Sand Question

[2puppies]

I have been reading post on sand if I understood it right I can go to home depoe or Toys r us to buy my sand instead of paying a fortune at the pet store? Is this correct? I just want to make sure I read this right.

[BubbaWPB]

You're reading about Southdown sand? I can't find it locally. I heard (but don't know for a fact) that it is no longer available on the market. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am mis-informed.

[Steven Pro]

Southdown has changed names several times. It is usually labeled somewhere on the package as "tropical play sand" and many times says it is silica free. The sand is still available, but becoming harder and harder to find it seems.

By the way, you can use common silica sand as well. It just does not have all the benefits that aragonite sand does. But, it will not cause excessive diatoms as the internet myths says.

[tray262]

I ended up going to many different places looking for this, "PLAY SAND" never found any silia free. I even took some viniger with me in a cup, and tested it. None was aragonite. I tested types from Home depot, lowes, walmart, k-mart. None where any good. I ended up buying about 200lbs from thatpetplace in pa, luckly I can drive there to pick it up. But I still spent a s load of money on sand. Good luck on you search I hope you have more luck then me.

[reefracer]

I am getting ready to start setting up a new tank(90gal) 2w2d3L and probably going DSB 5-6" so if I find the Aragonite sand would I also want some live sand either bought or borrowed? Also, did I dream it or read in some post that it might be a good idea to try put something in tank (on bare bottom) first then put in sand for the live rock to set on and be supported on? I thought they even indicated to support the rock and keep it from actually sitting on the sand so the water could flow under it. May have some merit?

[tray262]

I would seem your aragonite with some live sand, it will help cyle it faster. Also I'm not sure about the rock on sand issue, I have my sand right on the bottom, and my rock on top of it. It almost sounds like some sorta plemium system, which lots of people are mixed with feelings about that set-up. Good luck.

[Ninong]

I have been reading post on sand if I understood it right I can go to home depoe or Toys r us to buy my sand instead of paying a fortune at the pet store? Is this correct? I just want to make sure I read this right.

Probably not. The sand you're talking about is usually not available in Indiana.

[Ninong]

You're reading about Southdown sand? I can't find it locally. I heard (but don't know for a fact) that it is no longer available on the market. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am mis-informed.

As far as I know, it is still available. The new name is Oldcastle. I guess they bought it from CEMEX.

Previous brand names were Southdown Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean and Yardright Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean. The newest name is Oldcastle Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean.

It's the same stuff. It all comes from Marcona Ocean Industries in the Bahamas. As far as I know, it still moves by barge from Florida to Easton, PA.

[Ninong]

I ended up going to many different places looking for this, "PLAY SAND" never found any silia free. I even took some viniger with me in a cup, and tested it. None was aragonite.

That's surprising because it is usually available at Home Depots in Maryland but IT IS SEASONAL and usually doesn't show up until late March in the Garden Dept. It is NOT in the building supplies area with regular builders sand (silica sand).

[Ninong]

I am getting ready to start setting up a new tank(90gal) 2w2d3L and probably going DSB 5-6" so if I find the Aragonite sand would I also want some live sand either bought or borrowed?

Yes, you would want to add some true live sand after setting up your tank. You could wait a couple of weeks and then add the live sand. It's also a good idea to purchase so-called detritivore kits at this time.

Also, did I dream it or read in some post that it might be a good idea to try put something in tank (on bare bottom) first then put in sand for the live rock to set on and be supported on?

This is one approach. It's the approach that I used when I set up my 6" DSB. All of my live rock rests on supports that raise it about 5.5" above the bottom of the tank.

I was very glad that I used that approach because my fairy wrasses have a habit of digging caves under the live rock and if it weren't for the fact that my rock is supported by a support structure, the whole rock structure could have come tumbling down.

Another approach that is just as stable would be to place the live rock on the bottom of the tank and then add the sand around it, burying the bottom part of the live rock.

The least stable approach would be to put the sand in first and then place the rock on top of the sand. It may work but it's not as stable as the other two methods. A lot depends on the depth of the sand bed and whether or not you have any fish that like to dig under the rock.

I thought they even indicated to support the rock and keep it from actually sitting on the sand so the water could flow under it. May have some merit?

That's another approach. Using that approach, you would raise the live rock above the surface of the sandbed by an inch or so. Some people have tried that method.

[reefracer]

Thanks Tray262,Ninong, I wasn't dreaming that time, but I'm still a dreamer. Yes, some base rock right down on the bare bottom, then put in the sand around and up to the level of the 'Ole Rocky Top' a little humor there I am from TN, should do it, if I use pieces large enough to protrude from the sand bed and smooth enough to give a stable enough surface for support of the better live rock. I think I like that, anybody know of reasons not to use that aproach? Another way might be to fabricate support either by using PVC to make a grid of sorts using tee's and 90 degree fittings to send supports up for the rock or some kind of pyramids for rock supports.

[BubbaWPB]

Also, did I dream it or read in some post that it might be a good idea to try put something in tank (on bare bottom) first then put in sand for the live rock to set on and be supported on?

No, you didn't dream it, and yes you read it in a post. You can add short pieces of pvc* (open end up - as opposed to on its side) where you plan to place your base rocks, then fill with sand. Support your rock on the pvc so that no burrowing critters cause an avalanche in your tank.

*length would be slightly shorter than the depth of your sand bed, so the pipe doesn't stick out of the surface.