Bag of sand question

[cdemoss01]

Can I open a bag of sand use a little then wait for later to use it again?
Thanks
Can

 

[FUNGI]

sure......I assume you are taking about Live Sand...?
regardless, anyway...yes

 

[cdemoss01]

sure......I assume you are taking about Live Sand...?
regardless, anyway...yes

Oh awesome so I can leave it open but try to reseal etc

 

[Fish Fan]

If you're talking about something CaribbSea "live" sands-in-a-bag, I'm doubtful how "live" these really are. I have zero proof, but my suspicion is that the wet packed sand is only marginally "live" if at all, I think the bacteria come from that little pack of "clarifier" they tell you to add. Of course, that's all speculation.

But as @FUNGI mentioned, I think you're fine. Technically, if the sand was "alive" and you let it dry out, it's not going to be alive anymore. But I wouldn't let that worry you. When you add even totally dry, dead sand to an existing system, in time it will become "alive" with bacteria again.

 

[Idech]

I have zero proof, but my suspicion is that the wet packed sand is only marginally "live" if at all, I think the bacteria come from that little pack of "clarifier" they tell you to add.

They stopped putting that clarifier in the bags. At least the ones I bought.

 

[Fish Fan]

They stopped putting that clarifier in the bags. At least the ones I bought.

Well there goes that theory lol!

Either way, I definitely do like their sands, I like the variety, and have definitely used some of their freshwater sands too. So not a hater here at all lol!

 

[littlefoxx]

Can I open a bag of sand use a little then wait for later to use it again?
Thanks
Can

Yes, I did this with sry sand. More complicated with stuff thats live and wet

 

[Fish Fan]

Yes, I did this with sry sand. More complicated with stuff thats live and wet

I always appreciate your posts, and certainly your insight here :-)

I guess my question would be, what *bags* of sand do you consider "alive", to the point where we should worry about this?

My idea of "live sand" - I can't lie - is the stuff from Tampa Bay Saltwater :winking-face:

After that, I feel like anything in a bag - wet or dry - is basically just dead sand, and should be allowed to be revitalized once added.

An exception would be if an LFS was selling high quality "live" sand by the pound, kind of thing.

Short of that, if it comes in a bag - wet or dry - I'm not sure how live it is.

I'm genuinely curious what you think here. Thanks for your help!

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

 

[littlefoxx]

I always appreciate your posts, and certainly your insight here :)

I guess my question would be, what *bags* of sand do you consider "alive", to the point where we should worry about this?

My idea of "live sand" - I can't lie - is the stuff from Tampa Bay Saltwater :winking-face:

After that, I feel like anything in a bag - wet or dry - is basically just dead sand, and should be allowed to be revitalized once added.

An exception would be if an LFS was selling high quality "live" sand by the pound, kind of thing.

Short of that, if it comes in a bag - wet or dry - I'm not sure how live it is.

I'm genuinely curious what you think here. Thanks for your help!

Thats a valid point there, I was always told that if the sand was wet storing it was hard to keep it from going bad! I tried to store some of the caribsea wet stuff and when I went to get it again it smelled horrid. I cant really smell anything unless its very very strong! I assumed it was bad and tossed it since I could smell how bad it was :0

 

[Fish Fan]

Thats a valid point there, I was always told that if the sand was wet storing it was hard to keep it from going bad! I tried to store some of the caribsea wet stuff and when I went to get it again it smelled horrid. I cant really smell anything unless its very very strong! I assumed it was bad and tossed it since I could smell how bad it was :0

Uhg! A horrid smell would make me rethink all of this lol!

I'm not trying to argue at all, but to me, unless the sand came teeming with life - like sand from TBS - I wouldn't worry about the OP's concern.

Thank you very much for your reply and help!

 

[littlefoxx]

Uhg! A horrid smell would make me rethink all of this lol!

I'm not trying to argue at all, but to me, unless the sand came teeming with life - like sand from TBS - I wouldn't worry about the OP's concern.

Thank you very much for your reply and help!

TBS sand is awesome! I wanted to get that for my 300 gallon but it was wayyy too expensive!

 

[littlefoxx]

TBS sand is awesome! I wanted to get that for my 300 gallon but it was wayyy too expensive!

I also had my sand in a bucket with a lid so maybe that was part of the issue! Who knows

 

[Fish Fan]

TBS sand is awesome! I wanted to get that for my 300 gallon but it was wayyy too expensive!

For sure! I have on order about 90 pounds for a 150 gallon..... I wanted about 120 pounds+ at least, but the stuff isn't cheap, and I'll see what the 90 pounds looks like, and add more if needed.

After that, sand is kind of just sand, to me :)

Thank you for your reply!

 

[Dragen Fiend]

If you're talking about something CaribbSea "live" sands-in-a-bag, I'm doubtful how "live" these really are. I have zero proof, but my suspicion is that the wet packed sand is only marginally "live" if at all, I think the bacteria come from that little pack of "clarifier" they tell you to add. Of course, that's all speculation.

But as @FUNGI mentioned, I think you're fine. Technically, if the sand was "alive" and you let it dry out, it's not going to be alive anymore. But I wouldn't let that worry you. When you add even totally dry, dead sand to an existing system, in time it will become "alive" with bacteria again.

Yea like its hard to even get quantified data to prove its more useful. I've used both dry and live and never seen a difference. Rather save money on the dry stuff.

As to OP: I have used sand from opened bags sitting well over a month. No issues. I even have sand and rock just sitting in my new 25 IM lagoon tank build. Its been close to a month because I haven't got around finishing all the equipment lol.

 

[FUNGI]

Oh awesome so I can leave it open but try to reseal etc

Yes....however, don't expect it to be "Live" post opening the bag....

 

[56longroof]

For sure! I have on order about 90 pounds for a 150 gallon..... I wanted about 120 pounds+ at least, but the stuff isn't cheap, and I'll see what the 90 pounds looks like, and add more if needed.

After that, sand is kind of just sand, to me :)

Thank you for your reply!

The top 3 inches is TBS live sand in my 150. It looks awesome. Itt could be a little bigger grain as it will blow around some.

 

[Fish Fan]

The top 3 inches is TBS live sand in my 150. It looks awesome. Itt could be a little bigger grain as it will blow around some.

Nice work! I have a 150 I'm working on, I hope it's half as good as yours :)

EDIT: Nice to see you here after this afternoon's earlier thread :winking-face:

Could I please ask, how many pounds of TBS sand was that on your top 3"?

Thank you!

 

[56longroof]

Nice work! I have a 150 I'm working on, I hope it's half as good as yours :)

EDIT: Nice to see you here after this afternoon's earlier thread :winking-face:

Could I please ask, how many pounds of TBS sand was that on your top 3"?

Thank you!

Thanks. Its a evolving work in progress. The hardest part is deciding where to put the corals.There is 80 lbs of TBS sand. I ordered 120 but with all the storms I was lucky to get that. I consider this afternoons thread a difference of opinion. No more, no less. I don't get to worked up over stuff like that.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks. Its a evolving work in progress. The hardest part is deciding where to put the corals.There is 80 lbs of TBS sand. I ordered 120 but with all the storms I was lucky to get that. I consider this afternoons thread a difference of opinion. No more, no less. I don't get to worked up over stuff like that.

Thanks for that info, I appreciate knowing that! I have 90 pounds on order coming with my base rock in a first shipment. I think it's going to be just about perfect, but if I need more I can maybe add more to my next shipment of the premium rock. If it's too much, that's a good problem to have, and I'll use it in my sump or I have other tanks as well. Thanks again!