So, I went to pets mart today to get some stuff and i noticed live sand that was on sale 7 bucks for 20 lbs. It was a partial black and white aragonite sand (normally 30 bucks). Right now i have small crushed coral, in my tank, so should i make the switch or is this a bad investment?
Adding live sand
- Thread starter Bassmunky
- Start date
reeffreak
Reef pro
Make the switch.
All animals will need to be put in a holding tank.Check ammonia and nitrite the next day to see if it starts a small cycle.
All animals will need to be put in a holding tank.Check ammonia and nitrite the next day to see if it starts a small cycle.
Bifferwine
I am a girl
You'll be glad you switched from crushed coral to sand. Crushed coral will cause problems down the road. The sooner you do it the better.
yote
In Memoriam
I agree with the above.Switch it out now.
sen5241b
Reef enthusiast
If you pour sand in a filled tank (as I did) there will be a cloud of sand in the water for at least several hours. Don't clog your pump.
charon
Reefing newb
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but in regards to live sand...if I use it, does that lower the amount of live rock I need?
daugherty
part time reefer
no you still need 1-2 pounds of rock
Bifferwine
I am a girl
No. Dead or dry sand will eventually become live too.
bjohanson1234
.........
great price for the sand!!!!
I wonder if all petsmarts have that sale going on. Might have to pick up a bag or two
Brian
I wonder if all petsmarts have that sale going on. Might have to pick up a bag or two
Brian
Doc
I don't work for anybody
one trick to lessen the amount of dust cloud you get is to rinse the bag good with RO water and actually submerge the entire bag into the tank and rest it on the bottom. Reach in and cut open all the sides of the bag to allow the sand to pour out.
-Doc
-Doc
Over a period of time a deep sand bed will actually become a better filtration system than your live rock. If starting out with 100 percent live sand in a full tank deep sand bed it can easily replace part or even all of a normal load of live rock. However, it is typically more expensive to put in a full (live sand) deep sand bed than to use live rock, therefore most deep sand beds are dead sand innoculated with a little live sand. I have a hard time considering bagged, shelf stored, sand as live sand. A shallow sand bed will never out perform live rock. A sand bed should be less than an inch deep or over 6 inches deep to be both safe and or beneficial. If you want cosmetics go for an inch. If you want animals and wrasses go for 3 to 4 inches. If your major concern is biological filtration go for 5 to 6 inches deep (this is a deep sand bed).
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