Sand

36boo · Nov 1, 2016

Starting a new build just wondering what everyone using for sand and where should I get it

120reefkeeper · Nov 1, 2016

This is what I used. It's the caribsea special grade.

I would shop around . When I found mine the price difference between Drfostersandsmith.com and marinedepot.com was huge for the exactly the same size bags and grade. I also hear good things about Tropic eden reef flakes.

Wiz · Nov 1, 2016

I use 2/3 dry aragonite sand and 1/3 live sand. I like the figi pink. I go with under an inch deep unless your doing a dsb. In which case I would do 4" or more.

kendavjac · Nov 1, 2016

Don't use really fine sand if you are planning on having a lot of flow. Constant sand storm.

36boo · Nov 1, 2016

Wiz said:
I use 2/3 dry aragonite sand and 1/3 live sand. I like the figi pink. I go with under an inch deep unless your doing a dsb. In which case I would do 4" or more.

Sorry for asking but what is dsb still new to this talk lol

Wiz · Nov 1, 2016

Sorry, DSB is a deep sand bed. It is hard to get right but I swear by it. A lot of Reefers hate them. If done correctly I would never have a reef without one. If done incorrectly it will kill your entire system. If you're interested research it well. And start here

http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html

Wiz · Nov 1, 2016

My display does not have one because I prefer to vacuum. And I have sand sifters. My refugium has A6 inch bed that I absolutely love

Maritimer · Nov 1, 2016

I used the same stuff - CaribSea Special Grade. It's got plenty of fine sand, but also has rocks and shells (all seem to be white) mixed in. I've got some in my sump and in my HOB refugium as well as the display, but in those locations the sand overlies a layer of "Fiji Mud". Not sure whether the mud is doing anything, but it seemed like a good idea at the time! (>_<)

I'm in the early stages of an upgrade, and will have to consider whether I want to move the existing sand (most folks recommend not doing it - if I do, I'll siphon it out through a large-diameter hose, to give it a good cleaning. It's chock-full of spaghetti worms...), adding more "live" sand and how much, or just using dry aragonite sand.

I'd love to add some of Tampa Bay's sand and rock, but can't manage the levels that are suggested for the size of this tank! I might still order a smaller "package" as a treat with which to seed my existing sand and rock with extra random and fascinating creatures.

~Bruce

locito277 · Nov 1, 2016

Mix of Oolite, Fiji pink amd caribsea special Grade. Mostly Oolite. Mixed it so it would not fly all over the place and so far so good.

Wiz · Nov 1, 2016

Mine is 5 inches of ooliteand one inch of Fiji pink and some Florida keys mud on top.

locito277 said:
Mix of Oolite, Fiji pink amd caribsea special Grade. Mostly Oolite. Mixed it so it would not fly all over the place and so far so good.

Aznxgqboyx · Nov 1, 2016

Pool sand from ace hardware. Hth pool sand, 10-14 bucks for 50lbs. Cant beat that.

Aznxgqboyx · Nov 1, 2016

The sand

36boo · Nov 2, 2016

Aznxgqboyx said:
The sand

Is that as white as it looks

Aznxgqboyx · Nov 2, 2016

36boo said:
Is that as white as it looks

Yes it looks like that. Its like a off white, maybe the lighting makes it look more white in the picture

sinekal · Nov 2, 2016

You may want to be careful using sand for a pool filter. I would guess it's full of silica which can drive diatom blooms.

I am a big fan of the carribsea reef grade as well. The tropic eden reef flakes are really nice too. Both are a large enough to not blow around but not too big so it still looks like sand.

Oolite is great for creating a deep sand bed but in the display can be really hard to keep out if the water if you have a lot of flow because it's really really fine.

I can't decide if live sand does anything or not, but I can tell you your sand bed will be alive very shortly after you seed with anything out of an existing system so I'm not sure the added cost is needed.

36boo · Nov 3, 2016

sinekal said:
You may want to be careful using sand for a pool filter. I would guess it's full of silica which can drive diatom blooms.

I am a big fan of the carribsea reef grade as well. The tropic eden reef flakes are really nice too. Both are a large enough to not blow around but not too big so it still looks like sand.

Oolite is great for creating a deep sand bed but in the display can be really hard to keep out if the water if you have a lot of flow because it's really really fine.

I can't decide if live sand does anything or not, but I can tell you your sand bed will be alive very shortly after you seed with anything out of an existing system so I'm not sure the added cost is needed.

So use dry sand only