It will begin to cycle immediately upon introduction to your tank and it works faster than many competing brands. Whether you need live sand or not for your aquarium will really depend on the type of species you want to keep in your reef tank and whether it’s a new tank or a tank that’s already populated. you will be pleased at how quickly a small group of nassarius snails will clear detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, and fish waste. Whether you need live sand or not for your aquarium will really depend on the type of species you want to keep in your reef tank and whether it’s a new tank or a tank that’s already populated. Your tank’s biological filtration will get a noticeable boost since the sand increases the surface area for bacteria to colonize. Live Rock. Ideal for culturing Live sand. Coral sand marine aquarium fish tank live reef. Both these factors can be detrimental to the ecosystem of your reef tank. Live sand, cloudy water - I just added some live sand to my 46 gallon bowfront. TWO LITTLE FISHIES Sand Live Coarse Reef 15lb, Best for Planted Tanks: Will my tank cycle start with just live sand? It also will have great contrast with most coral and rockwork. You’ll have plenty of extra surface area for aerobic bacteria. The product even guarantees instant cycling, so you won't have to wait to add your fish or coral. You can also purchase bacteria blocks, which are a cheaper version of live sand. The FINS Reefkeeper Live Sand FAQ page suggests 10 pounds of live sand per square foot of bottom area, which yields about a 1-inch-deep covering. The best live sand for a reef tank is Carib Sea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Sand. Marine Depot recommends an amount of 70 pounds of sand per square foot in your aquarium. I’ll discuss the advantages of both further down, so read on. Fiji live rock for marine reef tank. By using dry rock, modern reef aquarists create gravity-defying aquascapes before adding any water to the tank. ", "The sand’s micro-organisms are engineered to reduce new tank syndrome. FREE Shipping by Amazon. Nature's Ocean® Aquarium Saltwater sand for reef tanks, fish tanks and saltwater aquariums. While you can always fill the bottom of your reef tank with live sand, it might become a little bit expensive if you use pure live sand to fill your sand bed (I’ll cover all you need to know about your sand bed afterwards in this article). Like the brand’s other products, it contains millions of beneficial bacteria to aid in biological filtration, resulting in an environment that’s ideal for tetras, angelfish, cichlids, and even turtles—but it’s just it works just as well in a marine reef tank. Our top tip for the best live sand for a reef aquarium is the CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Sand substrate. Beyond that, it does an excellent job of buffering pH and reducing harmful toxins. Answer: Nature’s Ocean® Bio-Activ Live™ Aragonite Reef Sand is designed as a natural biological filtration source, but can be used for many other purposes such as adding it to a tank as a shallow or deep sand bed to using it in combination with live rocks and aquarium plants. However, as the science behind reef tanks developed, it has become a common rule that a shallow sand bed is to be preferred. If you’re using live sand for your saltwater aquarium, you’re just accelerating the process, but it’s not strictly necessary to get live sand straight away for your reef tank if you’re patient. Plus it really brightens up the tank and gives you that beach look. 98. Customers write that the Activ-Flora Planted Aquarium Substrate has a natural look and they quickly noticed a difference in their planted tanks. She has over 10 years of experience in writing and editing and has held positions at Time and AOL. Do You Really Need Live Sand For Your Reef Tank, Sand Bed Thickness: Deep Sand Bed Vs Shallow Sand Bed. Some reefers prefer to not even have sand and go with a bare bottom tank. It may result in exposed bare spots on the bottom of the tank. Do You Really Need Live Sand For Your Reef Tank. you will be pleased at how quickly a small group of nassarius snails will clear detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, and fish waste. One note: Some customers mention that the sand ships slightly wet in order to preserve the live bacteria. Along this article, I explored the advantages and disadvantages of live sand for saltwater aquariums. Get it as soon as Wed, Sep 9. ", "Looks terrific and your tank’s biological filtration will get a boost. In other words, it’s more than dark enough to make your tank’s colors pop. This practice is called seeding and ensures you cover your sand bed mixing live sand with dry sand to allow for the helpful bacteria to develop and populate your dry sand as well. If you want to read more into live and dry types of sand for your reef tank, look up Aquarium sand: How to pick the right aquarium substrate for your reef tank. that left me with about 4 gallons of actual water volume. Aquarists sometimes overlook the importance of the substrate. But it’s much more than just some sand. Live rock is a more effective and doing this job and sand has started to become more just for looks than anything else. Premium Live® Aragonite Reef Sand Collected in its natural environment and packaged in its natural state (U.S. Patent #'s: 6,376,299 & 6,939,708) Just place in tank, add saltwater (for best results use NutriSeawater®) then add fish, no waiting required. ", "With its ultra-fine grain size, it’s ideal for deep sand beds and low-flow tanks. Required fields are marked *. • Instant ammonia cycling Carib Sea ACS00020 Aragonite Reef Sand for Aquarium, 15-Pound. You can use Marine Depot’s Sand Bed Calculator to understand the amount of sand you’re going to need for your reef tank, depending on whether you’d like a shallow or deep sand bed. By using dry rock, modern reef aquarists create gravity-defying aquascapes before adding any water to the tank. In brief, live sand offers a streamlined way to maintain tank health. The sand’s micro-organisms are engineered to reduce “new tank” syndrome, where ammonia and nitrite levels become dangerously high—a common symptom in environments that haven’t had time to develop the proper levels of bacteria. Live sand made from aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate, is a favorite of many aquarists thanks to its lack of silicates, which can cause algae problems in your tank. Compare. Available in a 20-pound bag, the sand includes a bio-magnet clarifier to reduce cloudiness when it’s introduced to your tank. 4.5 out of 5 stars 57. This 100% aragonite sand simulates a natural marine environment and reliably buffers pH without the need for any additional chemicals. Live aragonite sand, like Fiji pink sand or white aquarium sand, also has the benefit of raising aquarium pH. $26.98 $ 26. Unfortunately, this is not possible for most aquarists. Read more. We provide an awesome variety of Saltwater Live Rock for saltwater reef aquarium tanks or fish only tanks. If you already have a reef tank with its own bacteria and its own ecosystem, it might be a bad idea to introduce new bacteria using live sand. ", Nature's Ocean No.0 Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Live Sand at Amazon, Carib Sea Arag-Alive 20-Pound Fiji Pink Sand at Amazon, Pure Water Pebbles African Cichlid Bio-Activ Aquarium at Amazon, Carib Sea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand at Amazon, TWO LITTLE FISHIES Live Coarse Reef at Petswarehouse.com, Activ-Flora Planted Aquarium Substrate at Chewy, Best Overall: While it’ll cloud your water at first, it should clear up in a couple of days. Carib Sea Arag-Alive 20-Pound Fiji Pink Sand, Best White: If you are using live rocks in the tank, do not pour the sand onto the rocks, as this will smother the live rock and cause oxygen depletion. In his book Simplified Reefkeeping, author Robert Metelsky recommends a thickness of approximately 1 3/4 to 2 inches, which calculates to 1.45 pounds of sand per gallon, or 80 pounds for a 55-gallon tank. Fiji Pink sand is great for all types of tanks and is by far the most recommended type of sand for a reef tank. Our suggestion for the best live sand for a natural reef aquarium. MicroBacter Start XLM …your work by 6 to 8 times! It was originally thought that adding live sand would introduce ammonia eating beneficial bacteria and speed up the cycling process of a … Black sand is not aragonite based, so it does not boost pH. Ideal for culturing Live Sand and 100% from the ocean floor. Live sand for saltwater aquariums is like live rock. This is where seeding comes in handy: you get the live sand for your reef tank in a smaller amount and you mix it with dry sand (I’ll talk a bit about dry sand later on). The consistency is heavier than several other variants, but not gravel-like—buyers compare it to the texture of rock candy, which prevents it from getting blown around the bottom of the tank. These fish scrape the coral surfaces with their hard beaks to get at algae and then pulverize the calcareous material into fine particles. Why use a coarse sand? ", "Makes a strong visual statement in your tank. Read on to find everything you always wanted to know about live sand! Live sand will also help you with populating a new tank by helping other species in the water to thrive as they would in a natural environment. Live sand is reef sand that is already filled with beneficial bacteria to help cycle a fish tank quickly. Happy fishkeeping! It’s also packed with the company’s live BioPronto microbes, giving you the same kind of biological filtration you’ll find in most other live sand products. FREE Shipping by Amazon. Welcome to Live Rock N Reef! 99. Back in 2007, I was introduced with the amazing world of aquascaping and reef keeping. Contained within this moisture are billions of broad-spectrum marine bacteria but also carefully selected strains of marine bacteria to help begin the formation of your aquarium’s biological filter. Live Rock & Sand. $45.99 $ 45. If you’ve already started cycling your aquarium water for a while now, stay away from live sand. The thickness of your sand bed will depend on the type of inhabitants you want to have in your reef tank, mostly. Since then I studied a lot (still doing so) to learn the complex ecosystem inside an aquaria. In those days — the days when Julian and I published Aquarium Frontiers – we also collected cucumbers and snails, making these animals the ideal way to start a reef tank. This live sand does contain fine grains of sand, so you need to be careful if you run a high flow reef tank. View Poll Results: Black Or White Live Sand For a Reef Tank?? We recommend using around one pound per gallon or just enough for a two inch sand bed. This 100% aragonite sand simulates a natural marine environment and reliably buffers pH without the need for any additional chemicals. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our Carib Sea Arag-Alive Substrate, Best Fine: 99. But what is live sand anyway? I'm adding caribsea special grade sand and instant ocean to this 550 gallon reeftank marine aquarium. Live sand, like live rock, hosts a wide variety fauna and micro-fauna. … At first glance, the substrate is just a decoration. Can A Turtle Live With A Cracked Shell: Tips On Fixing Turtle’s Cracked Shell, 7 Highly Effective Ways To Protect Pond Fish from Predators, Exo Terra Plantation Soil Review: Substrate For Tropical Terrarium. Wet cycled live rock or even previously cycled wet man made rock will work fine. FREE Shipping by Amazon. A few important things about keeping your aquarium sand clean and alive: Implement a filtration system along with a good protein skimmer. ARC Reef Live Sand is aquacultured fresh and consists of more beneficial bacteria than any bagged sand off the shelf. Like regular, non-living sand, live sand comes in a variety of textures and sizes. This contributes to the biodiversity within the reef tank and provides another way to process waste. 3-Question. 99. According to customers, this is a live sand the settles quickly with minimal clouding, resulting in a tank that’s clear within a couple of minutes. Contained within this moisture are billions of broad-spectrum marine bacteria but also carefully selected strains of marine bacteria to help begin the formation of your aquarium’s biological filter. Get it as soon as Fri, Dec 4. View as: Sort by: Show: validate title. Save more with Subscribe & Save. Live sand is the same type of sand as dry sand except it comes packaged wet. 99. The reef tank has a remarkable and very attractive beauty. It contains beneficial bacteria that breaks down organics in your reef tank. Hands on experience and discussing with fellow aquarists made me learn one or two things which I would like to share in this site. Add to Wishlist . Don’t get your live sand from a bag that’s been sitting on a shelf for months. Get it as soon as Fri, Dec 4. Jul 2, 2020 - Choosing the right substrate is one of the most important things you can do to establish a healthy and stable reef tank. This live sand will help naturally with biological filtration, which also keeps keep your tank clean while keeping your fish healthier. You don't have to use all dry or all live for your topper sand. Live sand can be much more expensive than dry sand. The particle size is perfect for sand sifting gobies, and other… $49.99 Regular Price: $ Add to Cart Notify Me When In-Stock. Customers say Carib Sea’s Fiji Pink Sand has the perfect grain size: small enough to look good, but large enough that it won’t get blown around the tank easily. Nothing beats fresh live sand. 4.4 out of 5 stars 92. Professional aquarists prefer dry rock as it is less expensive to ship than wet live rock, can stay outside of the water making it easier to design, and most importantly there is no risk of introducing hitchhiking aquarium pests. The particle size is perfect for sand sifting gobies, and other… $49.99 Regular Price: $ Add to Cart Notify Me When In-Stock. Nature’s Ocean Black Beach Live Sand Premium Live® Aragonite Reef Sand for Aquariums • Collected in its natural environment and packaged in its natural state (U.S. Patent #’s:6,376,299 & 6,939,708) • Just place in tank, add saltwater (for best results use NutriSeawater®) then add fish, no waiting required. The sand also settles quickly, with any cloudiness usually dissipating within a few hours. Adding live sand and water to reef tank aquarium. : Black Live Sand? Find the Top Reef Tank Sand with the MSN Buying Guides >> Compare Products and Brands by Quality, Popularity and Pricing >> Updated 2020 Live Sand $ 1.99. Live rock and live sand are full of beneficial organisms that create a healthy environment for your tank. FREE Shipping on your first order shipped by Amazon. Save more with Subscribe & Save. 3-Question. Read more. Why ARC Reef Live Sand is the Best Live Sand for Reef Tanks. It’s said to be quite useful especially if you’re developing life in a new tank, since its features include organisms that will help clean the water from unwanted, harmful ammonia and nitrites. Answer: Nature’s Ocean® Bio-Activ Live™ Aragonite Reef Sand is designed as a natural biological filtration source, but can be used for many other purposes such as adding it to a tank as a shallow or deep sand bed to using it in combination with live rocks and aquarium plants. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. 4.5 out of 5 stars 25. Wet cycled live rock or even previously cycled wet man made rock will work fine. $26.98 $ 26. You can just add (washed) dry sand to your tank. Just be aware that this product is intended for freshwater planted tanks, not reef tanks with coral. If you're talking about live sand from an established system, full of bacteria, worms, microfauna, and coralline algae, then, yes, a scoop or two of that stuff is awesome. It’s easier to develop a community of species in your reef tank if you use live sand, but all dry becomes live sand at one point if you take good care of your aquarium. Your email address will not be published. If the flow is too intense the grains of sand can be blown around, and this can lead to sand dunes forming as it shifts in the aquarium. Pure Water Pebbles African Cichlid Bio-Activ Natural White Aquarium Live Sand for African Cichlids 20 LB, Best Black: Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Beach Live Sand for Aquarium, 10-Pound, Black. Brief review of Nature's Ocean Bio-Active Live Sand For Saltwater Tanks And Reef Aquariums. Scoop up any detritus you see like remainders of fish food or any algae that might be harming the population of your reef tank. $45.99 $ 45. Check the label to be sure the sand isn’t treated with any chemicals. If you’re looking for live sand that makes a strong visual statement this is a solid option. A video showing how to place live sand from West Mariculture into your reef tank without causing any cloudiness. Needless to say, as soon as I started stocking the tank, parameters went totally unstable. If you plan on running a high flow tank then you should go with one of the coarser live sand options in this article. Live sand provides the environment for many other benificial chemical reactions that take place in a reef tank. 20: 21.51%: White Live Sand? 100% From The Ocean Floor. Purchasing live sand will speed up the time it takes for your tank to cycle. FREE Shipping by Amazon . It comes packaged with natural seawater and is sold by the 15-pound bag. The live sand, on the other hand, comes coated with bacteria therefore them accumulating in the tank will begin immediately. The larger grain size reduces the buildup of detritus inside your tank, for one thing, and some critters (like certain crustaceans) will appreciate the chance to burrow and build. There are still 4.5 out of 5 stars 57. Some reefers prefer to not even have sand and go with a bare bottom tank. We recommend using around one pound per gallon or just enough for a two inch sand bed. It also will have great contrast with most coral and rockwork. If you wouldn’t mind waiting then you can opt for the braai stand. ", "It’s best for planted tanks where aquatic flora needs to take root. Nature's Ocean No.0 Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Live Sand for Aquarium, Best Pink: This way, you’ll keep your sand bed clean and fresh so that the necessary bacteria can thrive. The iron-rich composition means you won’t need to include additional substrates, like laterite, and it’s free of artificial dyes and chemical additives. The sand is sold in a 20-pound bag and is white in color. Premium Live Sand for your Aquarium or Fish Tank. When selecting send for your reef tank choose live sand if you immediately want to fill your tank with creatures because it will come when it is already cycled. Popular substrates are Fiji Pink and Aragamax sand. Some of the sand around coral reefs is the result of the feeding activity of parrot fish. However, I failed to consider, in 10 gallon tank, I was taking up almost 5 gallons of water volume with sand, rock and equipment. Those organisms will help the development of an ecosystem within your reef tank.