Is there a cheap kind of substrate sand for saltwater aquariums? I dont want to use use live sand this time...it is rather expensive. Anyone know of a plain jane sand that is OK to use?
2006-06-22 11:05:58 · 11 answers · asked by teddybear22482 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Live sand is sand that has live organisms growing in it. It is bagged and sold in most pet stores and kick start the cycle of a saltwater aquarium...and here's something that will really make your jaws drop "LIVE ROCK"!!! Maybe you should know what you are talking about before you jump to conclusions that I have been "smoking something". Now if there are any REAL fish people out there that can help instead of trying to be cute....
2006-06-22 11:19:10 · update #1
Any or no substrate will do but it is harder to maintain the biological cycle without substrate and takes a long time to cycle with no live sand to seed it. I would suggest buying regular sand, or beach sand (boiled and well rinsed) and mixing a pound or two of live sand to help speed up the process.
2006-06-22 12:02:42 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You for sure don't want to spend the cash it'd take to do the whole tank w/ live sand. Foster and Smith's sells sand on line. It comes in 8lb bags for about $20 a pop. But the shipping will kill you b/c of the weight. See If your local pet stores have something of the such. Then you can buy a couple of lbs. of live sand, and just use that to seed the rest of the sand.
I'm not sure I'd use just regular sand like from Home Depot. If you use something cheap like that I'd boil it 1st b-4 sticking it in a fish tank
2006-06-22 20:19:56 · answer #2 · answered by rummy714 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't own any saltwater aquariums but regular sand from the beach or play sand will work. You can get a good, cheap bag up to 50lbs of regular sand at a landscaping store or try Wal-Mart and stores similar. Much cheaper than buying from an aquarium store.
2006-06-22 11:52:17 · answer #3 · answered by seed 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are some play sands that are safe for saltwater aquariums.I believe one brand is Sand Castle sometimes found at Home Depot.
If you live near the Ocean you can get your live sand free.When I first got my salt water tank I was on a few saltwater fourms they were very helpful.Live rock is the best thing to put in your salt water tank the live sand isn't as important.Play sand will be live sand in no time.Good luck
2006-06-22 15:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by Rory C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saltwater Substrate
2016-10-18 06:22:38 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use pool filter sand. It won't do much to maintain your pH or biological filter but the sand grains are heavy enough not to be sucked up when you are doing water changes and they are smooth enough not to injure any bottom dwelling or sand burrowing species.
It is also pretty cheap...you can buy $2.50 to $5.00 for a 25lb bag. But I would probably wash it before putting it in.
IMPORTANT: Do not use beach or construction sand...it is sometimes too sharp for fish. Beach sand in general can harbor parasites.
2006-06-22 12:42:08 · answer #6 · answered by rian 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crushed coral is very inexpensive, but it also traps waste and tends to be more like gravel. There are many types of aragonite sold that aren't live and sell for a good price. It depends on what price range you're in really, but I bought some crushed coral and if you get enough aragonite then it fills in the spaces and looks like pure aragonite. Try Drs. Foster and Smith.
2006-06-22 15:22:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
obviously a lot of people don't know anything about saltwater aquariums if they have never heard of live sand.
2006-06-24 05:13:48 · answer #8 · answered by rnjes21 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Live sand? What you been smokin!
2006-06-22 11:08:26 · answer #9 · answered by educated guess 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
go to the beach and get a cup!
2006-06-22 11:11:32 · answer #10 · answered by Khadijah 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋