What's the deal with Southdown??

[misty927]

What exactly is Southdown Sand? I've heard a lot about it...but know nothing. Can anyone fill me in?

 

[daniel411]

An aragonite sand sold at Home Depot for around $5 for 50 pounds. $5 for 50 pounds vs. $25 for 25 pounds (or some similar price) if sold by a lfs.

 

[chinnyr]

It also comes from the Caribbean and is safe for saltwater tanks.It is now sold as Old Castle brand sand.

 

[fireo1o]

how long would it take sand like this to turn live?i was thinking about adding some sand like that just because of the price. but if ls is all that better i might go with it.does anyone use this sand, and does it get dirty since its not live?

 

[jlm]

I used this sand and I'm just not very happy with it and it's taking so long for me to really get the amount of bugs and stuff going the way I want, and I think it always looks dirty. The other stuff is just prettier too. And if I had it to do over since my tank is just a 20 I would have gone with ls.

 

[wrassecal]

Unless something has changed you can't get it in Austin anyway. I used it in my 135 and laid a half inch of ls over the top. No way I could afford all live sand.

 

[fireo1o]

wraas...how did the mixing of sand work out?does it turn a nasty color or does it stay pretty clean?i was thinking of doing that for my 75 since ls is so expensive

 

[cordell]

interested in the results myself.. will be setting up 75 gal soon and am planning to do similar, with aragonite sand, but not from southdown/old castle.. and live sand... how'd it work out?

 

[wrassecal]

It works great. It's all white arogonite sand.