Substrate Question

[Tyslin]

Hello fellow Aquarists,

I have a substrate and Live Sand Question. Dr's Foster and Smith's has 2 types of sand that I want to buy, but I am kind of unsure as to which type of sand. Maybe you guys can give me some help as too which type of sand to buy and why?

Ok here goes, the first type of sand is Arag-Live this type of sand has millions of heterotrophic, autotrophic and chemolithotrophic bacteria. It's said that it will dramatically reduce cycling time in new setups. It can be used alone or to kick start aragonite. Never needs to be replaced, works with natural bacteria to enhance performance over the full life of the aquarium. Lowest in PH, and has no silica; provides trace elements plus calcium, strontium, magnesium, carbonate, and potassium. Available in 4 grades.

The other type is pearl beach Aragonite it's for all type of saltwater aquariums. Helps stabalize calcium and alkalinity levels and prevents large PH declines.

P.S. I want 3 inches of sand in my setup. So I would need 130 lbs to get 3 inches.

Now here are my questions:

1. What would be best to kick start a new setup, to get 130 lbs of Arag-live or to get 110 lbs of aragonite and seed it with 20 lbs of Arag-live? and Why?

2. Which type is better for my Tank?

3. what grade should I get for my sandsifters and critters?

4. I want to add Live Sand with worms, and crustaceans, do I have to wait for the Tank to cycle to add the Live Sand with worms and crustaceans?

Thanks for your inout Guys and Gals.

Tyslin

[inwall75]

The first thing that I want to point out is that you are not going to be receiving much buffering from any aragonite sand. I'm not going to say you won't get any but you won't get nearly as much as is advertised by both Dr. Ron and the sand companies. If this was the case, no one would have sand in their tanks. It would all dissolve. Once the sand is coated with bacterial biofilms, there very little chemistry going on anymore.

In fact, one of the "experts" finally admitted this.

It is apparent from these results that the dissolution of calcium carbonate sand is incapable of providing adequate calcium or carbonate alkalinity by dissolution to aquariums holding even very small amounts of coral and coralline algae. Thus, the implications that such processes are able to sustain reef aquariums with large numbers of scleractinian corals, as suggested by Jaubert (1989), must be called into question.

Applications of Sand in Reef Aquariums: Theory and Practice by Eric Borneman - Reefkeeping.com

To be honest with you, I would probably only put an inch of sand down for looks but that's just my preference. If you are wanting to go to a DSB, most people would define that as 4" or more.

Since Seachem doesn't list their sand size, I cannot tell you about their pearl sand. however, Seachem has excellent customer service and I'm sure you could call them. If you are wanting a DSB for Natural Nitrate Reduction, then you will likely want Seachems smaller oolithic size. In the case of the Aragalive, that would be the Fiji Pink grade.

For question 4, how do you intend to cycle?

[Tyslin]

Hey Inwall75,

So your saying that the finer sand 0.5-1 mm is best for sandsifters and deep sand beds, and that I should go with that? Is ok for me to startup my tank with 130 lbs of that type of sand?

As far as my cycling is concerned, this is what I intend to do.
I am first gonna cure 90 lbs of live rock outside of my tank, after rocks are cured I am going to fill the tank half way with RO/DI water, then add my live sand and live rock. I have a sump with water that has been cycled already. After adding the (salted)RO/DI, the live sand and the rock I plan on starting my return pump to push the cycled water from the sump to the main tank. I wanted to add the live sand with worms and crustaceans during that process, should I wait after the tank is cycled or can I add it during this process. Listen I know that this isn't the proper way of doing things but I think this might work. Just want your opinion and thoughts, thanks.

Will my cycling be shorter because of this?
and can I add my live sand with worms and crustaceans at this point as well?

[Dyngoe]

Hi,

If I can throw in my $.02. I believe sand is mainly an aestethic choice. Sure fine grain sand is better for certain things and rough coral bed is better for other things. But, in the end it is a choice of looks. That said, I like the fine pure white look of Oolite sand. For my money nothing looks as clean.

[Tyslin]

Hey Dyngoe,

What type of sand is best for sandsifters and burrowers? what grade is best?

[Dyngoe]

From what I've read fine grain is better. Makes sense since fine grain is easier to "swim" through than larger sizes. I have a wrasse, nasarius snails and a horseshoe crab that love my oolite. The only drawback to oolite is that it "releases" silt. This will make your tank cloudy the first few days after adding it. Also, the silt will make its way into your sump. Besides this, oolite looks great. It's a bright, pure white sand that makes for good contrast against all rocks and corals.

[Tyslin]

Cool I have heard that adding too much of fine sand is not good. is that true?

[inwall75]

Originally Posted by Tyslin

Cool I have heard that adding too much of fine sand is not good. is that true?

If you don't have enough sandstirrers, yes. (Things like bristleworms, spaghetti worms, nassarious snails, etc.)

[coral reefer]

Originally Posted by Tyslin

Cool I have heard that adding too much of fine sand is not good. is that true?

IMO, fine sand is fine and really isn't anything wrong with it, except for the possibility of it blowing around if you have too much water movement!
You are still going to have advection and/or diffusion which basically brings detritus, plankton etc. into your substrate just like you would with a larger grain sand. Deep sand beds will decrease the amount of DO in your tank due to the amount of bacteria living in your substrate and the respiration process! Again this will happen with larger grains of sand as well.
The end point to be made is that different grain sizes all add to the surface area and biological filtration and the heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria present in it!

[Tyslin]

Hey Coral,

Can I start my tank by adding 130 lbs of just Arag-live sand or is that overkill? is this ok? This is the link to the Arag-live I want to use: it's the Special Grade Sand not fine though.

Marine Reef Aquarium Substrates: Arag-Alive