[ms_p_mcpie]

I am starting 2 new tanks and would like to start w/ live sand, but EXPENSIVE! If I got 1 bag per tank and then mixed w/ regular (cheaper) sand would it still work?

[Ray_D]

Originally Posted by ms_p_mcpie

I am starting 2 new tanks and would like to start w/ live sand, but EXPENSIVE! If I got 1 bag per tank and then mixed w/ regular (cheaper) sand would it still work?

dude
save you cash

get some southdown sand ( silica free play sand ) and get a cup off of several reefers near you, shouldnt cost you more thne the gas to go get it and maybe a coffee or somthing

[ANGRY JOHN]

i totaly agree the preformulated live sand is crap and the stuff you get at the store is way overpriced. if you do decide to go with it only buy a pound out of the stores tank and then go to another store and get a pound. this will give you the most bio diversity and the cheepest cost. on another note geting a detrivore kit will put you miles ahead of paying out large sums of cash for "ready made live sand."

[ms_p_mcpie]

OK- so I found a bag of live sand cheap (man who bought it and decided this saltwater thing was too complicated) I'm gonna mix w/ regular cheap stuff. But what is a ?detrivore? (sp.?) kit?

[Ray_D]

Originally Posted by ms_p_mcpie

OK- so I found a bag of live sand cheap (man who bought it and decided this saltwater thing was too complicated) I'm gonna mix w/ regular cheap stuff. But what is a ?detrivore? (sp.?) kit?

heres a simple list of 'cleaners' thought i do not say to buy from this site, but use it as a guide of whats normaly used


http://rockyshores.saltyzoo.com/price/

[ANGRY JOHN]

i was thinking more of the mini stars and things that live in and on the sand. need to have somthing to stir it up without eating all the good stuff. i would stay away from any kind of cucumber because they eat the stuff your trying to develop and if they die its a real mess. nastriuss i know i spelled it wrong snails live in the sand but do not eat what is in it. they burry themselves in wait for food. its amazing what a good job they do keeping everything mixed up. a well thought out cleanup crew does not have to be large, i would recomend staying away from the snail per gallon bit but get a couple and see how they do in the tank and if you like the result.

[Reefland]

I'm afraid the live sand you got is nothing more than sand with some bacteria in it. What you need is some real, collected live sand in order to kick off the sand bed. I heard recently that Dr. Mac had some good aquacultured sand available for $4.99 per pound. Shouldn't take more than a few pounds to get you going.

[Ray_D]

Originally Posted by Reefland

I'm afraid the live sand you got is nothing more than sand with some bacteria in it.

hey reefland, who are you talking to ?

[Reefland]

Originally Posted by Ray_D

hey reefland, who are you talking to ?

The thread starter, ms_p_mcpie

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by ms_p_mcpie

But what is a ?detrivore? (sp.?) kit?

A detritivore is anything that eats detritus. A detritivore kit is a package deal that includes popular detritivores (e.g., mini-stars; baby bristleworms; various snails, although the snails are usually algal grazers, except for Nassarius, which are carrion eaters); a portion of amphipods and copepods; a small bag of true live sand; etc.).

[dragonladylea]

Dont forget the ever popular but UGLY worms spagetti, bristle and peanut to name a few. I know there is a site to buy spagetti and bristle worms but cant remember the name of the site. Anyone know??

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by dragonladylea

Dont forget the ever popular but UGLY worms spagetti, bristle and peanut to name a few. I know there is a site to buy spagetti and bristle worms but cant remember the name of the site. Anyone know??

www.inlandaquatics.com and www.ipsf.com

[dragonladylea]

Ninong - Thank you!!

[reefracer]

Been away for fifteen years and ready to get a tank set up for reef,I know a lot has changed so I'm reading a bunch of different threads and really enjoying the way people share ther knowledge and experiences, this is my first post so here goes...about the live sand I understand the detritivores now (fifteen years ago I thought the Bristle Worms were not a good thing) but isn't the goal to let anorobic bacteria work in the DBS? If true you shouldn't want anything to really stir it up do you?