need to buy sand...

Hi-- this isnt really "an emergency" per se- but i posted it in another forum and didnt get too many responses

So...

I have to buy sand today - and i dont remember how to pick the right ones at home depot and or lowes....

I was thinking about buying a bag of the "live sand" to see it but decided i think thats a farse. What can live without air? great idea on their part though... hey lets add some water to the sand and call it live to charge almost double!

Anyway, i think that sand is sand... i just want to make sure i dont get the kind of sand that has silicates in it that will backfire later.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as always....

 

Just go the Home depot and buy the high desert play sand thats what i use in my 180 and i LOVE IT!!! Glad to see another local!!!

 

Thanks man... going to get it now...

Talk to you soon and id love to meet up sometime once i get up and running.

 

Yea def!!! But yea thats where i got my sand for all my tanks, its like 4 bucks a bag!

 

does these high desert play sand contain silicate or quartz? something like that..

 

Idk, but ive used them on at least 10 tanks with out any problems

 

if they have Dolomite sand I hear thats the best to use

 

can you explain the difference?

 

so you dont have to buy live sand to start a cycle on a new reef tank????

 

No, you don't have to use live sand. It is just one possible way to get a starting load of bacteria in your tank. Other sources include Live rock purchased from a retailer or get piece from a friend's established tank. You could also get a scoop of sand from another established tank. The bacteria that untimately populate a reef tank are naturally present in the environment as well. You could theoretically start a tank without adding any of the above. The few bacteria present from the environment would eventually multiply enough for you to get a cycle. You can also buy bottled bacteria. Any of these methods are probably somewhat effecitve. A lot of it comes down to your desire to spend some (possibly lots of) $$$ to shorten the amount of time you have to wait for a fully cycled tank.