best packaged sand

[FishMachine]

What is everybodies opionion on the best sand, such as arag alive , aragamax, etc. I have always used arag alive.

thanks
FushMachine

 

[sir_dudeguy]

NOT arag-alive. That would be the worst one to get imo (besides crushed coral).

I just got a 20lb bag of the oolitic stuff (very fine and good color) from drsfostersmith.com for 18 bucks. I ordered a ton of stuff so shipping wasnt that bad. It was only 13 bucks for shipping for 2 bags of sand, and tons of other stuff....so it was a heavy package.

 

[FishMachine]

thanks

 

[shag26272]

why is Arag-alive so bad, I used the ooilite and had no problems whatsoever

 

[FishMachine]

the ooilite is actualy exactly what i bought yesterday

 

[sir_dudeguy]

well its not so much that is "bad" per say, but they are just ripping you off. I dont suggest buying any live sand ever. They all rip you off, and are most likely NOT what the company/lfs talks them up to be.

For example, arag alive, a lot more often than not, will have basically nothing live whatsoever about it. It may have a bit of bacteria, but there is a VERY good chance you're not gonna get any pods or anything (which is what you want out of live sand).

Think about this....how long has that bag of arag-alive been sitting at the store on a cold shelf? And add (or subtract i should say) the fact that theres basically no water in the bag to wash away any amonia that comes from dead stuff in the sand, and it will make even more stuff die in the bag because the already existing bacterial die off will cause higher spikes.

But the main reason for not getting arag alive is there is NO point imo....all sand turns live eventually anyways. Why not just get dry sand at half the price (or at least a lot lower price) and not have to deal w/the possible amonia and whatnot?

Now the "live sand" that the LFS might sell you is most likely stuff that they put in their system....for only 3 weeks, at which point you might not even get the bacteria (which is the quickest stuff to spread). And they charge even more for that than arag-alive in some places.

I dont know...i just see absolutely NO point in paying a load of money for something that is in no way what it is labeled/talked up to. Why not pay for cheaper dry sand and get a scoop of LS from a REAL established tank thats been running for a longer time?

 

[FishMachine]

is it true that black sand fades?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Possibly. I dont know that it does, but i dont doubt that it does either. But for what its worth, i've seen a local persons tank who has had black sand for a long time now and it hasn't faded now. The only bad thing about black imo, is that you see stuff on it more. If crud builds up, you sort of see it more.

 

[FishMachine]

since i already bought arag alive, and wont need it for about 1 week, should i empty it into a buckey of saltwater to rid of the dead bacteria in it and the ammonia? I would put a heater and a powerhead with water changes.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

well since you're just starting the tank (at least i think you are?) then you could just add it whenever you want to start it up. It will just have to go through more of a cycle than it would if you were to get cured rock and dry sand.

At this point, i'd just stick w/what you were going to do (if it is for a new tank that is).

 

[shag26272]

well I had got the bag of arag-alive for 15 bucks and only needed half, I would use it again, my tank barely cycled

 

[Illuminati]

I had agra alive in my second tank and it's great stuff. This talk of ammonia and dieoff and a longer cycle is comical. If you use it with cured live rock you won't see a cycle at all.

Personally I will probably use it with every tank I setup in the future.

 

[GobyJohnKenobi]

Your paying for water with the "live" stuff.

But I use it cuz I hate rinsing sand, and it is a good looking product.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

If you use it with cured live rock you won't see a cycle at all.

if you say so. But i used it on my 29. The rock was all out of my old 55 wich was running for around 9 months before it broke...so obviously the rock was all cured. Added the rock that day. No amonia for 4 days, then i added a bag of arag alive and it went over 1.

You would sometimes see spikes even with perfectly established live sand that is not arag-alive. When you stir up LS you can kick up stuff in it. Thats part of the reason it is not recommended to vacuum/stir your sand.

And using it because its a "good looking product"?? Any product can "look" good, specially if you're a newby and you see the prices of stuff like jebo lights (which i've gone through a couple of those already, both died).

 

[nanoreefs415]

just to add my .02, i used aragamax on my new twenty gallon tank. When i first set it up i had no sand, and i added the sand maybe a month after i set it all up, and all livestock survived, including a bta, sps frags, and my fish. IMO its a great product, and there was minimal clouding.

 

[FishMachine]

thanks

 

[10" Red Devil]

How about no sand. Just a thought.

 

[toasty23]

ive used both live sand and oolite. i personally like them both they both work the same. one is cheaper which is the oolite. live sand, for some it spikes for others it doesnt. if your going for a 1 inch bed or 2" go with the oolite its great sand. i just set up my 29 with it

toasty

 

[Ocean In A Box]

can any of you make this post more intersting and post pics of the sand you're using?

 

[shag26272]

heres what I used. and a pic of my tank, you should be able to see the sand pretty well

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...uct_Code=C-ARAG-L-BO&Category_Code=Substrates