My live sand is expired :( Now what?

[MnFish1]

Sure, but as I have pointed out above, the difference in cost is $3 for 40lbs, and it can be had for less than dry sometimes because it's on sale frequently. I'm not saying that all of the life survived, but when you're discussing the difference of $3, why does it even matter? I completely agree that the Arag-Alive stuff is WAY overpriced... But even if OceanDirect is like buying dry sand and it ends up devoid of life because it's been sitting too long, it was only $3 more, and the fact that it *can* have more life (as has been shown anecdotally from BRS and a few other places) means I'm spending $3 for that chance, and it's something more people should do. If everyone bought it, self-life would be less of a concern ;-)

One reason - is that if someone just 'uses it' - there can be a lot of extra 'dead stuff' - i.e. chemistry (Phosphate/Nitrate/etc). There is simply IMHO - no clear reason to use 'live sand' as compared to clean sand and bottled bacteria. Now - of course - you could also say that the bottled bacteria also has dead 'stuff' in it.

 

[JNalley]

One reason - is that if someone just 'uses it' - there can be a lot of extra 'dead stuff' - i.e. chemistry (Phosphate/Nitrate/etc). There is simply IMHO - no clear reason to use 'live sand' as compared to clean sand and bottled bacteria. Now - of course - you could also say that the bottled bacteria also has dead 'stuff' in it.

You should pick up a bag and do some hands-on research on it, see what you come up with. I'd be interested in your results... heck, I might even fund the bag of sand if you'd be willing to dedicate your time and expertise for it

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I feel like if you just used some wild collected live rock it wouldn't make a difference what sand you chose tbh

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

I used some that was over two years old on my first setup May of last year. No problems with it at all. I purchased to “seed” some old dried Florida live sand from years ago. However I lost all of that in a fire, so bought more sand. I have set up 6 tanks with this “live sand” in the last year and a half and had no problems. I also don’t rinse.

 

[MnFish1]

You should pick up a bag and do some hands-on research on it, see what you come up with. I'd be interested in your results... heck, I might even fund the bag of sand if you'd be willing to dedicate your time and expertise for it

At this point - I'm not sure exactly 'what' to do. I can think of a couple possibilities - But...

 

[MnFish1]

I used some that was over two years old on my first setup May of last year. No problems with it at all. I purchased to “seed” some old dried Florida live sand from years ago. However I lost all of that in a fire, so bought more sand. I have set up 6 tanks with this “live sand” in the last year and a half and had no problems. I also don’t rinse.

I also would not rinse