Substrate
- Thread starter gquimby1
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anthonys51
New member
how big is your tank going to be. i would buy live sand , to me its not that much more expensive than dry sand and i dont have to spend time cleaning it. did i mention i am lazy
juniorrocketdad
New member
On Amazon a 20lb bag of Carib sea live sand is like 21$, it's really good deal and you get piece of mind
I would not recommend "live" sand, dry sand is less expensive since you don't pay for the water that live sand is shipped in, you can clean dry sand with tap water while live sand requires that you use saltwater to remove the fines (dust) and lastly live sand often has more dead than live organisms in it, save your money and use dry sand.
2smokes
In Memoriam
Silica dont disolve in water.The aquarium glass its made of silica sand and they dont disolve.Thats a myth about silica sand that cause diatom blooms.The silicone glue thogh leaks silica and you could find somme diatomes there in every aquaarium but not something to worry about.The pool sand is beautiful and has the advantage is more heavy than coral sand or aragonite (wich is crushed marble sand and more dense and heavy than coral sand).More heavy sand means it will stay better in the current if you have powerfull wave makers.The reason why silica sand isnt used, its because is too abrasive compared to the soft coral sand and it will scratch your aquarium glass when cleaning it with the magnet and also small particles will float because of the currents and get into the pumps rotor making them to last less time.
anthonys51
New member
Keep hearing dry sand is much cheaper I bought live sand for 33 bucks for 40 lbs that's 82 cents a lb. if I buy 80 lbs of sand and dry sand in 41 cents a lb I save a whopping 33 bucks
For 33 bucks I think the benefits of live sand is worth it Plus you just cut and add to tank. No reason to rinse it. Instructions even say not too
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Flaring Afro
Puffer Geek
You're not factoring in the weight of the water in the live sand you bought, and so much is dead from being on the shelf you really aren't buying live sand anymore. It's just sand with extra decaying material.
anthonys51
New member
If it was decaying the sand would smell. But if your saying live sand doesn't work that's your right. But to say it's dead and has no benefit it at all isn't true
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Flaring Afro
Puffer Geek
No, there's isn't any benefit over starting your cycle with dry sand and adding food to the tank. If most of the beneficial bacteria were still alive in the sand, you wouldn't even need to cycle the tank.
anthonys51
New member
That's not how cycling works Even a bottle of bacteria doesn't fully cycle a tank the reason it takes 4 to 8 weeks is that this kind of bacteria multiplies slowly The more you start with the shorter the cycle. In this hobby often there are many ways to do things. But to make blanket statements like it doesn't work is a little short sighted. People been using live sand for years I cycled my tank in 3 weeks with live sand and rocks I don't like ghosts feeding my tank prefer to use live rock and sand. Don't want to introduce nutrients when I don't have too. I never feed my tank for first 2 months. I never had an algae problem or Dino or cryno problem in all my tanks. Start slow and natural in my preferred method. I don't even run Gfo or refiguim in my current tank and still no phosphates and I have 13 fish in a 57 right now.
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xCry0x
Active member
I used reefflakes in my recent tank due to the general consensus of it looking the best.
Have to agree with the look of the sand. My wife, who generally dislikes the hobby, has said twice that she likes the way the sand looks.
Also a huge plus is that the grain size doesn't blow all over like my oolite sand did in previous tank. Leopard wrasse still dives into sand bed with ease - which was a concern. Pistol shrimp still digs it with ease, also was a concern.
As far as live/dry, I always use dry.
Have to agree with the look of the sand. My wife, who generally dislikes the hobby, has said twice that she likes the way the sand looks.
Also a huge plus is that the grain size doesn't blow all over like my oolite sand did in previous tank. Leopard wrasse still dives into sand bed with ease - which was a concern. Pistol shrimp still digs it with ease, also was a concern.
As far as live/dry, I always use dry.
