Originally Posted by 1journeyman
It's a joke in the sense that it doesn't replace true "live" sand.
Fresh live sand will be full of micro life (snails, worms, pods, etc.).
I must admit, I'm skeptical of bagged shelf sand. Ammonia fixing bacteria needs oxygen. I can't imagine there is much in a bag of wet sand.
actually, a good LFS will keep it in the window or near light. my bags had green algae growing in it producing oxygen for aerobic bacteria.