Cheap Live Sand

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fishfreak2009

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 25, 2009
694
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Michigan
What do you guys think about live sand for aquariums? I'm redoing my salt tank and the crushed coral in the tank is being replaced with a 6 inch deep sand bed, as well as adding a 6 inch sand bed to the refugium. The Nature's Ocean Aragonite is really expensive, and I was wondering if I could just use a cheaper sand instead. I already asked my local home depot, and they cannot order me the SouthDown sand. I was wondering if this sand would work: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Does it look ok? It says in the description that it's safe for fish bowls.
 
I hate to say it, but your going to want to avoid playsand. Its just a hassle and will likely cause more problems then is worth the reduced cost, everyone I know that has tryed to do that has wished the didn't and pulled the playsand out and replaced it with aragonite sand. If you intend to do a DSB I suggest you read this articel, http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html it is one of the best and most comprehensive articels on DSBs. My final suggestion is that you go to http://www.ipsf.com/index.html and pick up their "live sand activator plus" Micro sand stars, as well as their worm kits, as these are all nessisary for a healthy DSB. They sell the only good live sand bed starter kits, all the rest of the "live sand" is just wet sand with maybe a few bacteria in it. Yes they cost alot, but long run you will likely be happier with your DSB if you do.
 
Decided I'm only going to do a sand bed about 3 inches deep in the main tank, mainly because I would like to add a diamond sleeper goby. In the refugium however, the sand bed is going to be 5-6 inches deep.

I will avoid the playsand then. I guess I'll just save up for the Nature's Ocean stuff. I think I'll try to get the oolitic.
 
What brand is it and where can I buy it? About how many pounds do you think I'll need for an area 5'x24"x3" and an area 24"x12"x6"? Just trying to figure out how much this is gonna cost me.

Edit: Just found a sand calculator and it said 245 pounds for both areas at the depths I want. How much does dry aragonite cost per pound?

2nd Edit: Looks like it's going to cost me around $160 for all the substrate. :(
 
Cheap, dry, aragonite sand ----> marcorocks.com

Also, at three inches, you are in the nowhere zone. I would do 1.5 inches or 1 inch. If you find your critters are burrowing to deep, you can always add more.
 
fishfreak2009;4444411; said:
What brand is it and where can I buy it? About how many pounds do you think I'll need for an area 5'x24"x3" and an area 24"x12"x6"? Just trying to figure out how much this is gonna cost me.

Edit: Just found a sand calculator and it said 245 pounds for both areas at the depths I want. How much does dry aragonite cost per pound?

2nd Edit: Looks like it's going to cost me around $160 for all the substrate. :(
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Ya the stuff is not cheap... but your getting off easy... the tank build I have planned (few years down the road) is going to be 5"-6" sand bed, with an area of 8'x3' as well as a second level of 1-3" of sand area of 1.5'x5' so thats like... i donno almost 2000$ in sand? lol.
 
Kevin8888;4444532; said:
Ya the stuff is not cheap... but your getting off easy... the tank build I have planned (few years down the road) is going to be 5"-6" sand bed, with an area of 8'x3' as well as a second level of 1-3" of sand area of 1.5'x5' so thats like... i donno almost 2000$ in sand? lol.
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Lol, youll get a workout just putting it into the aqaurium. Whats the salt mix bill going to be, hahaha
 
Heathd;4444546; said:
Lol, youll get a workout just putting it into the aqaurium. Whats the salt mix bill going to be, hahaha
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LOL, I've been working in construction for 4+ years wile at school, so throwing around a half ton of sand isnt a big deal lol.
Salt cost will only be 250$ initialy (more or less) and I intend to set it up in a way that large water changes are rare. YAY for doing way to much research :)
 
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