All live sand or aragonite?
- Thread starter drew2005
- Start date
flower
Well-Known Member
I disagree, the bacteria rich live sand is not as good as reef sand you get from SWF...but it's it's still better than dry agragonite sand. Don't get crushed coral. Dry Aragonite sand is just fine. No matter what you use, you still have to cycle the tank, there is no getting around that.
Rocks go in first and sand around it...You should not build on shifting sand, you can crush critters, or have a rock slide that breaks the tank.
Rocks go in first and sand around it...You should not build on shifting sand, you can crush critters, or have a rock slide that breaks the tank.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456083
Getting ready to set up my 75 rimless. What do you guys think? Not going to do a dsb. Probably 2-3 inches max. All live or just caribsea or an equivelant?
If you start the tank with live thriving macro algae (in a refugium) or even an algae truf scrubber, the substrate you use is not relevant.
Whether live sand, dead sand, aragonite, crushed coral, oyster shells, or even silica play sand, the algae will maintain the tank regardless. If done correctly you will experience not ammonia/nitrItes spikes but can have an initial nitrate spike.
Actually the same applies to live rock as well.
Still the live rock and live sand you buy from this site are useful. Just that IMHO thriving macro algaes trump them.
my .02
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456083
Getting ready to set up my 75 rimless. What do you guys think? Not going to do a dsb. Probably 2-3 inches max. All live or just caribsea or an equivelant?
If you start the tank with live thriving macro algae (in a refugium) or even an algae truf scrubber, the substrate you use is not relevant.
Whether live sand, dead sand, aragonite, crushed coral, oyster shells, or even silica play sand, the algae will maintain the tank regardless. If done correctly you will experience not ammonia/nitrItes spikes but can have an initial nitrate spike.
Actually the same applies to live rock as well.
Still the live rock and live sand you buy from this site are useful. Just that IMHO thriving macro algaes trump them.
my .02
fixpc
Member
hi flower
my problem with the live sand that are in bags is what organism is going to live in a sealed plastic bag with no air, no food barely any light for six months on a shelf. There's probably some bacteria it you can get 10 times more bacteria in someone's used filter floss. Real Live sand should have worms and copepods and other cool looking stuff in it that's real live sand.
my problem with the live sand that are in bags is what organism is going to live in a sealed plastic bag with no air, no food barely any light for six months on a shelf. There's probably some bacteria it you can get 10 times more bacteria in someone's used filter floss. Real Live sand should have worms and copepods and other cool looking stuff in it that's real live sand.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by fixpc http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456119
hi flower
my problem with the live sand that are in bags is what organism is going to live in a sealed plastic bag with no air, no food barely any light for six months on a shelf. There's probably some bacteria it you can get 10 times more bacteria in someone's used filter floss. Real Live sand should have worms and copepods and other cool looking stuff in it that's real live sand.
LOL..The same is said of coral food....That is why I said it was not as good as reef sand like you would get from SWF.com, but it does have at least something which is better than nothing. The problem is people don't want to wait for a cycle...even with live reef sand the tank has to cycle.
Most of us starting out do not have exposed filter floss on hand. I personally like the live sand in a bag better than the dry...no cloud of micro dust so it settles right away. I love the reef sand from SWF...it's the best choice.
Originally Posted by fixpc http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456119
hi flower
my problem with the live sand that are in bags is what organism is going to live in a sealed plastic bag with no air, no food barely any light for six months on a shelf. There's probably some bacteria it you can get 10 times more bacteria in someone's used filter floss. Real Live sand should have worms and copepods and other cool looking stuff in it that's real live sand.
LOL..The same is said of coral food....That is why I said it was not as good as reef sand like you would get from SWF.com, but it does have at least something which is better than nothing. The problem is people don't want to wait for a cycle...even with live reef sand the tank has to cycle.
Most of us starting out do not have exposed filter floss on hand. I personally like the live sand in a bag better than the dry...no cloud of micro dust so it settles right away. I love the reef sand from SWF...it's the best choice.
drew2005
Active Member
Im not trying to avoid a cycle or anything like that. I just wanna do this setup better than my current setup. I guess i could go all dry and seed it with some of my sand from my current set up. Ill save a few bucks.
I do see what your saying about it being water weight. And honestly most of the bacteria is probably dead anyway.
That being said whats a good quality sand to buy. Caribsea?
I do see what your saying about it being water weight. And honestly most of the bacteria is probably dead anyway.
That being said whats a good quality sand to buy. Caribsea?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456232
So a 1-2 inch sandbed will be ok?
2 inches of sand is perfect, IMO.
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456232
So a 1-2 inch sandbed will be ok?
2 inches of sand is perfect, IMO.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456439
Ok im gonna do 1.5-2 inch sand bed. Now which sand do i use? Fine or larger grain?
Sugar sized........Live reef sand from SWF is the very best...live aragonite sand is good, and dry aragonite sand is good (be sure to rinse it)
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456439
Ok im gonna do 1.5-2 inch sand bed. Now which sand do i use? Fine or larger grain?
Sugar sized........Live reef sand from SWF is the very best...live aragonite sand is good, and dry aragonite sand is good (be sure to rinse it)
drew2005
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456487
IMO 3" of sand is a DSB.
My suggestion would be to use dry aragonite for most of your sand bed. After the tank has cycled add a box of the premium live sand.
Would adding the live sand after cycling kickstart another cycle? Im thinking 50-60lbs is good enough?
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456487
IMO 3" of sand is a DSB.
My suggestion would be to use dry aragonite for most of your sand bed. After the tank has cycled add a box of the premium live sand.
Would adding the live sand after cycling kickstart another cycle? Im thinking 50-60lbs is good enough?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
How bout no sand? Just throwing that out there too. 
bang guy
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456504
Would adding the live sand after cycling kickstart another cycle? Im thinking 50-60lbs is good enough?
20 pounds of live sand isn't going to disrupt the balance as long as it was cycled properly. That should be plenty.
Originally Posted by drew2005 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456504
Would adding the live sand after cycling kickstart another cycle? Im thinking 50-60lbs is good enough?
20 pounds of live sand isn't going to disrupt the balance as long as it was cycled properly. That should be plenty.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456520
20 pounds of live sand isn't going to disrupt the balance as long as it was cycled properly. That should be plenty.
+1
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456520
20 pounds of live sand isn't going to disrupt the balance as long as it was cycled properly. That should be plenty.
+1
drew2005
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456512
How bout no sand? Just throwing that out there too.
I have thought about that but i kinda like the natural look of sand. I have seen some really sick looking bare bottoms though
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456520
20 pounds of live sand isn't going to disrupt the balance as long as it was cycled properly. That should be plenty.
Ok so ill do 20lbs of dry and cycle. Then after cycle i will add 10-20lbs of premium live. That should give me around a 1.5" sand bed if im calculating correctly. Give or take. Hows that? My current setup has around 1-1.25" left. Its been running for almost 7 years.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456512
How bout no sand? Just throwing that out there too.
I have thought about that but i kinda like the natural look of sand. I have seen some really sick looking bare bottoms though
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/390348/all-live-sand-or-aragonite#post_3456520
20 pounds of live sand isn't going to disrupt the balance as long as it was cycled properly. That should be plenty.
Ok so ill do 20lbs of dry and cycle. Then after cycle i will add 10-20lbs of premium live. That should give me around a 1.5" sand bed if im calculating correctly. Give or take. Hows that? My current setup has around 1-1.25" left. Its been running for almost 7 years.