Live sand in bag REALY ALIVE?

[JARRETT SHARK]

DOES THIS STUFF REALY WORK? I KNOW IT SITS ON COUNTERS FOR MONTHS. ONLY REASON I AM ASKING IS THAT I NEED TO ADD SAND TO A ESTABLISHED TANK AND WANT TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE INSTEAD OF A BAG A MONTH. I HAVE A BARE BOTTOM AND NOT LIKING THE LOOK

 

[Staaan]

I think its pretty misleading.

Pretty sure I used the same one.. and in a few days had ammonia.. not a huge spike, but a spike never the less.

Im pretty sure I read a thread on here some where, stating basically that there is always die-off bacteria thats in those bags.

I keep hearing about the buying dry or "dead" sand thing and just seeding with a cup or 2 of some one elses established reef tank..

A lot cheaper.. thats the method I'm gunna use on my new tank.

 

[Og Drogon]

Yep I went with two bags of this sand and 5 bags of marine reef sand in my 55g so I hope it is good lol


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[JARRETT SHARK]

I just dont know if its a scam

 

[Staaan]

I guess in a way it is..

It says instantly cycles.. which isn't true.

I guess it does cycle faster...

But you're not looking to cycle you have an established tank..

And like I said there was die off.

I think your prob better off just adding dead sand... little by little.

It sucks.. but I think as you know, sometimes "shortcuts" in this hobby don't always work out to well and can end up f*ing things up.

However.. if you don't have any livestock.. why not just dump all the sand in one shot.. let it clear up.. and if there will be a mini cycle.. then let it be...

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

To risky b/c i have fish

 

[Staaan]

Ah ok.. yeah.

I'm sure if you do little by little nothing is gunna happen. Just will take a while.. which sucks.. but w/e.

This hobby definitely taught me to be a lot more patient than I used to be.. other wise stuff just ends blowing up right into your face.

 

[Imbarrie]

I'm suspicious to.
For an established tank I would stay away. You can't rinse it and if there is bacteria die off in the bag you may crash your tank.


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[beerfish]

I've used it and have found that it is a nice sand, and does have some living organisms in it. It will not instantly cycle a tank. If money isn't an issue, it's a great sand overall, but it's expensive for a larger tank.

 

[afernandez]

I've used it in the past...I don't think it's "live" - and it's really fine sand almost sugar grain. It will blow sand storms if power head hits it or direct flow hits it

 

[mqur1963]

i bought sand on ebay live added to my 6 month old tank i added 45lb i check my nitrite and amobia it was fine .

 

[charliethetuna88]

Jarrett I added 45 pounds to my 90 refuge I have another 45 pounds I'm gonna add I did half at a time and washed it out in buckets with my water change water. Actually worked out good ,I personally thing the live sand is a scam ur betetr off buying a dry sand rinse it real good and if anything ill give u some of my sand to seed urs ,if I was live that would mean u have to add it to ur tank without rinsing it and iu damn well know ur not gonna just dump a bag of sand in ur tank without rinsing it ,if ur gonna add a lot to ur tank do it like a bag per water change that's the safest way I think ,that's what I've been doing and the water doesn't get to cloudy it clears up pretty quick

 

[basiab]

The only thing possibly alive may be some bacteria. How long they stay alive is anyones guess. But a die off of bacteria does not cause a spike. The sand is clean and therefore will not cause any problems. In an established tank with rock, the sand will get seeded from the rock. In a new tank it may really have bacteria and therefore help the cycle or it may not and then it is just nice clean dead sand and will not hurt.

 

[jcolon2]

I've used it and right after I bought it someone who was pretty experienced with reefs told me the whole "live" sand thign with the company is misleading.

 

[reefman]

The only thing possibly alive may be some bacteria. How long they stay alive is anyones guess. But a die off of bacteria does not cause a spike. The sand is clean and therefore will not cause any problems. In an established tank with rock, the sand will get seeded from the rock. In a new tank it may really have bacteria and therefore help the cycle or it may not and then it is just nice clean dead sand and will not hurt.

i agree

 

[STHILL]

i wouldnt use it , i put it in my tank after my tank was up and established and it will go thru a cycle for sure, that stuff needs to be rinsed extremely good also.... if i had to do it again i WOULD NOT HAVE USED IT....its not a good idea to use imo....i want to take it out now.....

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

well i decided noit to use it... Going with 40lbs every 3 weeks

 

[NYreefNoob]

why not just buy the dry sand and save a few dollars

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Easy to find out, Does the bag have a date filled? After that how long do you think bacteria can last in a closed system without nurishment?

My scientific guess, live sand is hardly alive. Best trade a cup of established sand from your hundreds of friends on MR to start up to your tank.

 

[charliethetuna88]

Just do aliitle at a time