. Current Tank Info: Empty 75g sitting in the garage. Needs to be up and running

05/30/2009, 10:20 AM	#11
Electrobes Montipora type guy Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 2,945	I wouldn't suggest play sand. It does carry a risk, and even at a small chance of problems it's still not worth the savings. JMO __________________ Christian Current Tank Info: 100G Half Cylinder

05/30/2009, 01:27 PM	#12
Fireworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ft. Wayne, IN Posts: 2,967	I think I will just go with the live sand, and maybe some araognite mixed in to it. I don't want to take the risk of problems down the road. I want to be able to set this tank up and enjoy it more than mess with it. __________________ Proud member of FWMAS. Current Tank Info: Empty 75g sitting in the garage. Needs to be up and running