Sand (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

I am looking for some sand that i can put in my tank some cheaper than the lfs i know southdown isn't sold around here is there another comprable brand to them sold localy.

 

[Guest]

anothe question is it a good idea to put gobbies in a sand bottom or crused coral or does it matter. I think they are called gobbies i am talking about the ones that pick up the sand and spit it out.

 

[rxonco]

Personally, I used the sand offered at most of the stores around here. I think I used about 40lbs of the AragAlive stuff along with another 40lbs of the dry Aragonite and probably five or six cups from a friend's established tank. I don't recall how much all of this was, but I don't remember it being all that expensive.

Sometimes you can find someone willing to sell you live sand in the buying/selling forum.

As for the Gobies...I'm by no means an expert but I think they prefer a more finer substrate than the crushed coral.

Good luck.

 

[incysor]

anothe question is it a good idea to put gobbies in a sand bottom or crused coral or does it matter. I think they are called gobbies i am talking about the ones that pick up the sand and spit it out.

There are several gobies that do this. For some of them the critters in the sandbed are their only source of food, so when you're at the store ask an employee to feed the tank, if the goby you're looking at comes up and feeds out of the water column you're more likely to be able to keep it alive while your sandbed matures.

I'd stick to finer sand if you like these guys. Definitely go with the arragonite sand.

 

[djreef]

Watch out though, not all sand is created equal. Some of the Carib Sea stuff is actually a silica based sand. The stuff in the bag that sells for about $20, with the Easter Island scene on the front is white silica. Great if you want to grow sponges (good), but also great if you want to grow diatoms (not so good).

DJ
= 8-->{I>

 

[incysor]

Watch out though, not all sand is created equal. Some of the Carib Sea stuff is actually a silica based sand. The stuff in the bag that sells for about $20, with the Easter Island scene on the front is white silica. Great if you want to grow sponges (good), but also great if you want to grow diatoms (not so good).

DJ
= 8-->{I>

Interesting. So what sand do you recommend. I thought that if it was arragonite sand then it definitely wasn't silica based.

 

[Guest]

The fish that spit out sand are jawfish. They require a minimum of a 4 inch deep sand bed, and some crushed coral and little shells to reinforce their burrows.

Also, you don't want to keep a brittle star in the same tank with a jawfish. The starfish will tear down their burrows and maybe kill the fish.

 

[rxonco]

The fish that spit out sand are jawfish.

Are jawfish and gobies the same thing?

I've got a dragon goby that does the whole sand sifting thing.

 

[incysor]

The fish that spit out sand are jawfish.

Are jawfish and gobies the same thing?

I've got a dragon goby that does the whole sand sifting thing.

Nope not the same thing. There are jawfish AND gobies that do this.

 

[rxonco]

That's what I was thinking.

 

[djreef]

Yes aragonite is good. Unfortunately, just because it says Carib Sea on the bag it doesn't necessarily mean aragonite sand is beneath the label.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

 

[Guest]

A simple test to figure out if it is silica or calcium carbonate based is to use vinegar. Take about a teaspoon of the sand and stick it in a cup of vinegar for a couple of days. If it does not dissolve, then it is silicate based, which means, dont use it. HTH

 

[Guest]

Josh you are SO smart! It must be that schooling or something?

 

[Wildfire]

I am looking for some sand that i can put in my tank some cheaper than the lfs i know southdown isn't sold around here is there another comprable brand to them sold localy.

If you are still looking for sand, PM me. I've got some "Extra"