Sand questions

[joshman1204]

I am just starting my new aquapod 24 and I am looking for some info on sand. I need to know how much and what kind to use. I have heard to use only live sand but then I have heard you can use some other sand and just add a little live sand to it. help!

Thanks

[jrsatx20]

u can use dead live sand if that makes sense. dead live sand is sand that used to be in a tank but was taken out or sand from the lfs. ask a member here on maast for a cup of there sand from their tank and within a few days you will have live sand. id say at least 30#'s in a 24 gallon will get you a 3in sand bed. also i may be wrong.

[Troutmasters02]

I have a 65 gallon tank and put 80 pounds of fine dead sand and added a cup of live sand from the local fish store. It's alive and well now.

[ErikH]

Dead sand! Aragonite is the stuff you need.

[joshman1204]

any ideas where I can get it at a decent price?

[jroescher]

Your local saltwater fishstore should have it. Just ask for aragonite. Which type of grain is your preference. You don't need to buy the live sand in a bag.

If you have good live rock, it will make your sand live also. Sand from someone else's tank is nice, but not necessary. The live rock will do it.

Get enough for about an inch, or if you want a deep sand bed then 4+ inches.

[Ping]

In a small tank like an Aquapod, the best option for sand is 1 inch or less of dry sand. With such a small footprint, a deep sandbed, four inches or deeper is impractical, and weekly 2.5 gallon water changes will help keep these tanks in pristine condition. In any system, a sandbed between 1 and four inches can lead to long term problems. Live sand is never necessary as the sand becomes alive with bacteria quickly. Just put a small pinch of fish food or a 1/4 cube of frozen in the tank and wait a week. A cup of sand trade helps with biodiversity and greatly speeds up the process.

[Gilbert]

In any system, a sandbed between 1 and four inches can lead to long term problems.

why would a system in the 1-4in sand bed range have a problem???

[FireWater]

why would a system in the 1-4in sand bed range have a problem???

Sand bed ranges in the 1-4" range do not allow the bacteria to "do their thing" and will cause nitrate and other bacteria problems. Leading to red slime and other not so great stuff to grow on the sand bed. 1" allows the mechanical filtration of your tank do it's thing. 4" and above allows the bacteria in a deep sand bed to lend a helping hand at filtration. 1-4" is caught in between and not sure what to do.

[gjuarez]

i agree with ping.. I wouldnt try it because of the maintenance. A sand bed can work two ways, with aerobic bacteria and anarobic bacteria. AEROBIC grows everywhere, surface of live sand, surface of live rock, anywhere where there is plenty of oxygen. ANAROBIC bacteria only grows in oxygen poor areas, examples are very deep inside of live rock or very deep inside of a sand bed. The general consensus is that in order for DSB to work it has to be 4+ inches deep, that way oxygen cant be found at the bottom of the sand bed where this bacteria grows. These type of sand beds are difficult to maintain and perhaps even more difficult in a nano. This is the denitrifying bacteria that is used to exports nitrates.

DSBs need to be maintained because they accumulate sulfur phosphate, yup that stuff that smells like rotten eggs. Same type of stuff that you have in the beach, just like when you take that stick and spell out your name on the sand and that black stinky stuff appears. Not good.

[gjuarez]

The red slime (cyano) algae is not necessarily caused by DSB, they are caused by high nutrients and very little flow. A deep sand bed could eventually add to the problem though

[jroescher]

Keep it simple. 1 inch or less of sand for looks. A deep sand bed won't leave you much room for the rest of your aquarium.