sand bed.

[moocow]

I've done some recent research on substrates, and have found that people use all type of different things with success. I know to avoid CrushedCoral.
In my 12 gallon Nano I have Arag-Alive. Fiji Pink sand.
But for a 1"-2" sand bed and at 20lbs per bag, that's about 4-6 bags.
Is there something else I can use as a filler with the arag-alive, or something else I can use all together?

-thanks
-matt

 

[Shooter7]

I have just used plain aragonite sand in my tanks. The live rock seeds the sand with life eventually, so never spent the money for the so called "live" sand.

 

[moocow]

yeah about how much does plain aragonite run?

 

[moocow]

and where would you get it at?

 

[Shooter7]

I got mine at the LFS. I have seen it at some of the larger pet stores. I don't remember exactly how much I paid for it. It was more than you would pay for the play sand like some people use, but it was certainly less than what you pay for "live" sand. I would imagine that the pricing would be highly variable from area to area and store to store.

 

[moocow]

ah alright. Thanks.
I'm having trouble finding it online and my LFS just went out of Business.
Anyone else know of an online store that sells it??
Doesn't appear as though the Dr's do.

 

[dragonman62612]

I paid 18.99 at Fishman in Springfield Il,then later same day found it for 16.99 at Petco in Springfield. thats for a 20 pound bag of no frills aragonite dry

 

[Shooter7]

Have you tried Premium Aquatics' site?


And yeah, places like Petco and I think Petsmart I've seen it at.

 

[cur10u5g30rg3]

Petco sell one that is pretty inexpensive, then just find a local reef club and I am sure someone will provide you with a handfull of good live sand to seed yours or let your liverock seed it.

 

[Jeremy_holt]

I used one 20 pound bag and mixed it with non live sand. Sand bed is alive and well. It will all be alive over time

 

[dileggi]

I just received a catalog in the mail from petsolutions.com. I'm almost positive that I seen it in the catalog, but I'm not certain. Their prices seem pretty good, and that's only because I noticed what they charge for things I had already purchased elsewhere! LOL!

 

[moocow]

is sand like this okay? or should I be looking more towards aragonite?
I really couldn't find anything like that on petco.com

 

[moocow]

would this be alright?
It's the cheapest I've found so far.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CS0930.html
but such a small grain size...how much of that would I need??
I would like to do that, and mabey a bag or two of the black sand.
w/e color isn't too important. How much would I need?

 

[spike78]

he smaller grain size is going to serve you better. As well, if you aren't going to go with a deep sand bed, I'd stick with a bed less than an inch deep. You want to make sure you don't end up with a nitrate sink. Generally the rule of thumb is less than an inch, or over 4 inches.

 

[moocow]

So I just noticed I didn't add a link to the post before last.
http://www.petco.com/product/7534/Nature-s-Ocean-Premium-Marine-Substrates.aspx
that's the sand I found at petco.

Should/Could I mix that with some of the Aragamax?
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CS0930.html
or even the black stuff? I really like the color. Unless someone has a good reason to not do this.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CS0821.html

 

[moocow]

how much would I need to get to an inch do you think?

How much for 4"?

Which is better if I plan to keep zoas, and LPS. Softies?

 

[moocow]

bump

 

[Zoophile]

There's a sand bed calculator here <http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/SandBed.php>

You can go very shallow (or barebottomed) and siphon your tank, or 4"+ and allow the sand bed to compliment your live rocks with its bacterial function. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, which have all been discussed at length, and can be found through the search function. Lots of info to read up on, so go make a cup of coffee

 

[cd77]

If you plan to go with a DSB (>4" sand) definitely do your research as Zoophile advised before purchasing any substrate. Here is a good place to start:

http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep Sand Beds.htm

 

[drillsar]

try drfosterssmith there having a sale and there shipping is really good. I got 3 bags of Caribsea 30lbs ea of Dry Aragonite and 1 40lb ocean direct for $117.00 shipped