Originally Posted by TriggerPhish
I also have this sand. From my understanding the sand has bacteria but not worms, pods, and other critters. however after purchase of live rock and over time this sand will become the equvilant of any live sand available.
Before fish I could see many pods and worms anytime of day. My tank including sand was full of life within weeks
While it is true that LR will eventually seed your sand there are some "critters" that don't live in/on LR and prefer to live in sand. If you want to increase your critter population I'd get some true live sand to seed your sand. Check out the info below on worms.
Article Information: Shimek, Ronald. PH.D. "Worms: The Good, the Bad and the Wiggly." Marine Fish and Reef 2007 Annual: 76-83.
"Most worms enter aquaria by the addition of live rock. Although the overall diversity of sand dwelling worms is far greater, aquarists seldom have access to wormy sands and don't add them to their tanks."
On worms entering via live rock:
"Probably the best numerical estimates of worms in live rock... The estimated worm population abundances varied between 17,000 and 92,000 animals per square meter, with several hundred species being encountered.
...(assuming a rock) with a surface area of 39.3 square inches...could be expected to have between 425 and 2,300 polychaetes* living in it."
*Polychaete (Encarta)-- ocean worm with bristles: an ocean worm with a segmented body and bristled fleshy appendages used in swimming.
Pretty impressive numbers.
