Bagged "live" sand

[Steve Maxwell]

Hello,

So I have a question...how long is "live" bagged sand actually "alive"? I have a bag of Carib Sea Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand that I've had opened for almost a year. The sand in the bag looks fine and doesn't have a funky smell to it.

Recently I've had issues with some of the sand in my DT becoming discolored...in another post it was suggested that it was due to excess nutrients. After that I realized that while I've been adding this sand to my tank by the handfuls during recent water changes (due to loss via vacuum) that I haven't been rinsing the sand first. The only other thing that has changed in my tank in a long time is the addition of a tuxedo urchin. Maybe there is something in the sand that is causing the discoloration?

As always, suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[Steve Maxwell]

---bump

 

[Breakthecycle2]

It should say on the bag it has a shelf life of one year,but in all honesty, is any sand "live" sand?

 

[Reflective]

I would just rinse it before you put it in your tank. Your other sand should make it re-live pretty quick. Maybe what was alive isn't anymore and that is causing the excess nutrients.