Sand

Tain't fresh, and tain't marine! Talk about brackish setups.
nehctik
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Sand

Post by nehctik »

Got rid of my cichlids finally today so onto the next phase, which is ordering in new sand. I was looking online for some and saw on a few sites there are "fresh water sands" like unipac's quartz sand but also marine/reef sands like Caribsea Fiji Pink Reef Sand or Caribsea Seaflor Special Grade Sand, which as I understand it, is argonite? Since i'll only be low end brackish with figure eight puffer, does it matter greatly which I go for?
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Re: Sand

Post by Pufferpunk »

Aragonite (not live) is what you want.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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nehctik
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Re: Sand

Post by nehctik »

Went to a fish store about 20minutes away today and asked if they stocked aragonite sand as I wanted some to re scape my tank ready for a figure eight, to which they asked why I wanted aragonite, I replied "I was advised to use it" and that I assumed it was for its buffering cababilities. After telling them this they showed me this
Image

Image

Since I asked for aragonite sand I just assumed what they were showing me was aragonite. Only after getting home and reading the label did I discover there is no mention of aragonite on it.
Will this stuff do?
Is it aragonite and just not labeled as such?
Should I attempt to return it? (I say attempt as I misplaced the recipe)
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Re: Sand

Post by maccyg »

Why didn't they just sell you Aragonite sand?!? Strange...

That looks more like crushed coral to me which you can use to raise & buffer ph.

I bought Aragonite sand for my Figure 8 tank, Classica were the brand and I got off eBay - I would return this and order some online, it's not that expensive either
nehctik
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Re: Sand

Post by nehctik »

I'll call tomorrow and see if they will refund given the lack of receipt and order some of that classica, just found it on ebay, out of interest, which grain size did you go for, the 1mm 3mm or 5mm?
How thick did you make your bed?
Does it compact down?
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Re: Sand

Post by genevieve »

I got my Aragonite Sand at PetSmart.


http://www.petsmart.com/fish/gravel-san ... %3Dfaceted
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Blinkey
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Re: Sand

Post by Blinkey »

From my limited experience using both coral sand and aragonite, I must say that aragonite seems to have a far better buffering capacity than does coral sand. I also fell trap to the LFS and got coral sand as a substrate. Now I still use the same (crushed coral) substrate, but with a mesh bag filled with aragonite in my canister filter. This has allowed me to get my kH to the highest it seems I can get, from an original 4 dkH (with only crushed coral) to a stable 6 dkH, and pH of 8.1-8.2.
If you suffer from soft tap water like I do, then I definitely advise you to use a 100% aragonite substrate.
"Life, uh, finds a way"
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Sand

Post by Pufferpunk »

CC substrate is known for trapping detritus in it's which can cause water parameter issues.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
maccyg
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Re: Sand

Post by maccyg »

I went for 1mm at a depth of 1".

Yes it compacts down fine, you need to rinse it through a lot though otherwise it'll cloud your water - I also believe it gradually dissolves over time (albeit very slowly) so you'll need to add more over time.

I'm happy with it, it's a nice attractive substrate.
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Re: Sand

Post by nehctik »

I thought you didn't want sand to compact as it can create anaerobic(sp) gas pockets. Then again I think that only applies to sand over 2inch thick :S
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Pufferpunk
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2 T biocellatus
C valentini
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C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
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burrfish
T niphobles
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Re: Sand

Post by Pufferpunk »

1" is good.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
maccyg
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Re: Sand

Post by maccyg »

No gas pockets in mine!
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Welch4
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Re: Sand

Post by Welch4 »

I have a deep Sand bed. In reef terms is relatively young about a year and a half old. I just stir about a quater of the sand before each wc.
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
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Pufferpunk
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Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
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My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Sand

Post by Pufferpunk »

How deep? DSBs are not to be disturbed.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Welch4
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Re: Sand

Post by Welch4 »

2in" at the lowest 3 or 4 at some peaks. Not sure if that classifies in the dsb
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
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