Special Grade Arag-Alive, Ocean Direct, or something else...

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

Building my 180 reef. I don't want my sand to blow all over the place, want a standardish 2" bed or so. I would like to get a couple of goby's and wrasses like McCosker so I want them to be able to burrow.

I have seen good reviews of the Special Grade Arag-Alive, and mixed reviews on the new Ocean Direct. This a new tank, so I am not worried about waiting for it to settle.

Anyone have experience with either of these or opinions on something else that might be better?
THANKS!

cmcoker · Nov 25, 2017

Tropic eden mesoflakes or reefflakes would be another option. I used the mesoflakes and like it. Doesn't blow around except if it's getting hammered with flow in a certain spot.
It's on sale this weekend
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/tropic-eden-reefflakes-aragonite-sand-30lb.html#reviews

Haven't used the other brands you mentioned.

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

cmcoker said:
Tropic eden mesoflakes or reefflakes would be another option. I used the mesoflakes and like it. Doesn't blow around except if it's getting hammered with flow in a certain spot.
It's on sale this weekend
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/tropic-eden-reefflakes-aragonite-sand-30lb.html#reviews

Haven't used the other brands you mentioned.

Thank you - the brands I mentioned are both from carib-sea. I believe a friend also recommended reef flakes.

Thank you. I will look!

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

cmcoker said:
Tropic eden mesoflakes or reefflakes would be another option. I used the mesoflakes and like it. Doesn't blow around except if it's getting hammered with flow in a certain spot.
It's on sale this weekend
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/tropic-eden-reefflakes-aragonite-sand-30lb.html#reviews

Haven't used the other brands you mentioned.

Is that live, or not? Would the same be recommended with the live version?

wattson · Nov 25, 2017

Bare Bottom and youll never look back at sand again..

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

wattson said:
Bare Bottom and youll never look back at sand again..

lol - I love the look of sand though!

I don't think I have ever even seen a pic of a bare bottom tank.

Matthew Frost · Nov 25, 2017

Mini Coop said:
Building my 180 reef. I don't want my sand to blow all over the place, want a standardish 2" bed or so. I would like to get a couple of goby's and wrasses like McCosker so I want them to be able to burrow.

I have seen good reviews of the Special Grade Arag-Alive, and mixed reviews on the new Ocean Direct. This a new tank, so I am not worried about waiting for it to settle.

Anyone have experience with either of these or opinions on something else that might be better?
THANKS!

Bahama Oolite is a super fine sand that looks awesome.

wattson · Nov 25, 2017

my biggest regret in this hobby was wasting money on sand and all headaches that go with it..my 2 tanks are bare bottom and 2 more water changes on my third tank and the rest of the sand will be suctioned out ,,gone for good..
water params are far steadier without all the testing and nutrient problems with having sand.

Matthew Frost · Nov 25, 2017

wattson said:
my biggest regret in this hobby was wasting money on sand and all headaches that go with it..my 2 tanks are bare bottom and 2 more water changes on my third tank and the rest of the sand will be suctioned out ,,gone for good..
water params are far steadier without all the testing and nutrient problems with having sand.

Some of us would like or little pieces of ocean to actually look like the ocean though. It's hard to cover up the fact that it is just a big box of salt water but the sand really helps the illusion.

wattson · Nov 25, 2017

Matthew Frost said:
Some of us would like or little pieces of ocean to actually look like the ocean though. It's hard to cover up the fact that it is just a big box of salt water but the sand really helps the illusion.

each to their own..GL

cmcoker · Nov 25, 2017

Mini Coop said:
Is that live, or not? Would the same be recommended with the live version?

the link is to dry sand. I used the live version, as the dry was out of stock when I ordered. They have live sand on sale also.
It's just personal preference of what you want to go with.
I didn't rinse the live sand, it took a couple days to clear out, nothing to bad especially if you don't have livestock.
During the diatoms phase of the tank cycling, I vacuumed the sandbed every few days and think I probably vacuumed out most of the silt that I didn't rinse. Did the vacuuming until the diatoms died down, now do it every once and a while to keep the sand cleanish.

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

Matthew Frost said:
Bahama Oolite is a super fine sand that looks awesome.

Does it blow around? I am going to have a new Gyre pump along with 2 mp40's

40B Knasty · Nov 25, 2017

I use the Arag Alive(salt/pepper). Love the way it looks. It is supposed to dissolve over time very very slowly to help keep the pH stable. My yellow and purple wrasse buries himself in it every night with no problems or scratches in the morning. I do not have a high flow. More of a medium to low flow. It does not blow around. I never used the magnetic reducer packet that comes in the bag of sand. Make sure you pull that out. My Dartfish moves it around when he wants to wiggle his way into a new hidey hole. When I had Randall's prawn goby. He would pick it up in his mouth and move it around. My mandarin can see the pods running across it and he doesn't suck up fine sand. I will say it is to thick of a sand for a sand sifting goby.
I seen in your profile that you live by one of my favorite LFS in New Albany. Reef Systems Coral Farm Inc. Lucky!

Matthew Frost · Nov 25, 2017

Mini Coop said:
Does it blow around? I am going to have a new Gyre pump along with 2 mp40's

It can a little if you get one of the mp40's blowing right at it.

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

40B Knasty said:
I use the Arag Alive(salt/pepper). Love the way it looks. It is supposed to dissolve over time very very slowly to help keep the pH stable. My yellow and purple wrasse buries himself in it every night with no problems or scratches in the morning. I do not have a high flow. More of a medium to low flow. It does not blow around. I never used the magnetic reducer packet that comes in the bag of sand. Make sure you pull that out. My Dartfish moves it around when he wants to wiggle his way into a new hidey hole. When I had Randall's prawn goby. He would pick it up in his mouth and move it around. My mandarin can see the pods running across it and he doesn't suck up fine sand. I will say it is to thick of a sand for a sand sifting goby.
I seen in your profile that you live by one of my favorite LFS in New Albany. Reef Systems Coral Farm Inc. Lucky!

I have actually not been there or know of them!! I heard there was somewhere good in New Albany - my sister lives there. I guess I need to check it out!

Mini Coop · Nov 25, 2017

I really like the look of the Mesoflakes! I think I might go that direction! 8 bags for a 180 should give me a 2-2.5" bed.

40B Knasty · Nov 25, 2017

Mini Coop said:
I have actually not been there or know of them!! I heard there was somewhere good in New Albany - my sister lives there. I guess I need to check it out!

When my friend took me there. It was in the middle of nowhere. I was kind of in aww with how they have the green house for the frags. Wait till you see the main display tank right when you walk in the door. Think it is 900 gallons. Just absolutely amazingly beautiful!

DancingShark · Nov 25, 2017

I recently swicthed to special grade when I installed a gyre 250. It was a sand storm at 20 percent. I can turn it up to 100 at night with two hydro with very, very minimal sand movemen.