alternative to live sand?

[jroath87]

hey guys. ive been using the crushed coral in my tank for about the last year and a half but lately ive been wanting something more realistic. The live sand is insanely expensive. I was wondering if any of you knew a safe and cheap alternative so i could have a fine grain substrate like the live sands

 

[ophiura]

Yup, use dead sand

It is the type of sand that matters, not whether it is live. In time, it will become live, and you can boost that by getting a cup from a fellow reefer. I would recommend seeing if you have a local reef club - members often have extra sand or are taking down tanks. Good source of all stuff...
You do, IMO, want a carbonate sand. Search for "vinegar test" and "playsand" and you will likely find some posts.