Live Sand advice for a newbee

[OKR Brooks]

Ok, I'm brand new to saltwater and am in the process of setting up my first saltwater/reef tank. I'm currently still in the researching / planning and buying equipment phase. I'm leaning twords a deep sand bed and was planning on using CaribSeas oceans direct brand. I was planning on mixing the original grade with the finer oolite to get the finer look without creating a sandstorm with the powerheads. Willing and wanting to hear any advice, cautions, pros and cons associated with live sand. Let me hear what you got to say......

 

[Pete polyp]

If you mix the two the oolite will settle to the bottom. It will also end up taking more sand to create the dsb you desire. This ocean direct is GREAT! I used 40 lbs ocean direct and 20lbs arag alive for my sandbed. I saw no difference between the two other than added water and a packet of stuff I threw in the trash. I personally would go with all medium grade and no oolite.

Good to see another dsb in the works!

 

[OKR Brooks]

thanks Pete, that is just the type of advice that can help save me some time and money. I was also a little concerned that the original grade may be too heavy for some livestock that sift and burrow in the sand, have you had any issues with that?

 

[Pete polyp]

Nope, the snails (nassarius) pistol shrimp and everything else (worms, chitons etc.) Seem to do very well with it.

 

[VicD81]

Why don't you just go with Figi Pink. Its right in between. The only sandstorms I ever got was from a Yellow Belly Damsel that was trying to nest in a corner. DSB is cool looking, you can see the Nitrogen bubbles that were converted from nitrates making their way to the top.

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

I agree with the Fiji pink. Only sand I use

 

[OKR Brooks]

Nothing against the Fiji pink, but the 2 main reasons I was going with the oceans direct was 1. its not packed in water, so 20 lb. bag is 20lbs of sand and 2. they claim to have much more of the natural bacterias than the Fiji pink.

 

[VicD81]

Good point. I just looked at their site and I confused Arag-Alive Original with Oceans Direct Original. They advertise its .25mm to 1mm grain size which does't seem right, it looks more like the Arag-Alive original which is 1mm to 3mm. In any case its not overly coarse and should be fine if you are doing a shallow bed. If going DSB id say go with something finer.

 

[Pete polyp]

I used the ocean direct and arag alive Fiji pink in my 29. They appear to be the exact same.substrate. The arag alive just has a little bit of water in the bag where the ocean direct is just damp. I'm having really good results with it.

 

[Dalmatia]

If you mix the two the oolite will settle to the bottom. It will also end up taking more sand to create the dsb you desire. This ocean direct is GREAT! I used 40 lbs ocean direct and 20lbs arag alive for my sandbed. I saw no difference between the two other than added water and a packet of stuff I threw in the trash. I personally would go with all medium grade and no oolite.

Good to see another dsb in the works!

They are both good (sands). This is the pack you prob chucked in the garbage

, it's a water purifier like the ones you see on commercials for poorer countries (drinking water). Good call, I wouldn't put that in my tank either, unless I was cycling a tank.
The stuff that's wet in a bag (sand) you don't need to wash for an established tank, the dry you should give a rinse.

 

[Pete polyp]

That would be the packet.

 

[SloppyJ]

I use the Fiji Pink. I got 3 40lb bags of DRY Fiji pink. You can get it both ways. It's the only sand I use too.

 

[Pete polyp]

I didn't know you could get it dry. Good to know!

 

[rworegon]

Better to get dry sand than what they advertise as live sand. You're not paying for water and the bacteria thats in the "live" sand isn't anymore. Think about it sitting on a shelf in a warehouse, sitting in a truck, and then sitting on the store shelf, without heat and without circulation. Its going to die.

 

[KoleTang]

The only sands I would recommend are CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade (Dry) and Tropic Eden Reef Flakes. Your just paying for water when you buy live sand.

Fiji Pink will most likely get moved around by the flow. Maybe not as much as sugar fine, but definitely more than Special Grade.

Is your reasoning for a DSB to keep a certain species?

 

[Mike J.]

Better to get dry sand than what they advertise as live sand. You're not paying for water and the bacteria thats in the "live" sand isn't anymore. Think about it sitting on a shelf in a warehouse, sitting in a truck, and then sitting on the store shelf, without heat and without circulation. Its going to die.

Every time I have set up a new tank with the live sand I have had clams hatch. Little Styrofoam looking things that float to the top and then sink when they get to about 1/4". That obviously indicates that everything is not dead. I'm a big fan of live sand for a NEW tank.

 

[Dalmatia]

Better to get dry sand than what they advertise as live sand. You're not paying for water and the bacteria thats in the "live" sand isn't anymore. Think about it sitting on a shelf in a warehouse, sitting in a truck, and then sitting on the store shelf, without heat and without circulation. Its going to die.

They have a way of keeping it alive. I didn't believe it my self till I watched a documentary on it. Forgot what it was called,,, but it's very much alive and don't need any rinsing (the wet sand). But your correct on paying more, it's wet. Paying for the water too

 

[VicD81]

Petco has sand on sale till the end of today! $20 for a 20lb bag! Jump on it.

 

[Dalmatia]

Petco has sand on sale till the end of today! $20 for a 20lb bag! Jump on it.

Man I'm in canada. Don't think those sales apply for me
But ya, the wet stuff. If buy at least $2-300 worth

 

[OKR Brooks]

The only sands I would recommend are CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade (Dry) and Tropic Eden Reef Flakes. Your just paying for water when you buy live sand.

Fiji Pink will most likely get moved around by the flow. Maybe not as much as sugar fine, but definitely more than Special Grade.

Is your reasoning for a DSB to keep a certain species?

certain species is not the only reasoning for DSB, but part of it, and I just like the looks of it. I would like to have a habitat that helps maintain a higher population of pods because I do like mandarins and wrasses. I also like the watchmen goby and shrimp combo.