best sand for dsb nowadays

[cet98]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15126321#post15126321 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oach
Yeah, I am a little slow. I can't believe you guys would try and cheat the system like that!

I much prefer to refer to it as "utilizing the system to maximize it's benefits" .... :lol:

 

[FiReBReTHa]

Oach im too lazy to reply to your pm so i will reply here


its HD sand on bottom, and then carbsea on top, that way I get both, I then made those filters to get rid of the sand dust.
I eally shook up the dust so the fiters ould suck it out.


the powerheads are moving the sand on bottom as anticpated whn its aimed too low at it.

tankwas setup on 5/28

 

[oach]

HD sand on bottom - is that the sacrete stuff? Would you do it that way again or just buy all carbsea? Before you put the sand in the tank, did you rinse it in buckets to help get rid of some of the silt and crap?

Would you mind me imposing and asking if I can stop by to see what it looks like?

 

[Kmiec123]

Anyone try this stuff?

https://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=66

 

[FiReBReTHa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15127998#post15127998 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oach
HD sand on bottom - is that the sacrete stuff? Would you do it that way again or just buy all carbsea? Before you put the sand in the tank, did you rinse it in buckets to help get rid of some of the silt and crap?

Would you mind me imposing and asking if I can stop by to see what it looks like?

its the kolorscop brand of sand. its outside in the grden section. I woudl def do dual layer again. I didnt rinse it off tho it woulda made the process allt easier. I washed it in the tankpretty much wth my filters.

yea, once my medical quarantine is over feel free to come over.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15128153#post15128153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kmiec123
Anyone try this stuff?

https://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=66

way tooo fine. I would rather go cheapy and just buy HD play sand at that pric. I got white.

 

[wld1783]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15123840#post15123840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrandesFam
Had to get salt mighty quick today, my last batch of WC water was 1.018 - ran out to my local PetSmart in Evanston and noticed a 30lb bag of oolite (sp?) of Caribsea dry sand for $19 on the shelf and thought is was a pretty decent price. I just looked it up on their website and the closest I found is a 40lb bag of dry 1-2mm sand for $26.99! http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753226
Free shipping if you purchase more than $50 bucks worth of goods. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Come on all you big box retail haters - get your venting on!

Before I started buying salt by the pallet I would take the PetsMart web price print it out and take it to the store. They would match it.

Was able to get IO for close to DRFS price. Just had to pay the tax but it was convient. I just wish they would carry more reef related stuff.

Over all after shipping and tax if you can get reef sand to your door for less than 75 cents a pound you're shooting par...I miss the old days when southdown was available for 30 cents a pound.

Bill

 

[oach]

If I remember correctly it was more like $.10/# as I thought you could get a bag for $5???

 

[wld1783]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15130167#post15130167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oach
If I remember correctly it was more like $.10/# as I thought you could get a bag for $5???

Damn I paid around $15 for a 30# or was it 50# bag in the peoples rebublic of cook county.

Bill

 

[jmsalt1]

Tropic Eden

Tropic Eden

If you're not concerned about cost, I repeat, if you're not concerned about cost, Tropic Eden is hands down the best sand I have ever used, period. You can get it from Premium Aquatics but shipping will cost you. I've had DSB systems since I started in the hobby back in 1998 and have purchased many different types of sand, this is by far the best I've ever seen. Do a search on RC for Tropic Eden, I had someone locally offer me a couple bags that he had leftover but I was looking for the finer stuff so took a pass. He probably still has it if you would like to get a couple bags without paying retail and shipping.

Here is a link to their site.

http://www.tropic-eden.com/english/index.html

I have not located anyone other than Premium Aquatics that carries it in the Midwest, however, others may have another source. I'd consider ordering a bag or two just so you can compare and see what I'm talking about. The stuff puts Caribsea (which is 80% of my own DSB) to shame.

 

[oach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15130540#post15130540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wld1783
Damn I paid around $15 for a 30# or was it 50# bag in the peoples rebublic of cook county.

Bill

Those damn republics will get you all the time, thus your 10% sales tax in crooked county.

 

[oach]

Re: Tropic Eden

Re: Tropic Eden

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15130628#post15130628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmsalt1
If you're not concerned about cost, I repeat, if you're not concerned about cost, Tropic Eden is hands down the best sand I have ever used, period.

Unfortunately that is one of my biggest concerns. Any ideas on the person who offered you some (I did a search and didn't seem to come up w/ much)? I will look into it though as I want to keep my options open. Thank you.

 

[Rod Buehler]

Hey Stranger.

I have used the Tropic eden and like it, but for a good DSB, I still prefer the carib~sea aragamax. It seems to pack a bet more dense which is better for the anaerobic bacteria, and also lets less detritus sink in.

 

[jmsalt1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15131720#post15131720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod Buehler
Hey Stranger.

I have used the Tropic eden and like it, but for a good DSB, I still prefer the carib~sea aragamax. It seems to pack a bet more dense which is better for the anaerobic bacteria, and also lets less detritus sink in.

Hey Rod, We spoke not too long ago on the phone. I was planning to come out for a pair of clowns and would like to do that when life quits getting in the way of my reef keeping. I used the Agarasnow from Tropic Eden recently and really liked it. I admit the Agaramax is very nice too. I was just surprised at how clean and how much brighter the Tropic Eden product was compared to the Caribsea.

 

[Rod Buehler]

agreed.. When I first put in the tropic eden stuff, I liked the brightness and hoped that it would settle in like the aragamax does. So far it hasn't. I dont dislike the Tropic eden stuff, but just prefer the aragamax

 

[FiReBReTHa]

I took a photo for you guys of the carib on top of the HD play sand.

Hope this helps!

 

[oach]

That HD stuff looks really fine compared to the Caribsea.

 

[BrandesFam]

fyi, petsmart wouldn't have shipped it anyway. They have a clause in the fine print saying it didn't apply to "heavy items". whatever. They tanked the deal (pun intended?) and now offer 5.99 flat rate shipping, but still have the clause in there. Best bet is to ask the store to get it and then if your lucky they will match the web price. There is a %15 off coupon that is good in store through June 7th. hum.

 

[Rod Buehler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15135362#post15135362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FiReBReTHa
I took a photo for you guys of the carib on top of the HD play sand.

Hope this helps!

is that carib sea the oolitic aragamax, or sea floor? If thats the oolitic aragamax, it certainly has changed

 

[Helter Skilter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125280#post15125280 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oach
What sizes would you want - bigger and/or smaller and do you know the exact sizes according to the manufacturer?

Also, just a general question - how much have most of you spent on sand for your tank? I know w/ SD I could fill a big tank for about $30 :eek2:

Here's a link to carib sea for grain sizes:
http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/dry_aragonite.html

I'd probably mix the sugar size (Oolititc and either the Biome or Super reef. According to Dr. Shimek and others, the ultimate goal for a healthy DSB is a huge diversity in critters. Limiting sand grain size can have a large impact on the type of critters that will inhabit the sand bed. They basically came to the conclusion that having variation in sand grain size will lead to a greater diversity of critters. There was an issue of Coral that focused on DSBs. I highly recommend it if you can find a copy (Krunchy has mine).

 

[A.K.A. ReefDoctor]

Sorry that #0094 product is not valid anymore the new product code is #00932 Carib Sea "Aragamax Select"