Live Sand advice for a newbee

[OKR Brooks]

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.

Yeah, got those same packets with the flora max substrate I have in my freshwater planted tank

 

[Dalmatia]

Did you use it? If you did, would you share your results with us/me?

 

[OKR Brooks]

I did use the packets when I put in the flora max, I was really not impressed. As a matter of fact I made quite a mess when setting that all up. I did not do much research on things when doing my freshwater tank like im doing with my reef tank. A lot of trial and error stuff on my part, and the water was horribly black when I first put in the flora max and those packets didn't do anything as far as I can tell. I do like the flora max substrate though my plants have done well in it. I have about 3-4" of flora max and a little over 1/2" of the colored aquarium gravel on top of it.

 

[VicD81]

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.

Is that what that is? I always wondered why I kept finding little Styrofoam balls floating and Ive always found little bivalves dead. good no know.


Oh and BTW I have started 2 systems Arag-Alive. With the first I used the packets and this new one I did not. I saw no difference. I think I actually lost one in there somewhere with this new system. Hopefully someone will dig it up so I can pull it out!