How Much Live Sand Do I Use?

[Sea Turtle]

I am ordering live sand for my 80 gal reef tank. How much sand should I order?

 

[Musho3210]

get like 20 pounds or so live sand and the rest use dry sand. Aragonite is best.

 

[Sea Turtle]

get like 20 pounds or so live sand and the rest use dry sand. Aragonite is best.

Can I use this for the whole tank? http/www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CS0050.html

 

[Musho3210]

dont see why not

 

[SkiFletch]

Aboloutely, don't waste money on "Live" sand... There is no possible way that a bag full of water, sand, no water movement, and NO oxygen that sits on warehouse shelves for who knows how many weeks/months has anything left "alive" in it. Save your money and get the plain aragonite like you linked. FYI, after shipping costs, it may be cheaper to buy at your LFS, or go to your local Lowes/Home Depot and get Kolorscape sand (which is aragonite)

 

[Betta5]

Aboloutely, don't waste money on "Live" sand... There is no possible way that a bag full of water, sand, no water movement, and NO oxygen that sits on warehouse shelves for who knows how many weeks/months has anything left "alive" in it. Save your money and get the plain aragonite like you linked. FYI, after shipping costs, it may be cheaper to buy at your LFS, or go to your local Lowes/Home Depot and get Kolorscape sand (which is aragonite)

It says most of the bacteria is dormant and some are in spore form so they start growing when they are exposed to air. ont know if its true just what i read

 

[scorphonic]

It says most of the bacteria is dormant and some are in spore form so they start growing when they are exposed to air. ont know if its true just what i read

Bacteria can form spores alright...but only some bacteria can.

Bacteria in the Bacillus and Clostridium groups are spore-formers. Another group of bacteria called Methylosinus produces spores. Members of the Azotobacter, Bdellovibrio, Myxococcus and Cyanobacteria groups form protective structures called cysts. Cysts are thick-walled structures that, like spores, protect bacteria from harm. (found that info on a website!!) I may be a scientist but my god its difficult to remember the spelling of them!!

To think that the bacteria would grow when exposed to air seems very unusual to me. The reason why bacteria develop into spores is basically to survive through difficult environmental times. Why would a bacteria spontaneously grow just because it has air...they require a bit more than that to grow!! Anyways....what they probably claim is that once exposed to water and the ammonia then they grow...that I would believe!

Can anyone tell me what the general consensus on what bacteria are present in our live rock/filters?? There seems to be some confusion on this point!!

I have been told not to bother buying any live sand as the live rock will eventually seed it so to speak. If I were you get a small amount of live rock and mix it into some unseeded sand!!

 

[Danno]

If you want quality live sand, look at some of these links.

Live Sand #1
Live Sand #2

 

[Betta5]

i would look for someone with a tank already that could give you some