Saving money with dry sand

[Jason Allen Wright]

Hello All,

 

I've searched and read and searched and read and haven't found the answer to my specific question yet, so here goes my first post:

 

I'm looking to save some $$$ on sand for my coming Biocube 14. I'm interested in getting dry sand and live rock for the reasons I've read recently (quality live sand concerns, unwanted inhabitants in live sand concerns, and the affordable option of seeding dry sand with good sand from an established tank and/or quality live rock). Problem is: my local fish stores have no dry sand, and I'm wondering if I can go to Home Depot or perhaps a garden store and purchase sand there for cheap instead of purchasing bagged dry sand from a website. Does anyone have experience with this? Is there anything I should know to look for/avoid? (I've heard that silica is a concern - but why?) I'm looking for ~1mm grain size, neither white nor dark.

 

Many thanks to all of the people behind the helpful posts and replies that I've been reading. I'm happy to see so many kind people spending their time helping noobies and participating in this community.

 

Jason

[Degener8]

I have heard of people using pool sand in tank but I have not done it myself. I think the thing to watch for here is silica? heck i donno if thats right or not i just remember there was some concerns about different types of pool sand when used.

[Jason Allen Wright]

I have heard of people using pool sand in tank but I have not done it myself. I think the thing to watch for here is silica? heck i donno if thats right or not i just remember there was some concerns about different types of pool sand when used.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Degener8. I've read here and there on the forums that silica content is a concern as well, but no explanations. I don't need an explanation from an expert, however! I'll believe them rather than risk trying something that is advised against. However, I do need to know what to get.

[cdr5y7]

thats correct. most of the pool sand have silica in them. you have to buy a certain kind but i think its decently pricey also. so you might just try and find a local hobbiest that is breaking down tank and buy his sand.

 

and i know your looking to save money but 2 things. its a 14g tank so you would need that much sand. and 2, idk that i would skimp on the sand. sand is one of the more important things in an aquarium. so i dont know that i would buy cheap sand. i would look into buying a 20# bag at your LFS. if i had to redo my sand i would use sugar sand. IMO.

[Jason Allen Wright]

...i know your looking to save money but 2 things. its a 14g tank so you would need that much sand. and 2, idk that i would skimp on the sand. sand is one of the more important things in an aquarium.

 

Thanks cdr5y7. I am interested in saving money where I can because I plan on putting the money into the highest quality live rock and lighting. You have a great point - it's only a 14 gallon tank, so even the most expensive live sand won't amount to much. So if it comes to it at least it won't make me broke!

I want you all to know it's not that I'm looking for the cheapest sand, it's that I'm looking for the most affordable good sand. I'm concerned about saltwater reefing compatibility and am particular about grain size, uniformity, and appearance. If the local fish stores had dry sand on hand I'd be there today - and I'm not enthused about purchasing bagged dry sand online and paying shipping for it. If anyone out there has done what I'm curious about then please share!

[Degener8]

I used bagged CaribSea pink Fiji sand in my tank.. 1-1.5 mm size.. its working great for me.. very consistent and excellent for my diamond goby to sift. Pretty happy with it all around and i think it was a 25 pound bag for 30 bucks..

 

not as good as ocean fresh in my opinion but i am also in an area without real good sand choice..

 

might be worth a look.

[Jason Allen Wright]

Thanks again D. I think that I'll widen my search of local fish stores and see what comes up. I really prefer not to shop at the big chain places, but since the privately owned stores don't stock dry sand, and if there's no alternative, I guess I'll have to buy from Pet"smart" () or Petco.

[DulcyDoll]

In my case, if I go into the LFS (been going there since I was a toddler with my dad) and ask about something, if they don't have it they will offer to special order it for me, maybe you could ask around to see if anyone would order dead/dry sand for you, never hurts to ask

[cptbjorn]

You can use sand from a hardware store if you want, most of it comes in gray/brown colors and it will scratch your glass easier than normal reef sands though.

 

As far as I know all sand that isn't calcium carbonate based is going to have large amounts of silica in it, but very little of it will be biologically available. It will probably cause a diatom bloom initially but once that is done you don't need to worry about it.

[kevivoe]

I started with "live sand" and dry rock. I don't believe a sealed bag of moist sand is live however, it needs oxygen. So I would say I started completly dead. I let the tank settle for 2 days after I added the water, sand and rocks before starting filtration and power head to avoid grit in the pumps and motors. I then ran for 3 weeks like this ... waiting patiently. After 3 weeks I threw in some flake fish food and larger granules, a couple of pinches. After 1 week you get a mess of growth. Another week and I added 3 large turbo snails ... and this was when things really took off. The large (golf ball or bigger) snails were covered in a purple algae from the fish store where I bought them. After just a few days I noticed the dry rock really starting to color up. I am now 8 weeks into the program and well on the way to curing the dry rocks and sand. I don't plan to add corals or fish for at least another 3 weeks. I am really satisfied I am seeing color on the dry rocks finally. I spent many a night staring at an empty tank. Patience is needed.

[jackaninny]

I started with "live sand" and dry rock. I don't believe a sealed bag of moist sand is live however, it needs oxygen. So I would say I started completly dead. I let the tank settle for 2 days after I added the water, sand and rocks before starting filtration and power head to avoid grit in the pumps and motors. I then ran for 3 weeks like this ... waiting patiently. After 3 weeks I threw in some flake fish food and larger granules, a couple of pinches. After 1 week you get a mess of growth. Another week and I added 3 large turbo snails ... and this was when things really took off. The large (golf ball or bigger) snails were covered in a purple algae from the fish store where I bought them. After just a few days I noticed the dry rock really starting to color up. I am now 8 weeks into the program and well on the way to curing the dry rocks and sand. I don't plan to add corals or fish for at least another 3 weeks. I am really satisfied I am seeing color on the dry rocks finally. I spent many a night staring at an empty tank. Patience is needed.

 

I never checked when I bought my live sand but is the cost difference really that much?

[Jason Allen Wright]

DuclyDoll, I think that's what I'm going to do! It's a funny thing that I never thought of that alternative! I'm sure that it will work well

Cptbjorn thanks for sharing. Now I'm decidedly against the idea of getting sand that's not meant for saltwater aquariums. I'm sure there's enough risk of me scraping the glass myself without high silica low quality sand! Thanks again.

I did notice that live sand is significantly more expensive than bagged dry sand. One LFS sells a 20lb bag of live sand for $55, and the local Petco sells a 20lb bag of dry sand for $17. I would expect the big chain store to be a little less expensive, but the live sand seems to be more expensive.

I've used the search tool to read a number of posts on wether or not live sand is really alive, and some of the posters dug up convincing information that it indeed is alive, and can stay alive for about a year. I think that the bags of live sand that I saw at the LFS had a "best by" date on them, which would reflect what some of those posters found out.

So I plan on going with bagged dry sand that I'll get my LFS to order, very high quality live rock (which I've found in the same LFS, and in a more distant fish store), and to make sure that I get as much good juju as I can in my tank I'll get a pinch of sand from each of their healthiest tanks.

Maybe I can get algae encrusted snails to help too, kevivoe!

[kevivoe]

I never checked when I bought my live sand but is the cost difference really that much?

 

I paid $26 for 20 lbs of "live" sand but I doubt it was very live. Nothing but bacteria if even that.

[mmelnick]

I didn't read this entire thread... so sorry if this has been said.

 

But skimping on sand would not be good. I agree with those who have said this. The reason not to use play sand from home depot is that the silicon dioxide (quartz) will leach silicates into your water and this will cause cyano blooms. Not good.

 

But the "live" sand is pretty much useless too. It has basically no life. It's just in some water to maintain a small ammount of bacteria. Just go to petsmart and get a bag of dry sand. But get aragonite. This is calcium based sand and will buffer your calcium and magnesium levels and will help to maintain PH. I just got a 30 lb bag for $19. Add some LR and wait a few weeks and you'd never know you didn;t get live sand instead.

[Jason Allen Wright]

I didn't read this entire thread... so sorry if this has been said.

 

But skimping on sand would not be good. I agree with those who have said this. The reason not to use play sand from home depot is that the silicon dioxide (quartz) will leach silicates into your water and this will cause cyano blooms. Not good.

 

But the "live" sand is pretty much useless too. It has basically no life. It's just in some water to maintain a small ammount of bacteria. Just go to petsmart and get a bag of dry sand. But get aragonite. This is calcium based sand and will buffer your calcium and magnesium levels and will help to maintain PH. I just got a 30 lb bag for $19. Add some LR and wait a few weeks and you'd never know you didn;t get live sand instead.

 

Yes this is what I'm going to do. Thanks for explaining a little about why not to use sand that's not intended for aquariums. The LFS that I like is going to be bringing in a bag of CaribSea Dry Aragonite Fiji Pink Reef Sand. Like you suggested I'll be purchasing some very high quality live rock from the same LFS, and hoping to get a pinch of sand from their healthiest and most diverse looking tank. I'd rather do this, and wait a few weeks. I'm in no rush at all, and am even excited about planning this out and doing it the steady, slow, and sure way - so waiting 4-8 weeks for cycling and allowing the sand to become alive is a project I'm looking forward to, and looking forward to monitoring.

 

I believe that my original question has been well answered. Thank you all for posting!

[andrewguilfoy]

the problem with bagged sand, anywhere you go is i find it's not really for looks as much as it is for purpose.