Sand?

[ca161406]

ok so i want to get 80lbs of sand for my 125. my question is what ratio should i use for lbs of live sand to sand from like home depot? and also too i was wondering what kind of sand i should use from there? i hear that some shoulnt be used at all.
or should i just pay the extra for 80lbs of live sand?

 

[aquaguy24]

u can use all dead sand and they should sell it at ur lfs for cheap...way cheaper then live sand...

 

[ca161406]

Originally Posted by aquaguy24
http:///forum/post/2764812
u can use all dead sand and they should sell it at ur lfs for cheap...way cheaper then live sand...
really hm i never seen dead sand at the lfs. would it be smart to seed it with some LS or would the LR be enough??

 

[privatejoker]

Stay away from HD sand. Get some fiji pink or something like it from the local fish store. If you want to get live sand buy one bag or get a hand full from a local reefer with an est. tank. Sand will all become live in time. You just have to wait. You can get fiji pink for $18 for 20 lb bags. It looks great and is easy to keep clean.

 

[ca161406]

Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2766643
Stay away from HD sand. Get some fiji pink or something like it from the local fish store. If you want to get live sand buy one bag or get a hand full from a local reefer with an est. tank. Sand will all become live in time. You just have to wait. You can get fiji pink for $18 for 20 lb bags. It looks great and is easy to keep clean.
yeah ive herd mixed messages about it. i may look into that, just i can get 40lbs of live sand for $35. so that was the route i was going to go, but after seeing 50lbs for $5 at HD i was considering that option

 

[addicted4life]

Think of all the contaminants in any kind of play sand, or even the silica sand. Who knows what has been in contact with it, maybe a cigarette butt, or a penny.
Buy the bagged stuff only. I prefer Tropic Edens Agrasnow, as I have alot of diggers in the tank.

 

[privatejoker]

Find something from your local fish store. It is better and like addicted4life said you have no idea what's in the HD stuff. There is cheaper stuff out there that's not live. I would stay away from crushed coral, its a pia to clean and fine sand makes the tank look 100% better.

 

[nordy]

Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2767837
Find something from your local fish store. It is better and like addicted4life said you have no idea what's in the HD stuff. There is cheaper stuff out there that's not live. I would stay away from crushed coral, its a pia to clean and fine sand makes the tank look 100% better.
+1

HD sand is not recommended due to its unknown condition. Go with the cheap stuff from your LFS and if you just wait awhile, it will become active from being in your tank.
I strongly recommend thoroughly rinsing your sand 2-3 times before placing it in the tank-it can make a very cloudy mess if you don't.

 

[mrmoses]

Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2766643
Stay away from HD sand. Get some fiji pink or something like it from the local fish store. If you want to get live sand buy one bag or get a hand full from a local reefer with an est. tank. Sand will all become live in time. You just have to wait. You can get fiji pink for $18 for 20 lb bags. It looks great and is easy to keep clean.
What does HD stand for?

 

[tdog7879]

I use the sand from HD cause thats what the LFS said would be okay i also have added LS on the top (5 inche DSB) the tank has been running for 8 months and no problems till recently iam having a cyano problem not sure if thats from the sand? But i also have a ton of critters in the DSB so im still not sure if the HD is the best choice if i had to do it all over i think i would have gone with the sand they sell at the LFS. Plus it isn't that great looking in the tank but you can cover it up with the LS on top like i did.

 

[privatejoker]

HD=home depot

 

[privatejoker]

You don't need alot of sand on the bottom. 2-3" is enough. In the display tank a deep sand is not really needed. You can check out multiple threads on deep sand beds.