[Cela Vie]

OK. I officially think of live rock and live sand as required components (equipment) to any saltwater tank hence the posting of this thread in the "Equipment" forums section. My question is, how good is live sand in a bag? Should I be using that with "real" live sand or is it okay and does it really include critters or just bacteria? Thanks.

[CyberJester]

Originally Posted by Cela Vie

OK. I officially think of live rock and live sand as required components (equipment) to any saltwater tank hence the posting of this thread in the "Equipment" forums section. My question is, how good is live sand in a bag? Should I be using that with "real" live sand or is it okay and does it really include critters or just bacteria? Thanks.

Please define "real" live sand. Live sand has to either come from a tropical reef to get the bacteria's specific to fish and invertirates that inhabit those locations or it has to be made in tropical tank over time. I would think that all LS that comes from those great a distance would have to be bagged. Just make sure you get the bagged stuff that says "Live Sand" there are others that are made by putting dead argonite sand in a bag and adding certain types of bacteria to it in a saline solution. I would recomment the "CaribSea" brand of sand. Also make sure it says "aragonite" sand on it because many other types can contain silicates.

[Cela Vie]

This would be the live sand in a bag:

CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand 20 lb (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Substrates > Live Sand )


And this would be the "real" live sand, which I think its supposed to have little critters in there (star fish, worms, etc.):

Fiji Live Sand: White, Fine to Medium Grain Box 50 lb. Box - SHIPPED

Thanks.

[WILLIAM1]

correct that is live sand! you can use that to start your cycling period and speed up the proccess a little. I would consider covering about three inches on the bottom of the tank this will help in a few months with your nitrates and keep them low. I run a 90 gallon tank myself.

[CyberJester]

Yep thats the stuff, it ussually doesn't have starfish and such in it. But I suppose it is possible. Mainly bacteria and very small crustatians in it.

[lynnvangsnes]

Yep, that'll work! I used this stuff:
CaribSea - Aragamax Sugar Sized Saltwater Sand 30 lb
this is not alive, but after a few months of 120 lbs of rock with it, the sand will become seeded. This stuff was just under $1/lb, delivered.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

DSB article - CALFO A good article about sand beds.
Aquarium Frontiers On-Line: October 1997: Without A Backbone More about sand and what lives there