live sand

[Jolly]

I know polution might be a problem, but has anyone gone down past the "4-wheel drive sign only" on Padre Island or South Padre and got wet sand for their aquariums? If so is it illegal and did they incur any problems with their tank. I was thinking of what a nice way to spend the day and save money :) Johne

[BIGBIRD123]

If your gonna do a "Padre Island" tank, then it would do fine but most beach sand is silica-based and not suitable for most reef tanks. Besides all of the polutants from the rigs. Believe me people have tried but if your looking just to save $$ on the sand, you won't be as happy about it later. HTH.

Steve

[brewercm]

There were a couple of people on here that used to get sand for their tanks but they'd get it from the dunes area (which I believe if caught is illegal). The reason is the sand has been blown around and the pollutants from the boats/rigs isn't there.

I think in the long run you'll be happier with a good aragonite based sand which is whiter in color also.

[Jolly]

I guess I will have to bite the bullet and buy my live sand. I sure was looking for an excuse to go to the beach though :). I guess the norm that I have seen is $30 per 20lb bag. If anyone knows of a less expensive price let me know. I am guessing I will need about 21 bags, ouch. ps thanks for all the information.

[captexas]

There is a sand bed calculator on the side of the forums under "Useful Information" and then "calculators". It gives you a good estimate on how many pounds of sand you will need depending on how deep you want to go.

As far as you saying buying "live sand", don't buy the bags that have some water in it labled as live sand, it's generally a waste of money. Just buy the dry stuff as it's cheaper (around $30 for 40lbs.) and then see if you can get a few people around the club to donate/trade some of their live sand to help get yours started. Also I found if you buy some uncured live rock to help cycle your tank it will usually have critters in it to help get the sand going as well. You can also keep your eye out on people selling off their tanks and buy the sand from their tank.

[engwife36]

:unsure not to get on anyones bad side but I filled up 2 trash cans full from the dunes to put in my 125. I washed a few times first but never had any problems with it. Very nice and very white.

[txstateunivreefer]

whoops i just repeated someone else

[caferacermike]

My only problem with beach sand is that it is generally a terrestrial based product. Meaning it's made of quartz, silica, metals, etc... There will be no benefit to the aquarium itself besides aesthetics. With aragonite it is always reacting to the water changes and releasing stuff into the water like CA, moly, strntium, ALK, etc... This naturally buffers PH and helps keep it high and stable, keeps CA levels up, and helps prevent sudden ALK swings.

[Thunderkat]

With aragonite it is always reacting to the water changes and releasing stuff into the water like CA, moly, strntium, ALK, etc... This naturally buffers PH and helps keep it high and stable, keeps CA levels up, and helps prevent sudden ALK swings.

Make a deep sand bed out of it and it will make you happy! ^_^

[beaconstreet95]

Very illegal to take/"collect" anything from Padre Island National Seashore. Only fishing is allowed. This area is considered a preserve. Chances are you would not get caught, but if you do remember you are on federal property.

[Jolly]

I appreciate all the feed back on the "live sand". I think I will leave the "free" sand on the beach and just buy the aragonite sand a little at a time. It's still a little ways off, before I am ready for it anyway. I still need to recalk and get with Ace on building my sump.

[urban79]

dang with gas prices. Your not going to be saving to much.

[SoLiD]

dang with gas prices. Your not going to be saving to much.

Your not kidding.

-BTW if you are planning on having an internal overflow; take in to account that it takes up space in your tank and will lower the total bags of sand needed to acheive your mark. -SoLiD

[J_G]

Very illegal to take/"collect" anything from Padre Island National Seashore. Only fishing is allowed. This area is considered a preserve. Chances are you would not get caught, but if you do remember you are on federal property.

And you cant have a reef tank in prison. The cells are only 6x8.

[erikharrison]

Very illegal to take/"collect" anything from Padre Island National Seashore. Only fishing is allowed. This area is considered a preserve. Chances are you would not get caught, but if you do remember you are on federal property.

And you cant have a reef tank in prison. The cells are only 6x8.

Well you would have a comfortable sand "bed" to sleep on!

[caferacermike]

Very illegal to take/"collect" anything from Padre Island National Seashore. Only fishing is allowed. This area is considered a preserve. Chances are you would not get caught, but if you do remember you are on federal property.

And you cant have a reef tank in prison. The cells are only 6x8.


HHHHMMmmmmmm........ Is that the voice of experience??

You could fit a nice 30g cube or maybe even a 75/90 if your cellie will split it with you.

[matt]

My only problem with beach sand is that it is generally a terrestrial based product. Meaning it's made of quartz, silica, metals, etc... There will be no benefit to the aquarium itself besides aesthetics. With aragonite it is always reacting to the water changes and releasing stuff into the water like CA, moly, strntium, ALK, etc... This naturally buffers PH and helps keep it high and stable, keeps CA levels up, and helps prevent sudden ALK swings.


At normal tank ph (7.8-8.3) there is no evidence at all that aragonite provides any buffering to the tank. Now, if you kept your tank at calcium reactor ph, sure, you'd be dissolving aragonite for calcium and carbonate, but then you'd have a tough time keeping anything alive!