Live Sand questions

Tyslin · 02-21-2007, 12:58 PM

Hey Saltwater creatures,

Just want to ask when you buy Live Sand with worms, crustaceans, and critters, what type of worms, crustaceans and critters are you getting? Also are bristle worms part of the worms you get from the live sand?

amcarrig · 02-21-2007, 01:53 PM

Bagged live sand contains none of the critters you mentioned; only bacteria. If you're buying live sand out of an established tank then, yes, you can expect a variety of critters including amphipods, copepods, bristleworms, peanut worms and spaghetti worms to name a few.

Tyslin · 02-21-2007, 04:37 PM

Thanks Amcarrig,

I really appreciate the info on the critters, worms and stuff. Foster and smith's sells live sand with all the critters and in stuff,.. I believe in a bag. That's why I wanted to know what type or worms and stuff it has in the sand. Thanks again.

Tangster · 02-21-2007, 04:54 PM

All you need is a good base sand then add a pound or two of old critter filled sand from a trusted tank.. If interested I know people who can hook you up plus shipping ? But I'm sure there are clubs in your area ?

coral reefer · 02-21-2007, 05:08 PM

Amcarrig is right! The Arag-alive sand(live)contains heterotrophic, autotrophic, and chemolithotrophic bacteria only to aid in the reduced time for cycling a tank!Autotroph - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The bag couldn't support that kind of life in a bag, especially for that long a period of time! The temperature of the surroundings and the carbon dioxide build up, not to mention the availability of oxygen would be depleted quickly with no photosynthesis to replenish it or filtration for that matter.
The only way that this could possibly be possible is to ship sand from someones mature tank or similar process and ship it over night as fish. corals etc. are with heat and/or ice packs etc.
Maybe that is how you are going to receive it, however, from what I see in Foster and Smith's catalog-they don't sell it.
Don't get suckered into this crap shoot!

geekdafied · 02-21-2007, 05:09 PM

The LS fosters and smith sells DOES NOT contain any critters
Marine Reef Aquarium Substrates: Arag-Alive
"Arag-Alive
* Functional and beautiful aragonite substrate for all types of marine aquariums
* Contains millions of beneficial marine bacteria to enhance biological filtration
* Slowly releases calcium, carbonate and beneficial trace elements - great for corals "

It lists 3 types of bacteria that it comes with and no mention of critters. Now if you buy LS from other online sources that GROW THEIR OWN livesand in established systems where they scoop it out of their grow out tanks, thats different, or if they scoop it up out of ocean somewhere. But the LS available for RETAIL in most stores DOES NOT contain anything other then bacteria because of the sealed bags. Sealed bags mean no gas exchange IE no oxygen. No oxygen=no critters other bacteria.

geekdafied · 02-21-2007, 05:09 PM

JINX@coral reefer!

Tyslin · 02-22-2007, 04:55 PM

Thanks guys for your advice, I really appreciate it.
I also have another question, I want to buy the Arag-live geekdafied found from fosters and smith, it slowly releases calcium, carbonate and beneficial trace elements - great for corals. I want to get 100 lbs, plus I want to get live sand with worms and stuff in the sand from my LFS. If I buy 30 lbs to cover the surface of the Arag-live sand will that stop the Calcium and other trace elements from releasing into the tank? Also, how long will it take for the Live sand with worms and stuff to completely populate my entire tank substrate? Thanks again guys.

Tangster · 02-22-2007, 05:13 PM

A 100lbs ? how large is this tank ? thats alot of sand and it will dissolve and add some minerals to the system but don't rely or believe it a 100% or let that bit of information about its dissolving become a selling point to you its not going to do ll of that.

geekdafied · 02-22-2007, 05:50 PM

I think he means 130lbs... Again with what Tangster said... How big of tank do you have? Also with Tangster said... The leeching aspects of those nutrients is very slow, meaning a little bit over many years. You will still have dose with calcium etc. to maintain proper levels. It just helps keep it from having a serious drop.

If the sand from your LFS is araganite, then it will have the same affect, but instead of spreading it out over the surface, when I "seeded" my tank, I made little dugouts all over my tank, and used the substrate from the established system to fill in the holes.