any place to buy sand locally or do I need to buy LS?
- Thread starter latazyo
- Start date
fazgood
Not Quite Right
Lowes
Lowes
Is this for a DSB or for the bottom of the tank?
I went in the back of Lowes and bought 50 # bags of white pool filter sand for the bottom of my tank. I rinsed it in trash cans but it was quite clean already. I think it was about 5 bucks a bag. Its not as bright white as the store bought stuff but I mixed in some aragonite and it looks fine.
It also came alive pretty quickly when I added the live rock. This is just my theory but I figured if I bought live sand, and even if it was really alive, I would be killing off a lot of life by redistributing it in the tank. I figured that starting with clean/dead sand would allow the right things to develop in the right layers of sand and that would reduce the amount of nitrates and phosphates in the long run. I did ask around and get goo from the bottom of different tanks to get a good mix of critters.
No matter which way you go, it will take time for nature to do it's think.
I'm not an expert so its just my .02 c.
Faz
Lowes
Is this for a DSB or for the bottom of the tank?
I went in the back of Lowes and bought 50 # bags of white pool filter sand for the bottom of my tank. I rinsed it in trash cans but it was quite clean already. I think it was about 5 bucks a bag. Its not as bright white as the store bought stuff but I mixed in some aragonite and it looks fine.
It also came alive pretty quickly when I added the live rock. This is just my theory but I figured if I bought live sand, and even if it was really alive, I would be killing off a lot of life by redistributing it in the tank. I figured that starting with clean/dead sand would allow the right things to develop in the right layers of sand and that would reduce the amount of nitrates and phosphates in the long run. I did ask around and get goo from the bottom of different tanks to get a good mix of critters.
No matter which way you go, it will take time for nature to do it's think.
I'm not an expert so its just my .02 c.
Faz
rams
ramtheory
Ya there are cheaper ways of buying sand. I just like the fat of knowing that what I am buying is somewhat guaranteed for what I will be using it for. Don't want to worry about what you might be introducing into your tank good or bad. Personally my next setup I will be purchasing a mix of CaribSea Aragamax SugarSized Sand and Seaflor Special Grade which both you can get from most LFS or have them order it. There are a lot of ways to save a buck in this hobby this one you can usually shop around for a good price.
Before it was hard to find a sugar sized sand base you had to look for the right playsand. Now CaribSea carries it don't believe they always have.
Before it was hard to find a sugar sized sand base you had to look for the right playsand. Now CaribSea carries it don't believe they always have.
Last edited:
DrBDC
Active member
Here's some live sand from a tank:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1186993
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1186993
rams
ramtheory
No
1) does anyone have any they want to get rid of?
2) does anyone know anyone who has some they want to get rid of?
3) post a thread "looking for southdown"
4) call around for the lowest price "pricematch"
5) look up the subject on RC to find out how people have gotten deals on sand for example a company use to not care about the weight when they had free shipping or discounted shipping
6) figure out who knows who can get a good deal on sand if they want to help you out
7)research the brands of play sand you can buy and the method for determining the right play sand for reef tanks
8) wait for a sale or good deal
9) pay full price for sand
$1 a pound is the norm
does that help :lol: no secret
1) does anyone have any they want to get rid of?
2) does anyone know anyone who has some they want to get rid of?
3) post a thread "looking for southdown"
4) call around for the lowest price "pricematch"
5) look up the subject on RC to find out how people have gotten deals on sand for example a company use to not care about the weight when they had free shipping or discounted shipping
6) figure out who knows who can get a good deal on sand if they want to help you out
7)research the brands of play sand you can buy and the method for determining the right play sand for reef tanks
8) wait for a sale or good deal
9) pay full price for sand
$1 a pound is the normdoes that help :lol: no secret
rams
ramtheory
Goalie66
Premium Member
I bought sand from a local landscaping place. Just simple white silica sand. I had the tank setup for about 3 years and never had a problem with the sand. I used about 300 pounds and it was about $50.00 total.
Tom
Here is an old picture of it after the 1st year:
I miss this tank.
Tom
Here is an old picture of it after the 1st year:
I miss this tank.
frenchie
New member
you can buy dry sand and stop by a couple buddies house and get a cup of live sand to throw across the sand in tank to seed your tank. I would glady give you a cup of live sand to seed your sandbed once its set up and going i got tons of pods, spaghetti worms, bristle worms, and all kinds of weird live crap in my tanks. Thats the best way to do it, by dry cheap sand setup up tank and and a little live sand from everyone elses tank and your all set. I'll like adding dry rock to established tanks to seed for people with new setups for those who can't afford live rock since dry rock is cheaper.
Schplitter
New member
I have 40Lb in my 100 Gal. I got about 1 inch all across. U think you need more in the 40? Unless ur going for 4" i think you have pleanty...
BK
BK
