Need help with sand selection please.

[squidworth]

Setting up a new tank and want to get the cycling going. I need to purchase some plain sand that will be seeded with live sand and live rock later after the cycle is working. What sand should I get, I have been overwhelmed at what I have found on line and dont know which to buy?

 

[kev]

Are you planning on adding your LR/LS after the cycle? If so, thats not a good idea, that will make your tank REcycle. When you first set up a tank, get your temp and salinity good, then add your LR/LS and let the tank cycle. That is much more effective and you will see your tank cycle faster(which i know i dont have any patience ). As for the type of sand to use, Southdown would be a good choice to use to be seeded with LS...

 

[squidworth]

Yes, I meant to say I was adding rock for cycling, I will be adding ls later as cash permits. I also forgot to mention southdown is right out of the question for me. No hd with 200 miles. I need to find a local type sand (probably not) or order online. I just need to know what to buy. There is just so many choices I dont know what to get

 

[fshhub]

carib sea aragonite, is a bit more expensive(actually alot) then south down, but it can be found at many online retailers, just be sure to specify oolitic, or grain size, tehy also sell a aragonite cc(which you do not want), or you could go and get quickrete(you know the cement company) which is quartz based and it will work, i know of many others who have used it with no problems,
and if you are nto getting any ls now, why bother, the lr will seed you rbed too, the ls more than likely be only wet sand and bacteria(if you are adding sand after teh cycle, i would use ls, but not for the cycle if you are using lr) and the rock will provide much more life than just bacteria to the sand, by the time the cycle is complete, and the bacteria will colonize by itself
HTH adn good luck
btw, squidworth, check your mail