carpet a anemone and silica based sand
- Thread starter ganjero
- Start date
cgauer5
New member
What type of Quikrete did you use and why did you choose that over a normal saltwater aquarium substrate such as aragonite or reef sand? I have heard of using Quikrete in Tropical fresh water tanks, but not a reef tank. I am not qualified to say one way or another but found an article that might help you.
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html
ganjero
saiperchémibatteilcorazon
That sand is cheaper, $3.98 for 50lbs is unbeatable. I'm trying it just because of my research and readings like the article you posted, where they have concluded that this type of sand if ok to use.
My question was because the anemone will set his foot down in the sand I was wondering if type of sand will irritate him or even inhibit from doing so.
My question was because the anemone will set his foot down in the sand I was wondering if type of sand will irritate him or even inhibit from doing so.
BonsaiNut
Premium Member
Depends what the sand is made of. Inert materials are fine. I suppose you would want to watch out for anything that would react/degrade in salt water. I have avoided commenting because I don't think there is any way for anyone (including yourself) to know what is in the sand you propose to use. Therefore to say "it should be fine" would just be a guess.
Though I hate to say it, this is a hobby that tends to penalize short-cuts. If you can't afford 50lbs of sand, are you sure this is something you want to undertake? It isn't the sand that costs money - it's the lights, the protein filters, the calcium reactors, etc, to say NOTHING of the livestock. You wouldn't want to lose $2000 of livestock because you saved $50 on sand, would you?
People tend to look at the tank, sand and rock as expensive. They are the cheapest parts of this hobby.
Though I hate to say it, this is a hobby that tends to penalize short-cuts. If you can't afford 50lbs of sand, are you sure this is something you want to undertake? It isn't the sand that costs money - it's the lights, the protein filters, the calcium reactors, etc, to say NOTHING of the livestock. You wouldn't want to lose $2000 of livestock because you saved $50 on sand, would you?
People tend to look at the tank, sand and rock as expensive. They are the cheapest parts of this hobby.
From that article they are refering to Quartz sand only so if there are any other types of things inside the sand mix you want to use you will want to know what they are first.
Looking up the Premium Play Sand that quickrete offers it looks like it might be a mix of quartz and limestone although I could not find ratios nor any actual ingrediant lists. Both of these would be fine according to that article. It mentions Randy and other highly reguarded experts being involved in the discussion so I would have to think that it is a reliable article.
Looking up the Premium Play Sand that quickrete offers it looks like it might be a mix of quartz and limestone although I could not find ratios nor any actual ingrediant lists. Both of these would be fine according to that article. It mentions Randy and other highly reguarded experts being involved in the discussion so I would have to think that it is a reliable article.
ganjero
saiperchémibatteilcorazon
The issue is not the money nor chemicals in the sand. The issue is that normally this sand has sharper edges than aragonite and I was wondering if this would present a problem for the anemone to bury its foot.
This is a 120g refugium that I set up for my 110g display. It has been proven that silica sand can be used without issues as long as you rinse it well. BTW any other sand including aragonite can also contain harmful chemicals, depending where it was collected and how it’s been processed. Silica based sands come from nature and even the ocean, it's not like they were create in a lab.
I chose to used the silica base sand for the refugium because there are many benefits for plating macro algae including rooting.
BTW Everything in this hobby is expensive, everything.
The sand I'm using is Quikrete Commercial Grade Sand Medium
This is a 120g refugium that I set up for my 110g display. It has been proven that silica sand can be used without issues as long as you rinse it well. BTW any other sand including aragonite can also contain harmful chemicals, depending where it was collected and how it’s been processed. Silica based sands come from nature and even the ocean, it's not like they were create in a lab.
I chose to used the silica base sand for the refugium because there are many benefits for plating macro algae including rooting.
BTW Everything in this hobby is expensive, everything.
The sand I'm using is Quikrete Commercial Grade Sand Medium
BonsaiNut
Premium Member
All I know is that
(1) All construction sand is sourced locally
(2) Materials vary from place to place
(3) When I use construction sand for construction, I have to be very careful what I use because some sand does not meet claims. For example even though they screen for iron, some of my sand contains iron which will cause iron staining particularly in proximity to pools with salt chlorination systems.
Just saying...
Don't spend $1000 to save $10. I'd go with NO sand if I couldn't afford good sand.
(1) All construction sand is sourced locally
(2) Materials vary from place to place
(3) When I use construction sand for construction, I have to be very careful what I use because some sand does not meet claims. For example even though they screen for iron, some of my sand contains iron which will cause iron staining particularly in proximity to pools with salt chlorination systems.
Just saying...
Don't spend $1000 to save $10. I'd go with NO sand if I couldn't afford good sand.
At the price of it you can just try it and see. I do not think that it is at all recommended for sand sifters and burrowers though so I am not sure if it would cut the nems foot.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Not sure I would want to do the "try it and see" method -- S. Haddonis, at least healthy ones, aren't super easy to come by, and wouldn't want to risk it. After watching how fast an S. Haddoni can fully retract into the sand (( about 2 seconds, at most )) I would be a bit nervous about it being cut.
I feel the same way Todd but the OP seems SET on using this sand. That is why I made sure to point out that it is NOT recommended for sifters and burrowers which this type of nem is.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
It sure seems that way, doesn't it?
It's not like the "normal" sand that we use is all that much, compared to everything else, or even the price of an S. Haddoni.
