ordering live sand today â€“ suggestions

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 07:26 AM

Going to order around 40 lbs of live sand online today. Any online stores better than the other. I get most od my stuff at marine depot but they dont have a huge selection of sand and a 40 lb bag is 188 bucks. That sound right

nmprisons · 08/13/2006, 08:28 AM

do you want actual reef sand? check out tampabaysaltwater.com they have live sand for like $2/pound and they ship it in enough water to keep it alive and happy. if you don't want critters, just get some arag-alive or something.

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 09:32 AM

I think Live sand is best. I am gonna cycle the tank with Live rock so I figure the live sand will help

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 09:45 AM

WHY pay 188.00 for sand...You do understand that dead sand will be live by the time your tank cycles. all you need is live rock and the sand will become live from the bacteria in the rock.... Seems like a huge waste of 188.00.

scumonkey · 08/13/2006, 09:47 AM

try looking here...

http://www.aquariumsupplycompany.com/aquarium_sand.html

MJAnderson · 08/13/2006, 09:50 AM

I would get some live sand, for diversity, but not for $188. I got 10lbs from my LFS (florida keys sand from a vendor) for $25 and another 10lbs from a fellow reefer. I'm not sure your LR will give you everything you need for a DSB but don't hold me to that.

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 09:53 AM

OK I'm a sceptic... How in the world can live sand have a 12 month shelf life as it says in the description on that site. I mean it has no food, no flow, and very little water....Sounds like a gimic to me.

http://www.aquariumsupplycompany.com...64/2768278.htm

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MJAnderson
I would get some live sand, for diversity, but not for $188. I got 10lbs from my LFS (florida keys sand from a vendor) for $25 and another 10lbs from a fellow reefer. I'm not sure your LR will give you everything you need for a DSB but don't hold me to that.

I am no means an expert but I have always used DSBs in my tanks. The bacteria in the rock and the bacteria in the sand are one and the same. During the cycling process the boost of the bacteria will populate the sand. The worms and other critters develope over time without any assistance needed. I have found in MY EXPERIENCE(not claiming it to be the norm) that if I fill a tank with all LR and LS I get more die off during the cycle. So I ussually go with 1/2 dead base rock and half LR then just dead sand. Things cycle smoother and its 1/4 the expense...

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 10:02 AM

ok where is the best place to get dead sand. I dont see it online to much.. I think I might mix half live half dead

roons · 08/13/2006, 10:03 AM

southdown and time=live sand on the cheap i would however add some live sand packs from inland aquatics, a little pricey but the pods are abundant

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 10:06 AM

anyone use this sand before

http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/sand_gravel.html

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 10:07 AM

Southdown is not available anymore. At a LFS you shoudl be able to get the dead reef sand.. marine depot has good prices as well

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ea.asp?CartId=

I use playsand for the bottom 3"s and then enough http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CS0050 for the last 1"

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 10:11 AM

ahhh just saw them on marine depot. what is a good grain size.?

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 10:12 AM

How much flow are you going to have?

If you want high flow get the medium size, If your going to have moderate flow the 1-1.7mm is fine.

roons · 08/13/2006, 10:19 AM

old castle playsand is no longer available?

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 10:23 AM

Could someone better explain flow to me. I will have 1 powerhead a seio 820 and my skimmer should move some water around also.

ducati1212 · 08/13/2006, 10:24 AM

How is this

CaribSea Seaflor Super Reef Sand: 1.2-4.0mm diameter grain. This mixed grade is also ideal for nitrate reducing systems or simply as reef tank bottom cover. The addition of small shells makes this an ideal substrate for tanks with mature jawfish, or burrowing inverts.

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by roons
old castle playsand is no longer available?

yep it is extinct.. You may luck up and find left overs somewhere, but it has been found that even if it is labeled by that maker it is silica sand now. Nothing wrong with silica sand, I have used it for years. In fact most beach sand in north america is silica based.

Reef_bones · 08/13/2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ducati1212
How is this

CaribSea Seaflor Super Reef Sand: 1.2-4.0mm diameter grain. This mixed grade is also ideal for nitrate reducing systems or simply as reef tank bottom cover. The addition of small shells makes this an ideal substrate for tanks with mature jawfish, or burrowing inverts.

looks good to me.

JonK · 08/13/2006, 11:10 AM

I used to see pallets and pallets of Southdown at the Home Depots in my area but can't find it anymore. I tried the silica stuff but I didn't like the look so I took it out after a week. I just ended up buying dead sand from an LFS.

Jon

08/13/2006, 07:26 AM	#1
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	ordering live sand today â€“ suggestions Going to order around 40 lbs of live sand online today. Any online stores better than the other. I get most od my stuff at marine depot but they dont have a huge selection of sand and a 40 lb bag is 188 bucks. That sound right

08/13/2006, 08:28 AM	#2
nmprisons Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,520	do you want actual reef sand? check out tampabaysaltwater.com they have live sand for like $2/pound and they ship it in enough water to keep it alive and happy. if you don't want critters, just get some arag-alive or something. __________________ 25gallon tank up and cycling since 7/29/06 Mostly LPS reef (lords, micros, duncans, etc.) with some ricordia florida and zoanthids. Current Tank Info: 25 gallon, 28lbs of Marshall Island and Kaelini Live Rock, 2x65 power compact lighting, IFS Protein Skimmer

08/13/2006, 09:32 AM	#3
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	I think Live sand is best. I am gonna cycle the tank with Live rock so I figure the live sand will help

08/13/2006, 09:45 AM	#4
Reef_bones Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: minor hill, tn Posts: 489	WHY pay 188.00 for sand...You do understand that dead sand will be live by the time your tank cycles. all you need is live rock and the sand will become live from the bacteria in the rock.... Seems like a huge waste of 188.00.

08/13/2006, 09:47 AM	#5
scumonkey Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC NY Posts: 467	try looking here... http://www.aquariumsupplycompany.com/aquarium_sand.html

08/13/2006, 09:50 AM	#6
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	I would get some live sand, for diversity, but not for $188. I got 10lbs from my LFS (florida keys sand from a vendor) for $25 and another 10lbs from a fellow reefer. I'm not sure your LR will give you everything you need for a DSB but don't hold me to that.

08/13/2006, 09:53 AM	#7
Reef_bones Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: minor hill, tn Posts: 489	OK I'm a sceptic... How in the world can live sand have a 12 month shelf life as it says in the description on that site. I mean it has no food, no flow, and very little water....Sounds like a gimic to me. http://www.aquariumsupplycompany.com...64/2768278.htm

08/13/2006, 10:02 AM	#9
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	ok where is the best place to get dead sand. I dont see it online to much.. I think I might mix half live half dead

08/13/2006, 10:03 AM	#10
roons Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: saugerties ,ny Posts: 1,240	southdown and time=live sand on the cheap i would however add some live sand packs from inland aquatics, a little pricey but the pods are abundant

08/13/2006, 10:06 AM	#11
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	anyone use this sand before http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/sand_gravel.html

08/13/2006, 10:07 AM	#12
Reef_bones Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: minor hill, tn Posts: 489	Southdown is not available anymore. At a LFS you shoudl be able to get the dead reef sand.. marine depot has good prices as well http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ea.asp?CartId= I use playsand for the bottom 3"s and then enough http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CS0050 for the last 1"

08/13/2006, 10:11 AM	#13
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	ahhh just saw them on marine depot. what is a good grain size.?

08/13/2006, 10:12 AM	#14
Reef_bones Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: minor hill, tn Posts: 489	How much flow are you going to have? If you want high flow get the medium size, If your going to have moderate flow the 1-1.7mm is fine.

08/13/2006, 10:19 AM	#15
roons Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: saugerties ,ny Posts: 1,240	old castle playsand is no longer available?

08/13/2006, 10:23 AM	#16
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	Could someone better explain flow to me. I will have 1 powerhead a seio 820 and my skimmer should move some water around also.

08/13/2006, 10:24 AM	#17
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	How is this CaribSea Seaflor Super Reef Sand: 1.2-4.0mm diameter grain. This mixed grade is also ideal for nitrate reducing systems or simply as reef tank bottom cover. The addition of small shells makes this an ideal substrate for tanks with mature jawfish, or burrowing inverts.

08/13/2006, 11:10 AM	#20
JonK Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 1,394	I used to see pallets and pallets of Southdown at the Home Depots in my area but can't find it anymore. I tried the silica stuff but I didn't like the look so I took it out after a week. I just ended up buying dead sand from an LFS. Jon