Cheap Aragonite Substrate?

[Apocrathia]

I've recently stumbled upon the following YouTube video from someone claiming to have found a super cheap source of aragonite:



The video is a couple of years old, and there have been a couple of updates reporting no issues. However, I'm still skeptical.

The product in question is this: Manna Pro Oyster Shell, 50 lb. from Tractor Supply Co.

Can someone shed some light on this? Because $10 for 50lbs of substrate is insane.

 

[Clownfish Chris]

I have used. It had a ton of phosphates in it. If you rinse the heck out of it and treat with lanthanum chloride you will be fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

yep.. its a best kept redneck secret..
IF you like a coarser mix and don't mind potentially battling a bit of phosphate its a totally viable solution..

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Because $10 for 50lbs of substrate is insane.

Wait until you find out about Southdown sand...

 

[squeakymcmurdo]

Manna Pro's brand of "Oyster Shell" is more like gravel. However...it looks to be at least 90% crushed coral. The bag says oyster shell and coral.

 

[Apocrathia]

I have used. It had a ton of phosphates in it. If you rinse the heck out of it and treat with lanthanum chloride you will be fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I take it this would work https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002IXKS4/?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Apocrathia]

Wait until you find out about Southdown sand...

And a little bit of Google-whacking later, it looks like that company closed shop, unfortunately. The oyster shell seems to be the closest thing these days. Perhaps there's a good way to grind it down a little further...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rene Obergfell]

I would not want to battle phosphates and algae to save a few bucks.

Sand is in your system for years and years.

Cheap and saltwater don't mix

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

And a little bit of Google-whacking later, it looks like that company closed shop, unfortunately. The oyster shell seems to be the closest thing these days. Perhaps there's a good way to grind it down a little further...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There's been a succession of brand names for the same product, one of them had castle in it (oldcastle? Whitecastle? I don't remember). I haven't bought any in probably 10 years but it was the substrate of choice for penny pinching reefers for years.