Ick question please

[rcr]

I'm setting up a new tank. I am starting with dry rock and was wondering should I use live sand or dry sand. My thought was dry to avoid ick. My question is can ick come in live sand? Thanks for the help.

 

[thegrun]

I've never heard of ich coming from packaged live sand, although there are numerous reasons why you should use dry sand regardless of whether it could possibly contain ich or not. Cost, difficult to clean, lack of life and likely abundance of dead organics all come to mind as good reasons not t use "live" sand.

 

[Hal]

It's highly unlikely that ich would come in with live sand. During ich's normal lifecycle it needs a fish host every 3-28 days or else it dies out. Now keep in mind that Mother Nature isn't on a fixed schedule, so it's possible that time period could vary. Assuming your live sand hasn't been near a fish host for 3-28 days, you should be clear of ich.

 

[Hal]

Personally, I wouldn't spend the money on live sand. Live rock will seed your tank as well or better and bring in many beneficial life forms that you won't get with live sand. Of course, you could get a few non-good life forms with it too, but generally the risk is worth the benefit.

 

[Sonyardo]

I agree, I would just use dry sand and it will soon be live sand. Ick wouldn't be a consideration unless it was coming directly out of somebodys tank.

 

[CStrickland]

Most, but not all, of the live sands are just dry sand with bacteria from a bottle poured in the bag with it. Not much risk, but not much reward either.