Live sand vs dead sand

[Jrambo88]

Topic go! (Always started tanks with live sand and I'm upgrading and with a much larger tank the "dead" sand is much much cheaper.)

 

[gbru316]

Dead. It'll liven up eventually. Have some patience.

 

[Volcmreefer]

If you get dead make sure you rinse it very well! Happy reefing!

 

[evan47]

I found that the difference in price between live sand and dead sand was not that great, in fact when I factored in the cost of RO water from the lfs to rinse dead sand there was no point at all in buying dead sand at all.
Also, there was less work involved with live sand as it required no rinsing and the water barely clouded at all.

 

[davocean]

Live sand usually has a fair amount of dieoff, even at the same price I would prefer dry sand, seeded w/ a scoop of live sand from an established tank.

 

[aznxgqb0yx]

Live sand usually has a fair amount of dieoff, even at the same price I would prefer dry sand, seeded w/ a scoop of live sand from an established tank.

How about no sand.:bounce2:

 

[heathlindner25]

Around here there's no difference in price, I guess the fish stores here figured you have to use one of the other.

 

[brianr24]

Price is close but when purchasing by weight you get more of dry compared to wet live sand ( less weighs more). I used garden hose to rinse my sand. It took a lot of rinsing. I mean a lot I would never use rodi water. What made the decision for me was color and texture of sand I wanted. I wouldn't allow the small price difference make my decision. In this hobby the price diff. Is nothing compared to what you spend in total and on going.

 

[OrQidz]

Ditto, ^^ I have never used RO to rinse sand. I use non living sand, and live rock. The sand will get populated pretty quick by bacteria and critters.

 

[gbru316]

I've never used RO to rinse, either.

 

[heathlindner25]

I've always use Ro to rince sand, but I have an RO/DI unit so it's a non-issue

 

[davocean]

How about no sand.:bounce2:

Well, if you like the look of that and you don't keep animals that require a sand bed that is an option of course, but it's not the question being asked

 

[gone fishin]

Around here the price difference has gotten smaller between the two but, I would still go with dry sand. I rinsed my dry sand with the garden hose as well.

 

[snorklr]

even though i've used it, i really wonder just how "live" it is after sitting in a lfs for months, a warehouse for months, or in a 20 or 100 degree delivery truck...

 

[joshua_00030]

Live sand's a nice idea but the die off combined with any new live rocks is just too much imo

 

[gmlee]

Live sand's a nice idea but the die off combined with any new live rocks is just too much imo

Die off.....????????

 

[TatorTaco]

The price difference is negligible in my area.

I figured with the live rock and critters, I could go with dry sand, but I was too lazy to rinse it so I went with live sand.