what type of sand and where to buy

[jedheuer]

Hard to tell from the pics but I think 1-Caribsea Super Natural, Tropic Isle Marine Sand 20 lb
or

2-CaribSea Dry Aragonite Special Grade Reef Sand 40 lb

will be the way I want to go.

If your looking for reflectivity I think the sugar fine tends to run whiter, but this could be arbitrary and depend on the individual brands/batches.

Thanks for the links!

 

[shaneh]

Hey Jed and Stripe,

I went to 6th Ave to look for the CaribSea Dry Aragonite Special Grade Reef Sand 40 lb and they only have the “live sand” brand. So I'm going to give Napa a call to shop for price for the CaribSea Dry Aragonite Special Grade Reef Sand 40 lb sand. I have heard alot of ppl saying good stuff about it so I'll go with it. Jed do you want me to pick some up for you? I'll give them a call to make sure they have the stuff first. I'll check the other fish stores in the area. I can't get it till this weekend, working too much.

Shane

 

[jedheuer]

yea, let me know a price and that would be great if you would pick me some up too. thanks dude.

 

[shaneh]

I'll send you a PM on the prices that i get.

I just can't make up my mind on the type of sand, i like the look of th esmaller grain but i don't want it to blow all over.

I like the Bahama ooh lite sand but Stripe said he had problems.

my next two are the:
special grade reef sand
west caribean reef all by caribsea.
They look exactly the same on the caribsea site and have the sam partical size .1-.2 I'll pick the whiter of the three.

I'm waitting to hear back. All the stores I spoke with said they wil give a deal if i buy large amounts. I just don't wanna make a 160lb mistake.....

 

[northbay-reefer]

Shane, if I were you I go small sand otherwise you will change it latter. As for flow, if you move the water on the top of the tank, your power head will work more efficient and the water at the lower part of the tank will follow the movement of the top. Plus the lower light corals like lps need less flow will be lower and the sps on the top that need more flow will be on top with more flow so your sand will stay if you create your flow that way.

 

[shaneh]

I'm gonna go with the Bahama ooh lite sand, I liked the sand first time i saw it but was worried. If I regret it I blame Tom j/k your one of the reef gurus. I'll pick it up this weekend. Going to finish plumbing and build my canopy. I may have the total package...maybe in two meetings I will be ready to show off the new toy.

 

[jedheuer]

Shane, if I were you I go small sand otherwise you will change it latter. As for flow, if you move the water on the top of the tank, your power head will work more efficient and the water at the lower part of the tank will follow the movement of the top. Plus the lower light corals like lps need less flow will be lower and the sps on the top that need more flow will be on top with more flow so your sand will stay if you create your flow that way.

Good point. I think most people who have problems with sand blowing around are using vortechs which you cant really direct way from the sand as easily as you can individual multiple power heads.

I'm gonna go with the Bahama ooh lite sand, I liked the sand first time i saw it but was worried. If I regret it I blame Tom j/k your one of the reef gurus. I'll pick it up this weekend. Going to finish plumbing and build my canopy. I may have the total package...maybe in two meetings I will be ready to show off the new toy.

That is nice sand. Good luck with the build. I am almost done with the stand for my 120 upgrade. Will be putting on the top coats of poly this weekend.

 

[thysrof]

Shane,

I just pulled my DSB and got lots of free sand. its coarse and i think it's Caribu-Sea.