What does sand do?

Well, even the live sand that we use is silicate based, unless you use crushed coral or arognite (for all intents and purposes those two are the same). Even with using arogonite sand, there is probably silicate based particles in there that will lead to a diatom bloom. You really can't avoid it.

 

I look at it like this: I am minimizing my risk by using aragonite sand. That's really a key factor to this hobby, minimizing risk. Could I have used silicate based sand and been perfectly fine? Probably. But what are the odds of that compared to the odds of using aragonite? Factor into that the cost difference and is it worth risking thousands of dollars in coral to save a few bucks.

There are ways to cut corners($) in this hobby that are minimal risk. Buy a tank off Craigslist, better yet buy a leaky tank for pennies then reseal it. Build your own stand. Most anything DIY. IMHO, sand and rock are things that should be high on the priority list. They can really make or break a tank.

 

Agreed.

 

Sure, but I don't see any long term risks associated with using silicate based live sand (or play sand for that matter) compared to aragonite. Aragonite also has it's downsides and some may argue that it has more long term risks than silicate based sands do. As long as you let your tank cycle completely, diatoms won't be an issue long term unless you add silicate materials to your system.

Both have their pros and both have their cons. Most natural reefs are comprised of an aragonite substrate, fwiw.

I don't consider using "play sand" cutting corners. One could consider using live sand as cutting corners, but we would just be arguing semantics.

 

I don't even have a fuge, I was just curious... But thanks for the info xD

 

What risks ca you possibly sight with aragonite? Aragonite substrate is safe for reef aquariums and is commonly used as such because it is a great pH buffer.

The only thing I see wrong with "live sand" is the amount of oxygen could be used up by the time you buy it. It's injected with air and sits on a shelf for who knows how long. I just don't think it's worth the extra money.

 

One thing I have read with aragonite is it bonds with phosphate. I think that is part of the reason that it is recommended to replace the sand bed during a move.

 

So will shallow sand.

The idea that denitrification occurs only in deep sand beds, with no oxygen, is an old wives tale. It will occur on any surface that has low oxygen (i.e. not bioballs, but certainly in a sand bed with an active biofilm). Fine sand does have more surface area, but usually isn't necessary. In order for it to stay active, it can't become stagnant. Critters need to constantly stir it, but may
not do so in a small area such as a sump, as they are believed to avoid the boundaries between sand and surfaces. So, I question the effectiveness of these setups. But if they make you feel better, it probably won't hurt anything...

No, not in an established tank. You often will get diatoms in a new tank. There is silica from many sources in a new system. This usually occurs at the end of the cycle and can happen with or without silica sand. Silica sand may add some silica, but after the tank is cycled, with some snails, and pods, you wont tend to see diatoms. In a new tank though, usually there are diatoms anyways.

 

I guess my thinking is there's absolutely nothing wrong with using silicate sand. What worries me is for the "play" type you never know what A company might do to it to try and beat out B company. They might bleach it or dye it or add lord knows what to it or simply not care and indiscriminately collect and package it. With all the pollution these days, sure it "might" be safe for us and our kids but not for the fish. As someone else stated, it just seems like a pretty high risk to me just to save a few extra bucks. I guess if you could somehow verify with the manufacturer that they've not treated it with chemicals and ensure that it's "Tank/reef" safe then sure... just not sure how easy that would be.

 

E.G., ANY sand. Any live sand that you buy is silicate based as well. Cycling a new tank will cause a diatom bloom no matter what you do (silicon seal, powerheads, skimmer, overflow). I never suggested it wasn't reef safe. In fact, I said exactly the opposite. Most reefs are comprised of Aragonite sand. Aragonite is the remains of coral reefs (do yourself a favor and look up how much aragonite sediment parrot fish contribute each year, it will blow your mind). As was mentioned, Aragonite has a reputation for causing algae issues. If you can find finer grains of it, the better off you are.