How to get bright white sand?

[runn3rb3an]

For my next tank I really wan the bright bleached white tropical sand look. I really like the look of powder but I don't want it blowing all around my tank. What's a good alternative? Can anyone point me towards a good white fine sand to use?
Also by leaving it out in the sun for a few days does it become more white?
Thanks

 

[small triggers]

nope, leaving it outside wont really do much... you have to buy ultra white sand....the sugar sand does tend to be whiter but i like argonite for that reason too..
bleaching coral sand will make it whiter,,, but i dont know how that will work after its in the tank for a while Like the bleached ornaments that are taken out once or twice a year to re-bleach??

 

[rlablan]

I used the manufactured sand in my tank. It's not live when you buy it, but seed it and it's fine.
It's like 7 bucks for 10 lbs and it's the whitest of whites. It is sugar fine and even with my multiple powerheads, it doesn't blow anywhere at all.
The only issue is, it looks like crap for the first few months of the new setup. It seems worse with diatoms and such, than the regular ol' sand that I have in my other tank, that is less what.
I would probably use this stuff again though. I like the velvety look of it.
I don't know the name but they sell it at ***** and petsmart and it's 7 bucks and It is only in 10lb bags.

 

[runn3rb3an]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3192941
I used the manufactured sand in my tank. It's not live when you buy it, but seed it and it's fine.
It's like 7 bucks for 10 lbs and it's the whitest of whites. It is sugar fine and even with my multiple powerheads, it doesn't blow anywhere at all.
The only issue is, it looks like crap for the first few months of the new setup. It seems worse with diatoms and such, than the regular ol' sand that I have in my other tank, that is
What? LOL I don't really understand this can u explain? Can I see a picture of the sand?
Thanks

 

[rlablan]

Which part don't you understand?? lol I am not sure what you want explained??

I can't get a pic right now, but I might be able to get one later.

 

[runn3rb3an]

When u said it looks bad at first? Why? and "less what"?? At the end of that paragraph.

 

[t316]

It doesn't matter what substrate you get (although I prefer argonite (sp?)). It can all look as white as Santa's beard when you put it in, but if you don't have a good clean up crew and a pristene tank, it's all going to have brown spots very soon.

 

[rlablan]

It is very white, now.
It was white when it went in, and while cycling. Then once the diatom stage came about, I just remembering it being like 1000 times worse with this manufactured sand, rather than the caribsea live sand I used in my other 55 gallon reef.
It is better now, but It seems that it attracts more "stuff" than regular sand that is bigger then the sugar fine stuff. I don't know why, it just seems that way.
I'm sorry, I meant "less white." The sand in my other 55 gal reef is the caribsea live sand, I dunno what size grain but it's bigger than this white manufactured stuff I am talking about....
Does that make more sense? lol

I think I confused myself there?

 

[jtt]

take a trip to cancun mexico with a bucket. their beach sand is like pure white sugar.

 

[xcali1985]

I was going for the white sand look and found out that a refuge helps alot with this as you can put a PC light on it and it will house a lot of the diatoms and since you wont be cleaning them off it can assist in helping use up the nutrients that they use. I did have diatoms in my tank but very little and in only a few spots and the glass. The fuge was covered in it. Now the tank is almost pure white and i would say looks pretty much the same as when I first bought it. Now once it has all the critters and such that is needed to maintain a healthy setup who knows.

Not the best picture but trust me its white.

 

[rlablan]

My 55 in my office has a lighted fuge, but there is no diatoms or anything in there. Just 3 chunks of rock, and about 4 inch sand bed.
The 55 in the living room has the "whiter" sand, and it probably wouldn't have looked so bad if it had a sump/fuge. It is however running on a canister and the water quality is great, just the sand needs some help....
Good advice on the fuge. Never thought about that.

 

[runn3rb3an]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3193823
My 55 in my office has a lighted fuge, but there is no diatoms or anything in there. Just 3 chunks of rock, and about 4 inch sand bed.
The 55 in the living room has the "whiter" sand, and it probably wouldn't have looked so bad if it had a sump/fuge. It is however running on a canister and the water quality is great, just the sand needs some help....
Good advice on the fuge. Never thought about that.

wait this is the ***** brand sand correct? sorry im a little confused lol. are you saying the ***** brand is whitest as long as you have a good cuc?

 

[rlablan]

It's not actually ***** brand, but it is sold there... lemme see if I can find it on their site...

 

[rlablan]

Okay, couldn't find it on their site, but the brand is Nature's Ocean.
Here is a pic of the actual sand.
You can see how it's really really fine, and it's really velvety.

 

[rlablan]

here is a pic of the bag.
This is actually a bag of aragonite, but the label is the same, just so you know what the bag looks like.
I like the look, and the price is really cheap.
They sell it at walmart (I believe) and also ***** and petsmart.

 

[runn3rb3an]

cool thanks for the help!

 

[number1gsxxr]

A good cleanup crew is the key. I have a fighting conch in my 46-gal and it is constantly combing the sand. I also don't have a crazy high bio-load so I'm sure that helps keep it white.
FYI, I have the 'sugar' grain sand and it doesn't blow all around and I have some pretty high flow. It all depends on how you place your powerheads (and the type of powerhead I think).