Pool filter sand vs live sand

[SmokeOneLV]

Trying to keep the budget down on my setup and was thinking about buying pool filter sand instead of live sand. Any advice on this and should I add 1 bag of live sand to the pool sand? Right now i have dry rock that I want to seed also will live sand help seed the rock? Thanks

 

[trevormass7]

I know live sand will help seed the rock but I dying know anything about the pool sand

 

[fishbox]

If I remember correctly, pool sand is full of silica which can leach into the tank. Wait for more advanced expertise tho.

 

[trevormass7]

I know you can use play sand if your trying to make it cheaper, you just have to wash it a lot

 

[Mr. Bill]

Once upon a time, silica sand was all we had, and it worked very well. If rinsed thoroughly, the amount of silicates leached will be minimal and readily consumed by diatoms. Most new tanks derive silicates from other places- hence the short-lived diatom bloom- so you probably won't notice any difference. While it can be seeded with live sand, it's not really necessary.

 

[915MANG]

Just go Bare Bottom if you want to save money. I think the white sand looks better, But my whole Tank is almost all Frag Disk, I have enough sand for my wrasse in the back

 

[SmokeOneLV]

Just go Bare Bottom if you want to save money. I think the white sand looks better, But my whole Tank is almost all Frag Disk, I have enough sand for my wrasse in the back

I was going to go bare bottom but the kids want a diamond gobys and a wrasse.

 

[Mr. Bill]

I was going to go bare bottom but the kids want a diamond gobys and a wrasse.

You'll need to rethink the sand, then. Silica sand is sharp and can injure burrowers and sifters. You also need it to be finer than play- or pool filter sand. Dry reef sand is cheaper than live sand, too.

 

[SmokeOneLV]

You'll need to rethink the sand, then. Silica sand is sharp and can injure burrowers and sifters. You also need it to be finer than play- or pool filter sand. Dry reef sand is cheaper than live sand, too.

Thank you i was bout to make a big mistake. I will have to look for some dry reef sand. I didn't see any when I was looking online.

 

[SmokeOneLV]

That is just alot of money I might have to pass on the diamond gobys. Do they have to have a 2" deep sand bed? Cause the LFS claims I need over 120 lbs of sand to have a 2" sand bed and I don't see spending $120 on sand.

 

[Mike N]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-dry-live-rock-live-sand/aquarium-live-sand.html (dry sand options near bottom)
or
https://premiumaquatics.com/category/dry-substrate.html

How big is your tank?

 

[SmokeOneLV]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-dry-live-rock-live-sand/aquarium-live-sand.html (dry sand options near bottom)
or
https://premiumaquatics.com/category/dry-substrate.html

How big is your tank?

Yea I might have to drop the sand idea. Or just take a trip to Cali and get some from the beach and take my chance.

 

[SmokeOneLV]

Yea I might have to drop the sand idea. Or just take a trip to Cali and get some from the beach and take my chance.

Lol 150 gal. I had thought it was only 125 but I measured today to see how much sand and it's a 150 gal tank lol surprised me lol and I had this tank for atleast 10 years.

 

[Mike N]

Yea I might have to drop the sand idea. Or just take a trip to Cali and get some from the beach and take my chance.

This calculator says you need 116 lbs for a 2" sand bed. If you can somehow afford it, get it done. The goby+pistol pairs are one of the most fascinating parts of saltwater tanks.
Maybe someone else can recommend a cheaper option to stock the tank with dry sand.

 

[SmokeOneLV]

This calculator says you need 116 lbs for a 2" sand bed. If you can somehow afford it, get it done. The goby+pistol pairs are one of the most fascinating parts of saltwater tanks.
Maybe someone else can recommend a cheaper option to stock the tank with dry sand.

Yea I'm still trying to figure this one out. I want the goby& pistol combo and my wrasse.

 

[Butitor]

If you're on a budget take a look this might help (www.marcorocks.com/products/sand/140-lb-bahama-aragonite-sand-shipping-included-all-sand-ships-usps-priority-mail/). With pool sand most likely your tank will have cyano outbreak.

 

[ebushrow]

People locally that take down their tanks often sell a 5 gallon bucket of old sand for 5.00, buy a couple of those and you will be set with the 116 lbs you need.

Just wash, wash, wash and you should be good.

 

[SmokeOneLV]

People locally that take down their tanks often sell a 5 gallon bucket of old sand for 5.00, buy a couple of those and you will be set with the 116 lbs you need.

Just wash, wash, wash and you should be good.

Yea that's what I have been looking for but not having any luck. I'm going to Cali next week going to look on Craig's list and see if I can get lucky. And I'm still considering taking sand from the beach. I have read mixed reviews some say it's cool some say it's horrible so I'm still looking for info.

 

[fishbox]

Local reef clubs are amazingly great to join. You will find lots of members willing to part with items very cheap and sometimes free.

 

[SmokeOneLV]

Local reef clubs are amazingly great to join. You will find lots of members willing to part with items very cheap and sometimes free.

I'm going to look into that the only group so far that I found in Nevada is no longer active. But I'm going to do some more looking into that.