Just sharing, not sure what brand you bought. I didn't rinse my sand but some folks do. So I shot an email to CaribSea because I was curious about the live sand. I used the Figi pink and didn't rinse because I thought it defeated the purpose in buying the product. I wanted to know how they introduced the bacteria, if it was "from the ocean" and if rinsing would do any harm. This was the reply for what it's worth...
Hi Jay,
Sure you could rinse live sand if you wanted but in most cases folks are buying live sand partially because it is rinsed and clean already. Our Arag-Alive line of live sand is very clean and can be used with no rinsing. Yes it does just have a dormant bacteria added back to it but it is a clean product that will help you with cycling.
The other product that we make is Ocean Direct. This is kept constantly moist after it is taken from the ocean. It has the endemic bacteria still on it. It is not as clean and many would opt to rinse but it all depends on what you are looking for.
For a rinse free live sand use Arag-Alive. If you are worried about fines use a variety such as our special grade reef sand that has a bottom size of 1mm. I hope this helps.
Best regards,
Jud McCracken
Sales Manager,
CaribSea, Inc.
And an unexpected second reply..
Hello Jay!
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify. First, this sand is from the ocean and we start by stripping the natural material of any original bacteria. In its place we affix selected strains of bacteria, in a spored state, to the grains of sand and pack it in seawater to maintain hydration. Since the bacteria is spored, it does not require food or oxygen for a very long period of time. These bacteria are engineered for rapid exponential growth which truncates the normal break-in cycle. They activate when they are placed in an aquarium and sense the nitrogenous compounds produced by aquatic life. The bacteria and fixing agents also pave the way for other types of bacteria making colonization and reproduction much more efficient. You can use dry sand (we offer a great selection of dry aragonite sands) and bottled bacteria but it will not activate the sand bed as efficiently as bacteria fixed in place throughout the bed. However, bottled bacteria can add additional species and capabilities and is always compatible so don’t hold back if you have it.
Aragalive is prewashed as part of the preparation but since the bacteria on Aragalive is fixed to the grains and in a spored state, a quick and gentle rinse can be OK as long as it is not too vigorous. I have heard of tap water being used and immediately placed in seawater but I would recommend it be rinsed in seawater or at least RO if you feel rinsing is necessary. Never try to rinse an aragonite sand till the water runs clear. It is a soft material and the agitation itself causes cloudiness and you will lose the majority of the bacteria trying. I hope this answers your questions.
Sincerely Yours,
Rick
Richard Greenfield
CaribSea, Inc
