Sand

cioutlaw · 06-21-2007, 04:40 PM

What does everyone use for sand? I want a very shallow sandbed & would like a bright white surgar grain size. Any suggestions?

vdituri · 06-21-2007, 04:43 PM

I keep hearing people recommend the aragonite because if you ph goes too low the water will dissolve the sand a little and help re-buffer the water ph so that your ph will only drop so far.

That is what I have in mine.

mps9506 · 06-21-2007, 05:05 PM

I don't use any

Quote:

I keep hearing people recommend the aragonite because if you ph goes too low the water will dissolve the sand a little and help re-buffer the water ph so that your ph will only drop so far

IMO if your water's pH drops low enough for this to occur you have more problems than will be corrected by the dissolving of your aragonite sand bed.
In a DSB I do agree in the anoxic areas the pH will drop low enough to dissolve some of the calcium, but from what I understand this isn't something that is used to correct any calcium alk or ph imbalance in the aquarium system as a whole.

That being said, I would use Caribsea oolitic sand or fiji pink. Only because it is the easiest to get and we can't get southdown anywhere now.

Jake · 06-21-2007, 06:46 PM

I started with the fiji pink live sand and it is very white. Looks good. I also went with a shallow sand bed maybe 3/4" based on the LFS recomendation. This was how they had all their display tanks setup. Somedays I feel like I should have added one more bag.

BigAl07 · 06-21-2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mps9506

I don't use any

....and we can't get southdown anywhere now.

What is that and why is it so good?

A.

mps9506 · 06-21-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

What is that and why is it so good?

A.

It is/was calcerous sand you could purchase by the 50 lb bag at Home Depot about 5 years ago for dirt cheap and reefers were buying it by the pallet load and reselling it on the net during the "DSB Boom." There were several different brand names for it, none of which are available now AFAIK. I can't recall the other names, something like yardright and old castle or something along those lines. Heck, it might not have even been south down sand, that's just what poped in my head. Unfortunately the stuff isn't available anymore.

cioutlaw · 06-23-2007, 03:31 PM

From what I have read the company in the Bahammas that supplied southdown sold out to a company that makes concrete products. So it is no longer available.

As far as buffering PH I have to agree with mps9506 but it might help like the 2nd chamber on a calcium reactor does to buffer PH.

Thanks for the replies

prow · 06-23-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mps9506

I don't use any

I would use Caribsea oolitic sand or fiji pink.

thats what i use for a 1.5-2" sandbed caribsea oolitic select grain size 0.5-1.2mm.

06-21-2007, 04:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
cioutlaw Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Champaign Illinois Posts: 958 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sand What does everyone use for sand? I want a very shallow sandbed & would like a bright white surgar grain size. Any suggestions? __________________ My 120gallon chronical My 225 gallon chronical My website

06-21-2007, 04:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,758 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand I keep hearing people recommend the aragonite because if you ph goes too low the water will dissolve the sand a little and help re-buffer the water ph so that your ph will only drop so far. That is what I have in mine. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

06-21-2007, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jake Serpent Star Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 235 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand I started with the fiji pink live sand and it is very white. Looks good. I also went with a shallow sand bed maybe 3/4" based on the LFS recomendation. This was how they had all their display tanks setup. Somedays I feel like I should have added one more bag. __________________ 75 Gal Setup 4/07 Fish: Purple Tang 6", Solarensis Fairy Wrasse, Pajama Cardinal, Two Ocellarous Clowns, Neon Goby, Two Firefish Inverts: Several Blue leg hermits, 4 Tubo Snails, 4 Nassarius Snails, 5 Zebra Turbo snails, 5 Trochus Grazer snails, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 feather duster Coral: Frogspawn, Cynarina (pinkish - cool), African Blue Zenia, Long White Polyp Tip Leather, Pink Pavona, Blue, Green, Orange Recordia, Orange Monti Cap, Green Star Polyp, Zoo Cat Eye, Green Clove Polyp.

06-23-2007, 03:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
cioutlaw Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Champaign Illinois Posts: 958 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand From what I have read the company in the Bahammas that supplied southdown sold out to a company that makes concrete products. So it is no longer available. As far as buffering PH I have to agree with mps9506 but it might help like the 2nd chamber on a calcium reactor does to buffer PH. Thanks for the replies __________________ My 120gallon chronical My 225 gallon chronical My website

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