All you EVER wanted to know about Southdown

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So, by definition, just getting non-silica sand is the trick?

I do believe that all 'playsand' has to be FDA approved to be sillica free since it can cause long term lung problems and cancer...

Any comments?

Mike & Shanda

:blown:
 
My past is coming back to haunt me.....you are ever so welcome....

Thanks for dredging up the information.......when I do it - it looks spammy & self serving.....

I'm thrilled it helped you........any questions.....ask away...I spent alot of time researching this stuff.....

GV
 
I hope i don't sound retarded asking this but I'm new at this and not really sure about some stuff. So if I do find south down sand and put it in my tank, does that mean that I'll have to find creatures to buy to put in the sand or is that going to be in the southdown sand?
 
southdown info

southdown info

Carrie,

Hi, and dont hesitate to ask any question, there's no such thing as a dumb question, especially if you are just starting out.

First, Southdown sand is a calcium based sand, not silica based. It is great for reef tanks as it provides natural buffering, is the right size grain for lots of bacteria to grow on, and looks great also. And the big plus..if you find it locally, it is running $3.84 a 50 pound bag. That is much cheaper than you'll find live sand or dry sand anywhere else on the market.

Now to more directly answer your question..no, Southdown sand comes dry and for lack of a better term "Dead". You must add it to your tank, fill your tank with water, add your live rock, then maybe another 5 or 10 pound of live sand to your dead sand to help it become "live" or you can wait longer and not seed it with live sand, and just let your live rock that you put in slowly seed the sand too.

Or another option is to buy what some companies call "live sand activator" it is full of the bacteria and little amphipods and copepods that live and work in the sand..this is also a good way to seed your dead sand and help it become live sand.

I hope this info helps you out a little...and feel free to keep asking questions.

C.
 
I was in southern New Hampshire today on business and checked a few of the Home Depots and here is what I found. The home depot in Nashua ( the one near the Pheasant Lane Mall) does not have the Southdown, it just has the quickrete). However I did find it at the Salem Home depot for $3.99/50lb bag. They had two pallets of the stuff so if you go soon you will most likely find it.

Good Luck,

Tom
 
Many thanks to JohnF for taking the time to go and visit Marcona in Jacksonville here recently. His trip was a success and I am now the proud owner of some SD sand. Or should we really call it MOI sand. :D Will work nicely in the 55 refugium I am setting up.

Thanks also to you G. Vet for digging up those old threads with the info on Marcona. There is hope in the South yet for cheap aragonite based sand.
 
Thanks and Good work on the research guys!

I got my sand from reefland.com. It looks just like the pic Mako201 posted. I paid $11.00 a bag. It cost me $15.00 shipping per bag. I know I payed more but it was a hell of a lot cheaper than the LFS ripoff. I only needed three bags so I went for it. I have to say Steve at reefland.com is excellent to work with. The best customer service. You may find as good but you wont find better.

I tried talking to a guy at my local (Springfield, MO) Home Depot. They didnt have it but he was helpful enough to call the other Home Depots in Columbia, MO and Joplin, MO. No joy anywhere in Missouri. I wish I had read this thread back then.

I think its all in who you talk to. Some managers are helpful and some are morons. Im only 33 but some of the people at these big box stores are really ignorant. Some of them dont know a nail from a screw. I know its really stereotyping but I always look for someone older. They usually might know what your talking about or have the work ethic to try to find out.

It never hurt either to go straight to the top to find out something. If I was trying today I'd go in on a week day in the middle of the day and find the Head Manager. Find out who he is and ask him for help. If you cant get him to help I would try the guy behind the contractor sales desk. Those guys usually have a little on the ball and are usually helpful. Just dont go up to them when they have a big line of people, they just wont take the time, they dont have it. Go when they arent busy. Thats when they will be the most helpful.
 
Storage and longevity ???

Storage and longevity ???

Just to open the discussion further -- how should the sand be stored and how long will it last before initial use?? I bought 6 bags last November and have it stored in my basement (dark & cool) on top of a large (6 gal) milk crate.

I'm assuming the normal standards of dark, cool, dry, and as airtight (oxygen free) as possible. Is there anything that would spoil the sand over time? I guess it would still be good 10-20 years later if it didn't get contaminated?? Any thoughts on preparation before use after long long term storage?
 
^up

I'll be storing mine for about a year....should be fine for almost an indefinate amount of time as long as its sheltered from the elements...just my thoughts

dredawg
 
I would say that the sand would last for 1000k millennia or so... give or take 50%.... :p :p :D

It is just sand....:D

mgk
 
southdown sand

southdown sand

Just wanted to say "THANKS" for the info about Southdown sand. Really appreciate the update. How much should be used if a person also uses CC? Can the two substrates be used together? I have a 45 gal. reef with 31/2" CC, but would like to add.
Thanks, again.

J:)
 
I got lucky and a fellow reefer in my area had some brought to him. He had an exrea bag and i snagged it up for my 29G. I work for a local pet store, and im thinking of asking my boss to looking into ordering a pallet of the stuff, that would keep the local reefers happy, and it is great for reptiles also, so that might be a bonus into getting him to order it.
 
Southdown - Myth or Legend :)

Southdown - Myth or Legend :)

3.99 a bag blows away anything that I have in my tank!! I want some, NEED SOME.. and to no avail have tried EVERY HD store in the RICHMOND, Virginia area. Please, if you see any or have a few bags to spare.. please please please tell me :) Thanks.
 
Hey Grumpy,
Was wodering about the pic of the bag of SD.I couldnt view the pic.Only saw the infamous red X

Great thread,

Thanx,
Roger
 
WOW:eek2: :eek1: :eek2:
I just bought three bags,I didn't buy all 6 I need.Didn't want to lug all that weight at once.I'll go back and buy another 6.:D
Thanks for the heads up......:wavehand:
 
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