Is sand sand?
- Thread starter CrayolaViolence
- Start date
Jscwerve
New member
When I first started amassing inventory to get a tank build going I did a lot of research on the different sand types. It seems it's regional as to what type of sand you can get from them, as well as seasonal. Some of the sand you get from them is actually labeled calcium carbonate (aragonite to us).
After attempting to aquire some of this mystery "sand" in my landlocked state away from any such quarry and failing miserably, I finally had to bite the bullet and bought bags of aragonite from the LFS.
CrayolaViolence
New member
CrayolaViolence
New member
The super expensive sand I bought from the pet store was SUPER and still is super silty. If I stir the bottom of the tank it's cloudy for hours.
NC beach sand is mostly quartz so it's silica. And yep its got lots of stuff in it so you're gona have problems.
Since you won listen to everyone here telling you not to use it, I strongly recommend that anything that touches that tank NEVER be used in your reef tank ever unless it is completely sterilized (I wouldn't use it at all). Also don't put any corals or other tropical inverts or fish in there unless you caught them locally.
Good luck
sde1500
Active member
To be honest, why take any such risk? I just dumped a couple bags of CaribSea fiji pink in my tank. Then dumped in my water to get the tank cycling last night. I was not gentle, just used my pump to pour the water into the tank, and it was super cloudy. Overnight it was entirely clear. Also, I know there is no risk of me contaminating my tank with anything from the sand. And as far as costs, really, is the cost of the live sand that much more in the long run compared to everything else we put into a tank build? Small extra cost well worth the peace of mind.
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
So order bags of sand from fosters and smith which comes out to be around $1 per pound and get free shipping over $39. Cant get much more convienant than that
CrayolaViolence
New member
Again, it's not about cost. I was trying to be as natural as possible. I've got bags of the live sand from the store for my reef tank. The sand that I collected from Hilton head was because I'd also gathered specimens from the area.
Also, from what I understand, all quartz is silica but not all silica is quartz. I guess I'm just trying to understand how and why the sands where there are corals growing, sponges, etc, are considered unacceptable, but ordering sand from a place where the coral might not have even come from would be any better.
Also, from what I understand, all quartz is silica but not all silica is quartz. I guess I'm just trying to understand how and why the sands where there are corals growing, sponges, etc, are considered unacceptable, but ordering sand from a place where the coral might not have even come from would be any better.
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
Bagged reef sand is natural, its just picked up from others areas.
Bagged sand is cal based and is usually from areas corals are from.
Silica based sand will create algae issues. Isnt bad when in the ocean as there is tons of diff life there but in our tanks is a diff issue.
Bagged sand is cal based and is usually from areas corals are from.
Silica based sand will create algae issues. Isnt bad when in the ocean as there is tons of diff life there but in our tanks is a diff issue.
CStrickland
New member
Silica is good and important for lots of animals. Diatoms need it, and so do sponges. But you don't want a lot of diatoms in your tank cause they are ugly. If your tank was the same ratio of sand / water/ animals as the ocean, you'd have a tank the size of your living room, with like a cup of sand in the bottom, one little blenny, and a tiny frag. Also, tides are hugely important for the ecosystem, they fill the reef with little food-critter and nutrition, and then flush it all out to sea. Way out in the ocean that extra stuff goes through a bunch of extra processes you don't come close to copying.
Like, think of a big rainforest. There's stuff happening in the dirt and all the way up to the top of the canopy which is a totes dif ecosystem really. It's all interdependent. You could put a couple rainforest ferns and fire ants in a box, but to keep them healthy you'd have to do a lot of fake stuff since you can't ever replicate the whole shebang.
Hers an article about silicate, if you haven't seen it http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1
Like, think of a big rainforest. There's stuff happening in the dirt and all the way up to the top of the canopy which is a totes dif ecosystem really. It's all interdependent. You could put a couple rainforest ferns and fire ants in a box, but to keep them healthy you'd have to do a lot of fake stuff since you can't ever replicate the whole shebang.
Hers an article about silicate, if you haven't seen it http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1
CrayolaViolence
New member
By the way, there is an error on the petco website. 20lbs of live sand showing at 24.99 then ringing up at 34.99. When I called customer service on it they gave it to me for the 24.99. Also, they said that free shipping didn't apply to gravel and such, I argued that, won, got free shipping too.
Here are the screen captures if anyone wants to see if the error is still occurring.
Here are the screen captures if anyone wants to see if the error is still occurring.
CrayolaViolence
New member
They appear to have fixed the error.
Oh well.
Oh well.
CrayolaViolence
New member
Because I was curious to know. That is all. Why is it people are so afraid of questions? Just because you ask something doesn't mean you're going to do it. But even then, people DIY things as well, using non standard items or techniques that often work out just fine.
I've been in animal husbandry for a very long time. I've learned, in bout 75% of cases, something marked with a particular use can make a huge difference on the price tag, when the item, with a different label, is exactly the same thing elsewhere and works just as well.
