What Sand?

Whys

Whys

New member
Hi, I have a new aquarium on the way, which I will be posting much about very soon. A lot of decisions have already been made. But the next one I'm concerned about is the sand.

I intend to use a deep sand bed (already decided), and I like the look of crisp white sand the best. What is recommended for a white deep sand bed?

Also, to what extent should I use "live sand"? I have my doubts that there is anything in it that is still alive. Should I even bother with it?

Thanks. :)
 
I got Aragonite sand, which is fine and white. It also has more rounded particles, apparently, which is good if you plan to have sandsifters or bottom dwelling fish as it's smoother on the body/gills.

There's no need to buy packaged live sand. "Dead" sand will become live soon enough. If you have a reef club in town or a friend with a healthy reef, a cup of sand from their tank will help get your sandbed going.
 
Use 4" of sugar-sized aragonite. Don't bother with the packaged live sand - there's nothing alive in there. Instead get some real live sand if you want. Get it from a local reefer or your LFS. Otherwise your live rock will seed your sand. I like using some live sand to increase the diversity of micro organisms.
 
Okay, aragonite. I see this recommended a lot.

Should I only get sugar-sized, or a mixture? The sand bed will be 5 to 5 and a half inches deep. I've seen recommendations for mixed sizes and have read that there are pre-mixed sands available.

I will also have a good amount of horizontal water flow just above sand level, though it can be pointed slightly upward if need be. Should I alter the sand mixture for this reason?

Lotus99, your quote, one of my favorite movies. :)
joshkennedy07, also a wonderful quote. Edison and I must be of like mind. :]

Thanks.
 
I like sugar-sized for appearance, but it will sometimes blow around in the current. I have 45X flow in my tank and I have been able to keep it under control.

Make sure any powerheads have a magnetic attachment to the glass to save you some trouble.
 
I have a DSB in my tank and IMO sugar fine sand is the worst mistake I've made with the tank. I have a tough time with sand blowing around and corals on the sandbed getting buried. You might consider about 3" sugar fine sand and 2" of the next largest grain on top of that.
 
Mikey Donuts, thanks for the insight.

My water return is split, but returns near sand level. If I mix in a slightly larger grain, will those grains stay mostly on top of the sugar-fine grains? I'll have plenty of sifters in it, but probably no burrowers.

Also, what's the difference, if any, between aragonite and oolite? Should I include any crushed coral at all?
 
If you're planning on doing a functional DSB you will need sugar fine sand, from about .125 to .2mm particle size. You won't want to do a sea cucumber either.
 
Aragonite is the way to go.... fine but not too fine to prevent blowing/cloudiness.

Get a cup of live sand from a local reefer.

I have a DSB with aragonite, and i tend to get valleys/hills due to the powerheads, but it makes for a nice, natural appearance to the tank.
 
HaKs310, I'm a bit confused. I've read elsewhere that sea cucumbers *should* be kept with DSB. I'm not questioning your expertise, but can you provide some explanation?

Also, what about mixing sugar-fine with about 25% next larger grade? Could that work with a functional DSB?

Thanks.
 
i agree i have 3 cuc's in my DSB and they love it.

i think the problem is when the cuc dies, it takes the whole tank with it.... but that is only certain species.... right?
 
I stand corrected, Cucs will be fine in a tank with a DSB, mixed up cuc with star in my mind sorry. In a functional DSB the sand bed needs to be undisturbed as much as possible and you won't want infauna eating critters. And yes some Cucs are able to nuke a tank if they die but they're only certain species. The species that are regularly kept in our aquariums will not: Tiger, Edible..

Here an article by Ron Shimek that cover the basics on DSBs:
http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html
 
Last edited:
I have the white sugar sand in a high flow tank, and I am in the process of replacing my sandbed in favor of medium far less pretty sand. The fine sand has blown and walked in dunes, maintains very little nutrition for the sandsifters, blows into my clam, over lowlying corals like fox, and is a general nuisance when the current causes it to move and undermine a rock, which dumps a specimen to the bottom. Fine sand has cost me a fairly large maze brain, a montipora, has irritated the fox coral, the candycane, and the clam. So I'm going back to coarse, even if it does look like heck.
 
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