bagged sand

[1990jpyj]

so at my lfs today i saw some bagged sand that had water in it and it was advertizing that it eliminates the cycle. is it worth it. they are 10 lbs which is how much i need. is it god to use or should i just wait and let some natural stuff go trough all cycle.
the bag is about $40 which is the same amount that swf.com sell.
anybody use this?
how good was it?

 

[sickboy]

Well, the only reason it would eliminate the cycle would be the bacteria that has been added to it, or that you add after you open the bag. It does cut down on the time, but I wouldn't buy it just for this purpose. If you need sand anyway, it won't hurt.

 

[1990jpyj]

im actually setting up to brand new tanks and if this will cut the time down because of the bacteria then it might be worth it. im not trying to jump the gun, but my GF told me today that she wants a 20g for herself with 2 clowns. so i figure i can give it to her for x-mas. if i can get it up in time. i have to think about it. anybody else???

 

[sepulatian]

Bagged sand at the LFS is actually arogonite with bacteria "cultures" in it. It will not reduce cycle time by much, if at all. You can buy plain arogonite sand and just add your live rock.

 

[1990jpyj]

im gonna look into it today and see what it does. i might give it a try. but im not 100% yet there is like 4 different types of it. Crushed coral, small sand particals, med sand particals with CC, and then some very realistic looking sand(stuff im looking at) misture of a bunch of things. looks just like when you go out on the beach with some small shells n stuff
idk yet still dont know. i dont have evidence either way

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by 1990jpyj
http:///forum/post/2833947
im gonna look into it today and see what it does. i might give it a try. but im not 100% yet there is like 4 different types of it. Crushed coral, small sand particals, med sand particals with CC, and then some very realistic looking sand(stuff im looking at) misture of a bunch of things. looks just like when you go out on the beach with some small shells n stuff
idk yet still dont know. i dont have evidence either way
Buy the smaller sand, not the mix, nor the CC. Just the sand. I don't know what kind of "evidence" you are looking for. Sure you can find many tanks that cycled with just live sand and live rock. The problem is that it is a soft cycle. You can do that but you will have to work up to a fish sized bioload.

 

[mr_x]

it will not eliminate the cycle.
dry sand which is considerably cheaper, will eventually grow bacteria on it just like the sand in the bag.
i would buy the dry sand and live rock.