New to SW, sand opinions

[hmspradlin]

Alright- sand options. Now remember- total newbie! And have no clue on all the difference. I know I need live sand though--- right?

I saw this on sale for .99/lb and that includes shipping. I don't want a real deep bed. With the research I've done I think a thin bed would be best for me.

I've attached a picture of the sand in question. It's live aragonite sand. I've heard of people mixing sand- 1/2 live, 1/2 regular?

I just need to know if this is crappy stuff and how much would you use/gallon

Thanks!

 

[hmspradlin]

bahh stupid picture!

 

[anbosu]

You don't need live sand - in general it's a waste of money.

I would recommend getting aragonite sand, however.

 

[CrazyEyes]

Agree, good ole aragonite is what Ive used in every tank that I've had sand in. Could always go bare bottom :-D.

 

[Ted_C]

your question depends on what you'll be doing with your saltwater tank.

Stony corals? then a mid/course grade aragonite sand - reefflakes come highly recommended: http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/TE-TE03616R30.html

Why? Stony coral tanks require a lot of flow - anything smaller than reef flakes is going to dune up and blow around on you. The bigger grains may not be as beneficial for sand dwelling fish - like blennies or gobies.

Soft corals with (lower) flow? A finer grade sand would be fine: http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/TE-TE03611A30.html

Why? You'll need less flow

FOWLR (Fish only with live rock) - whatever you want.

Like previously stated - live sand is just sand in water (maybe / maybe not with bacteria). it's a waste of money. Dry sand is fine.

Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate based) sand is a must. Silica sand is too sharp for sand dwelling fish and may cut them up. Argonite is usually rounded and eroded.

You'll seed the sand with the bacteria you need either by buying a small cup of sand from an LFS or from the live rock you'll buy from the LFS.

Other options for live sand bed creatures: check out IPSF.org (indo pacific sea farms) - they sell spaghetti worms, bristle worms, sandbed clams, brittle stars - creatures that are suspected of helping a sand bed stay healthy (but at the same time make it difficult to clean or siphon the sand bed).

Lastly, to estimate how much sand you'll need to buy for your tank - a handy calculator: http://www.garf.org/calculators/SandBedCalculator.asp Caribsea / Garf will probably be pretty close to Tropic Eden products

 

[nawilson89]

I was interested in changing my sand bed from a crushed coral/arganite mix to fine sand. I was looking into silica-free play sand (since my aquarium is over a year old and is filled with beneficial creatures, most that i would sift out to keep). Ill be piggybacking this post .

Also to hmspradlin! Welcome to the world of Saltwater! Its fun and worth the switch from freshwater. but i wont lie. I still miss my freshwater tanks!

 

[hmspradlin]

I was interested in changing my sand bed from a crushed coral/arganite mix to fine sand. I was looking into silica-free play sand (since my aquarium is over a year old and is filled with beneficial creatures, most that i would sift out to keep). Ill be piggybacking this post .

Also to hmspradlin! Welcome to the world of Saltwater! Its fun and worth the switch from freshwater. but i wont lie. I still miss my freshwater tanks!

I wont lie, I'm already trying to talk myself into keeping my 5 gallon fw to keep my mini cray and clams. I LOVE my mini cray. He's so cool, and some of the reason why I decided to switch my 55 SW- because I LOVE the mini ecosystem in my tank. And thanks for the welcome. I'm actually really glad I found this forum. You can expect a LOT more questions threads from me in the future!

 

[hmspradlin]

your question depends on what you'll be doing with your saltwater tank.

Stony corals? then a mid/course grade aragonite sand - reefflakes come highly recommended: http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/TE-TE03616R30.html

Why? Stony coral tanks require a lot of flow - anything smaller than reef flakes is going to dune up and blow around on you. The bigger grains may not be as beneficial for sand dwelling fish - like blennies or gobies.

Soft corals with (lower) flow? A finer grade sand would be fine: http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/TE-TE03611A30.html

Why? You'll need less flow

FOWLR (Fish only with live rock) - whatever you want.

Like previously stated - live sand is just sand in water (maybe / maybe not with bacteria). it's a waste of money. Dry sand is fine.

Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate based) sand is a must. Silica sand is too sharp for sand dwelling fish and may cut them up. Argonite is usually rounded and eroded.

You'll seed the sand with the bacteria you need either by buying a small cup of sand from an LFS or from the live rock you'll buy from the LFS.

Other options for live sand bed creatures: check out IPSF.org (indo pacific sea farms) - they sell spaghetti worms, bristle worms, sandbed clams, brittle stars - creatures that are suspected of helping a sand bed stay healthy (but at the same time make it difficult to clean or siphon the sand bed).

Lastly, to estimate how much sand you'll need to buy for your tank - a handy calculator: http://www.garf.org/calculators/SandBedCalculator.asp Caribsea / Garf will probably be pretty close to Tropic Eden products

Wow at the information! Thank you so much! I'm starting with a FOWLR and hoping to move up to reef once I feel more comfortable. Total newbie. Can you do the live sand bed creatures with a FOWLR? Any ideas how much aragonite would be/lb? I had planned on getting aragonite and adding a smaller piece of live rock. That will help begin the cycle-correct? THANKS!

 

[nawilson89]

Keep an eye out for anyone in the area selling live rock or sand. When i started i lived in Brevard county and bought enough from local reefers to start up multiple SW tanks. It was pretty much a kickstart for my two little 29g tanks.

 

[C4DC]

I have Caribbean Oolite sand in my tank. It is very fine and easy for sand sifting critters and wrasses that sleep in the sand bed to bury themselves into. It would not be good for a high flow tank though. I would not cheap out on sand. It will be a low overall cost item in the long run. Determine what type things you want to keep and that will narrow your choices greatly. It is hard to change once you have everything set up and established.

 

[Planefanatic]

I have sand and rock available. It's dry so you don't have to worry about parasites. I am looking for $1 lb.

 

[Ted_C]

Wow at the information! Thank you so much! I'm starting with a FOWLR and hoping to move up to reef once I feel more comfortable. Total newbie.

It's no bother. I went through the same questions a couple 'o years ago.

Can you do the live sand bed creatures with a FOWLR

Live sand bed creatures: they are supposed to help process the wastes. Most people seem to think that when you remove the phosphates and nitrates that are bioindicators of waste in water - then it is gone. What really happens is they (the sand bed critters) increase their biomass and take up the things that would normally turn into nitrates and phosphates in the tank. They are still very much part of the system. When they die - they rot and re-release the nitrates and phosphates.

So maintenance is still key - you'll need to siphon the sand bed a bit at a time with every water change. Some of the creatures may be exported in the water change - but they should re-establish if you do it in sections.

If you neglect to do this - there are many many stories of the system crashing after 5 years. Many attribute this to the waste in the sand bed.

Yes - you can use these critters with a FOWLR tank - however - many fish are predators to these creatures.

Any ideas how much aragonite would be/lb?

Premium Aquatics sells 30 lb bags for $40 - so 40/30 = $1.33 per pound

I had planned on getting aragonite and adding a smaller piece of live rock. That will help begin the cycle-correct? THANKS!

Correct - the bacteria in the live rock will multiply and populate the tank when you start feeding and/or creating waste products.