[apw63]

I’m new to the hobby; this may sound like a dumb question. When you buy live sand from an online vendor, is it packaged wet, or is it dry? Do you have to seed it, or activate it? Does it come both ways? Which why is best? If it is wet how long do you have to get in to salt water? I would think it comes wet, but I just don’t know.

Thanks
Andy

[chexwebson]

Live sand is packaged wet. You can use it to seed non live sand. However live sand is the best. You don't want to order or open until you are ready to use it.

chex

[apw63]

Thank you for the info.

Andy

[FisH NooB]

i agree, live sand is great if u wanna get ur tank up and running quickly... u can't have to much good bacteria tho.. u can buy the reg sand, as long as its aragonite, and us bottled bacteria... cheaper but it takes a bit longer... my two cents....

[volitan_fa]

Yes, aragonite and calcium carbonate based sands are the only thing to use. Unfortunately, many brands advertise as live sand, but really are just packaged wet. Remember, true live sand will always cost an arm and leg :P.

[apw63]

Ok so I'm going to take my time to set up my tank. You are saying I could save myself some money. I could buy aragonite and calcium carbonate based sands. Then seed with bottled bacteria is this correct? What should I get first the sand and the bottled bacteria or live rock. Since I don’t care about the time, I assume I could apply the same process to live rock? Do I buy some live rocks and it will seed the non live rock? If this is not correct process with the live rock, how does it work?

What kind of time are we talking about to seed sand and rock?

Thanks
Andy

[volitan_fa]

Go with the live rock first, you want it on a solid base, not on top of your sand. Yes, you can buy base rock (non-live) and mix live rock in with it. Live rock takes longer to seed, a couple months probably. Live sand on the other hand, maybe a few weeks.

[apw63]

Ok one last question on live sand and rock. I get my tank, sump, water, lights, heater & plumbing set up. I’m going to start with a 29 gal tank with a sump\ refugium. I plan on moving up to a 50ish gal on down the road.

What is a good amount of live rock to start seeding with? I figure I will have around 45 lbs of live rock in the end.

Which way will result in the healthiest live sand. I think I will have around 30lbs of sand in the end.

1. If I buy 10lbs of good live sand. Then buy X lbs of aragonite and calcium carbonate based non live sands. I would put X amount of each in the tank and sump, then sit back and let it grow. I believe that good live sand has more that just bacteria.

Or

2. I buy X lbs of aragonite and calcium carbonate based non live sands and a bottle of bacteria. Put sand in both tank and sump and let them grow.

I hope this does not sound repetitive. If I put the rock into the tank first, then add the sand. Can they be seeded at the same time?

I let my rock and sand grow for around 3 months or how ever long it takes. Do I need to feed it anything and if so what?

I do search and read the other posts and material\sources. I’m sorry if these questions have been asked and answered before. I just want to get the best start I can.

[volitan_fa]

Go with number 1. Good live sand has much more than just good bacteria, it can have some beneficial organisms as well (like copepods). When I said aragonite or calcium carb. based sand, I meant those are the only types that are aquarium approved (to my knowledge). I wouldn't buy any substrate that wasn't designed for your aquarium (such as Aragamax).

In a 29 gallon tank, you would want to buy the smallest amount of live rock, usually 25 lbs, and then get some base rock, probably 25 lbs again. Most places don't ship in quantities less than that.