Where to get bulk aragonite sand?

[Europhyllia]

I think I'd like to get a bigger tank next year.
Somewhere in the 210/220 gallon range and around 30 inches deep because I want to do a deep sand bed (again) without the gorgos poking out of the water.
I also want a Jawfish! :D
But I've learned from my upgrade from my 30 gallon to the 125 gallon that big tanks are a real money pit starting with the small stuff like sand.
I calculated on safesand that I'll need around 400 pounds of sand to get a 5 inch sand bed in a 210 gallon tank.
Is there any way to buy this in bulk cheaper?

I could start hoarding sand and other stuff this year and have the budget open for tank and stand next year. lol

[Mr Cob]

Hoarding might be a good plan. Buy everyone's used sand....normally like $15-$25 a 5gallon bucket for old sand....then just clean it up really well and dry it out.

[hobogato]

i agree with rob's suggestion. some people say you can use pulverized limestone from a garden center, but wouldnt chance it if it were my tank.

[Europhyllia]

Hm I don't even want my own used sand! lol
Space is limited so ideally I'd just like to hoard it dry in sealed bags in the garage
(real aragonite)
I heard there used to be something called southdown but it's no longer easily available?

[ErikH]

Jawfish SHOULD have at least a 9" bed with random shells to line the interior of their caves. They are also known jumpers, so look for a tank that is a brick and has a good canopy! :)

But..... you already knew that....

I recommend to do what Rob is saying! Sand is EXPENSIVE.
Just put in dry sand, none of the live stuff. Let your rock seed the sand, no cycle.

[txg8gxp]

Take a look at this.
http://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=70

[Europhyllia]

Take a look at this.
http://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=70

I already have 80 pounds of that and it's part of the reason I don't want to use my own sand. SNOWSTORM!

[Europhyllia]

Jawfish SHOULD have at least a 9" bed with random shells to line the interior of their caves. They are also known jumpers, so look for a tank that is a brick and has a good canopy! :)
But..... you already knew that....


I hate canopies -so ugly. lol I do however have mesh tops on my aquarium (for the midas blenny :) ) and would add another mesh top to the new aquarium.
I didn't know about the 9 inches of sand bed for jaw fishes. I just read up on them and it looked like the minimum was 5 inches.
I wonder if anybody with a jawfish truly has a 9" sandbed in their display? 9" is a lot! Might have to find some kind of dwarf jawfish... ;)

[Mr Cob]

I already have 80 pounds of that and it's part of the reason I don't want to use my own sand. SNOWSTORM!


I agree with you Karin....I have been recently adding dry "real aragonite" to my tank and I love it. Perfect size at about 0.5mm-1.5mm if I remember correctly.

[hobogato]

the display tank in my classroom that has yellow headed jawfish has about an 8" deep sand bed.

[Europhyllia]

I was thinking of 6" ...clearly we are more moving towards the 220 now if it has to be 8"... lol

[brewercm]

That looks like a pretty good price for 2 cu ft considering it includes the shipping.

[Europhyllia]

That looks like a pretty good price for 2 cu ft considering it includes the shipping.
Yes it was a great price. It's just so superfine that I had to use a lot of regular LFS aragonite sand to weigh it down or else the fine particles just kept covering everything. I think it's finer than what they usually sell as sugar fine sand. That's why I said 'snowstorm'

[Big_Pun]

found this thread http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32403&page=4

also found this but not sure if this is the same stuff http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/yard-right-ganular-limestone-p-62959.html?ref=42

if im wrong sorry

[txg8gxp]

http://www.ronshomeandhardware.com/50LB-Play-Sand-p/364984.htm

[Europhyllia]

Hm. I don't really want crushed limestone.
I think I'll just budget for 15 bags of Caribsea. That way I don't have to worry aboput what might be in it. The Super Reef seems to be perfect for my application (burrowers and DSB). Another peace of mind thing rather than throwing different stuff together.

If the Jawfish are too tricky it will just be a cheapo yellow watchmangoby lol
http://caribsea.com/pages/products/dry_aragonite.html

Maybe I'll find somebody that can get me a deal on that many 40 pound bags when the time comes...

[puretexn]

Yes it was a great price. It's just so superfine that I had to use a lot of regular LFS aragonite sand to weigh it down or else the fine particles just kept covering everything. I think it's finer than what they usually sell as sugar fine sand. That's why I said 'snowstorm'

I agree 100% on the snowstorm. I have 160lbs in my tank now and it's Krazy fine powder. I'm washing my caribsea crushed coral from my old tank now to add to the new tank to hold the Marcosand in one spot.