best sand for dsb nowadays

[oach]

Hey All,

Slowly but surely I am putting together the pieces to a new system that will center around a AGA 210 that I recently picked up from Edward Smith (thank you). I want to have a deep sand bed as I have in the past but in the past I have always used southdown sand which was cheap and made for little thought (I still have three bags).

So I am wondering which sand(s) most people are using in their tank. Do you use different sizes? If so, which sizes go best? Which order do you put them in your tank (smallest down first to biggest or vice versa)? Where to buy - meaning is there someone in the area that will give you a deal on some? Is someone else going to purchase some as maybe to get a cheaper rate on a group buy? Etc?

Just looking for some input here.

Thank you,
Scot

 

[saltyguy51]

I use Sacrete brand (med) washed, dried ,screened for size $ 4 a 50 lb at HD and its white

 

[cet98]

I use Caribsea Reef sand...very happy with it
nice sizes between 1 & 2 mm
good for my Nassarius Snails

 

[skunkmere]

+1 on caribsea, people have regretted going cheap on sand and getting the HD stuff.

 

[FiReBReTHa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15117147#post15117147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skunkmere
+1 on caribsea, people have regretted going cheap on sand and getting the HD stuff.

+1


(looks at sandy cloudy tank )



I plan on mixxing in thicker sand tho. sohoping longer term pays off.

 

[oach]

I take the home depot stuff is really fine and blows around the tank? What about after the tank is established and it builds up weight under bacteria, is it as bad then?

Caribsea - what is the price per size bag on that? Do any of you know a lfs that sells it cheaper than others?

saltguy you have a pic you can share of how that looks in your tank? How bad is the sand storm? How did you screen it?

 

[FiReBReTHa]

 

[cet98]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15118200#post15118200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oach
Caribsea - what is the price per size bag on that? Do any of you know a lfs that sells it cheaper than others?

I should clarify that I use Caribsea ARAG-LIVE Reef sand
Premium Aquatics has very good pricing on Caribsea ARAG-LIVE...I think around $18+ ship'g for 20lbs

Most local LFS sell it for around $32-$35 for 20lbs

I did however, find it locally (Chicago) at Aquatic World for $20 on a 20lb bag myself...last one they had about a week ago...

Caribsea DRY Sand is priced cheaper...not knowing how much sand you need, the dry maybe a cheaper option for you...
just get a cup or two of Live sand from an established tank and seed the new sand...

hope that helps

 

[wld1783]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15120293#post15120293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cet98
I should clarify that I use Caribsea ARAG-LIVE Reef sand
Premium Aquatics has very good pricing on Caribsea ARAG-LIVE...I think around $18+ ship'g for 20lbs

Most local LFS sell it for around $32-$35 for 20lbs

I did however, find it locally (Chicago) at Aquatic World for $20 on a 20lb bag myself...last one they had about a week ago...

Caribsea DRY Sand is priced cheaper...not knowing how much sand you need, the dry maybe a cheaper option for you...
just get a cup or two of Live sand from an established tank and seed the new sand...

hope that helps

+1

Just buy the dry and borrow a cup of sand from a fellow reefer.

Bill

 

[reeftrinh]

if your looking for a mix substrate, i have about 100lbs of crushed coral. you can mix that into your dsb. not recommended to use as a dsb itself...

 

[oach]

In the past I used the dry sand and just seeded as you mentioned. That mentioned, which is the best dry sand to use. I am assuming that there isn't anything you can buy similar to southdown anymore?

I appreciate all the input!

 

[oach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15120293#post15120293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cet98
...Caribsea DRY Sand is priced cheaper...not knowing how much sand you need, the dry maybe a cheaper option for you...
just get a cup or two of Live sand from an established tank and seed the new sand...

Guess I didn't see that part at first. Does premium have the best price on this also (yes, I know I can look but I thought someone just might know).

 

[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!

 

[Helter Skilter]

I have 570# of Caribsea Oolitic, and 40# of Ocean Direct in my fuge. If I were to do it over again, I'd incorporate a few more of the different grain sizes in to the mix.

 

[A.K.A. ReefDoctor]

I get the best results from a combo of Natures Ocean to kick start the bed and dry Carib Sea Aragmax Select (hard to find) Product #00094. I use 2 large Nature Ocean Bags And the rest Carib Sea For tanks in the 200 gallon range. I usually like to run that grade of sand around 2"- 2.5" deep. For me seems to be a magic formula for success.

 

[oach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15124075#post15124075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Helter Skilter
I have 570# of Caribsea Oolitic, and 40# of Ocean Direct in my fuge. If I were to do it over again, I'd incorporate a few more of the different grain sizes in to the mix.

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:

 

[oach]

<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!

I followed your link and put nine bags in my cart (to get an idea on cost) - seems like the free shipping is only good for up to $100. Cost of items ~$230, cost of shipping ~$210 - $100, so still $110 shipping. Not a good deal Thank you for the input.

 

[cet98]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125330#post15125330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oach
I followed your link and put nine bags in my cart (to get an idea on cost) - seems like the free shipping is only good for up to $100. Cost of items ~$230, cost of shipping ~$210 - $100, so still $110 shipping. Not a good deal Thank you for the input.

if you place three separate orders for (3) bags, you will get FREE shipping...
try it out

 

[BrandesFam]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125370#post15125370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cet98
if you place three separate orders for (3) bags, you will get FREE shipping...
try it out

+1.

If you give it a shot, take a pic of the UPS dude when its delivered! Lol

 

[oach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15125370#post15125370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cet98
if you place three separate orders for (3) bags, you will get FREE shipping...
try it out

Yeah, I am a little slow. I can't believe you guys would try and cheat the system like that!