Live Sand

[DanaBurns]

Just wondering what is a normal depth for a sand bed at the bottom of my 120g tank.

I see normal sand and live sand for sale.. Do I really need live sand? I thought live sand was just a differnt way of doing filtration below the tank?

Also do the typer of inverts/fish have any needs on the depth of the sandbed? I know eel like to dig in them as well as rays but I have no plans to have any of them.

Thanks in advance

[Tangster]

No you can seed the new sand with a pound or two of live sand But then you don't have to do that even it will all become alive sooner or later only reason to seed it is for the bacteria and fauna and coralline spores .. About a 1in to maybe 2 inches max is where I stop with the sand

[DanaBurns]

Thanks

I'll do about 2" then.. I'll mix some live sand in wiht some normal stuff to kick start it so to speak.

How many poinds of san do you think I'd need.. 4'x2' x2"?

[turbo4603]

Heres a link of the sand bed calculator

http://www.3reef.com/aquarium-page-Calculators.html

It came out to like 110 lb of sand to achieve 2 inches

[DanaBurns]

110lbs! Jesus!

We'll add that to the expenses.

I'm starting to think a flight to Figi migt save me some startup costs! hahaha Pretty soon I will have to start hiding the reciepts from the woman!

hahahaah

[Jason McKenzie]

Yes I think I could have taken everyone on 3Reef to Fiji by now.

J

[DanaBurns]

what's wrong with using regular joe blow sand? Can it not be sterilized and used?

[turbo4603]

Joe Blow?
You definitely wanna buy aquarium grade sand. Doesnt have to be alive when purchased. Its inexpensive. But i believe that play sand could contain....i dunno, bad stuff i guess! hehehe just my opinion.

[Tangster]

Just get yourself 2. 40 lb bags of CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand that will help with buffering of the water.. and about 1.5 inches of depth about 28.00 a bag or so..

[DanaBurns]

Is that the stuff that looks like finely crushed white concrete?