Cheapest place to get sand

[Martini5788]

Picked up a 40 breeder from petco yesterday and I'm looking for dry sand for it. Not messing with live, I would kill it anyways because I will never again not rinse sand. So im looking for an inexpensive, dry, white sand. Any help is appreciated!

[sde1500]

The beach :clown:

[ExpensiveHobby]

Picked up a 40 breeder from petco yesterday and I'm looking for dry sand for it. Not messing with live, I would kill it anyways because I will never again not rinse sand. So im looking for an inexpensive, dry, white sand. Any help is appreciated!

LoL you have to rinse it with saltwater not freshwater.

[Martini5788]

Live sand is also more expensive. And from all the times I've used "live" sand, it made no difference. It's all dead anyways. No point to use it.

[ericarenee]

Check on Amazon... Open box and used deals....
i have bought salt and sand from there. Its usually nothing more then discounted because the box as super damaged..

[Xxero]

Here's a link to some pretty inexpensive stuff, but it's still only dollars less than the Live sand. With "Live" sand, it's the bacteria that you're after (not dead), and it is very beneficial to a new tank set-up. But for someone with existing tanks, it's just as easy to buy dry sand and toss in a couple of cups from one of your other tanks to seed it.

Home Depot/Lowes sand/Playsand contain harmful silicates.....Unless it's some kind of a deal going on, I don't think you'll get much cheaper than this:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/meridian-oolitic-aragonite-substrate-19lb

[Martini5788]

Here's a link to some pretty inexpensive stuff, but it's still only dollars less than the Live sand. With "Live" sand, it's the bacteria that you're after (not dead), and it is very beneficial to a new tank set-up. But for someone with existing tanks, it's just as easy to buy dry sand and toss in a couple of cups from one of your other tanks to seed it.



Home Depot/Lowes sand/Playsand contain harmful silicates.....Unless it's some kind of a deal going on, I don't think you'll get much cheaper than this:



http://www.thatpetplace.com/meridian-oolitic-aragonite-substrate-19lb


I do have other tanks. I will probably be stuck with using live sand because I can hardly find a place that sells dry sand for a better price. I just get so sick of the dust. Even when I rinse it. It's never ending with the live sands.

[Xxero]

And I just noticed that even the link I gave says they're out of stock lol...sorry. :bigeyes:

[jd371]

The beach :clown:

I've been lurking on this forum for a few days now learning as much as I can. I'm about to start my first SW tank. I live 20 minutes from the South Shore of Long Island...can you use beach sand if it was rinsed thoroughly a couple of times and then let dry? Just curious.

[Martini5788]

I've been lurking on this forum for a few days now learning as much as I can. I'm about to start my first SW tank. I live 20 minutes from the South Shore of Long Island...can you use beach sand if it was rinsed thoroughly a couple of times and then let dry? Just curious.


I would absolutely not do this. Too much pollution. In a closed system like an aquarium, the toxic levels would be fatal to inhabitants

[Gumpy]

Last time I bought sand I got it from Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems. I thought their prices were pretty good.
http://search.pentairaes.com/search#w=caribsea

[jd371]

I would absolutely not do this. Too much pollution. In a closed system like an aquarium, the toxic levels would be fatal to inhabitants

That's what I thought, I wasn't planning on doing it....just thought I'd ask.

[lance1337]

I used 400lbs of Lowes premium play sand in my 265. I didn't rinse it and it only added 2 Tds to a 296 water volume. I run dual waterfall algae turf scrubbers in the sump. No protein Skimmer or fancy equipment. Everything is great.

[acsamples79]

i have used the quikrete playsand in all my tanks with no issues for a long time. so have some of my friends, as well as alot of people on the forum. $3.50 for 50lbs at homedepot

[Xxero]

You can use the playsand from Home Depot/Lowes, but it is silicate based. Diatoms feed on silica. The Quikrete playsand also contains trace amounts of metal - specifically iron. From what I understand, it's one of those crap-shoot scenarios. Aragonite is calcium carbonate based and can act as a ph buffer as it dissolves. Silicate cannot.

[anthonys51]

why dont you go here. get your live rock and sand all in one
http://www.tbsaltwater.com

[Martini5788]

I already have liverock. I have about 300 lbs of it in total that is being split up into 3 tanks, two 40 gallon tanks and a 210. So I just need the sand

[booyaa138]

http://www.petsmart.com/fish/decor-gravel/caribsea-aragonite-aquarium-reef-sand-zid36-16742/cat-36-catid-300014?var_id=36-16742&_t=pfm%3Dcategory

[nuxx]

Just got two 40 lb bags of CaribSea special grade reef sand from Petsmart online for $64.93 shipped including tax a few days ago for our new frag tank :)

[CStrickland]

Petco has 10# bags on online sale for $5 plus shipping right now

I used a crazy mix of play sand, natural sand and aragonite and nothing terrible happened yet. But I doubt play sand is much cheaper than on sale dry aragonite when you're only buying enough for a 40

[Isaacs55]

Petco, believe it or not, has dry aragonite sand for 5.39 for 10 lb bag. That's about 25 dollars for 40 lbs...that's if you live by a petco and they have at least 4 bags available. ..otherwise shipping online costs 6 dollars for standard which brings the price up to 30+

[CStrickland]

it only added 2 Tds to a 296 water volume.

Fwiw uncharged silica wouldn't raise the conductivity that a tds measures, even though it makes the water impure. It's one example of how tds measures the function of a rodi not the purity of the water. More here http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rhf/feature/index.php

Glad your tank is happy, I run mine similarly but without the ats so I always like to hear about simple setups thriving!

[Martini5788]

Petco, believe it or not, has dry aragonite sand for 5.39 for 10 lb bag. That's about 25 dollars for 40 lbs...that's if you live by a petco and they have at least 4 bags available. ..otherwise shipping online costs 6 dollars for standard which brings the price up to 30+


I was at petco yesterday and totally forgot to look. I will probably be close to one on Friday so I will check then

[Isaacs55]

I was at petco yesterday and totally forgot to look. I will probably be close to one on Friday so I will check then

Yes! I know I always go to petco and forget to check something and end up going back lol good thing for me is that I live 2 min away :dance: if the price is higher just do a price match. I get my dog food at petco and I'm always getting 5 dollar rewards so I use that on petco accessories lol never buy fish from petco though haha

[Isaacs55]

I was at petco yesterday and totally forgot to look. I will probably be close to one on Friday so I will check then

Also for got about a vendor...Marcorocks.com where I get my dry rock from sells Bahamas aragonite dry sand for 29.95 for 40 lbs and that's with shipping included. Sand ships free USPS. Only thing for me is that I live in California and the Marcorocks is in Florida so it took 5 days to get here...
HTH
Thanks
Isaac

[davocean]

Foster smith has caribsea seaflor special grade for $42 for a 40lb bag, free shipping.
I just ordered this from marine depot since they price match, and since they are close I get next day.
Those are the two cheapest sources I know of for quality sand.
I always use dry over live, too much dieoff in the live shipped sand.
Be sure to rinse in clean RO/DI for dry or SW for live

[davocean]

Here's the link to F&S
This stuff is my favorite sand, does not blow around in moderate to strong flow.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+7326&pcatid=7326&r=816

[Martini5788]

Here's the link to F&S
This stuff is my favorite sand, does not blow around in moderate to strong flow.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+7326&pcatid=7326&r=816


It's says page not available

[davocean]

Huh?
Worked when I checked earlier, now doesn't.
Check Foster & Smith
Caribsea seaflor special grade dry aragomite sand, 40lbs, $41.42

[davocean]

OK just checked site, substrate page is down for some reason, but search pulls it right up.
Also like I mentioned marine depot matches price and gave me free shipping as well.

[Martini5788]

Huh?
Worked when I checked earlier, now doesn't.
Check Foster & Smith
Caribsea seaflor special grade dry aragomite sand, 40lbs, $41.42


Great just needed the name of the sand you are referring to. Thanks!

[davocean]

I've got 2 bags, 80lbs total coming tomorrow for $89 total, I don't think that can be beat for new sand, and it happens to be my favorite sand to use.

[nuxx]

I've got 2 bags, 80lbs total coming tomorrow for $89 total, I don't think that can be beat for new sand, and it happens to be my favorite sand to use.

You guys missed my post about Petsmart...

Got the same 40 lbs bags for:

CaribSea Aragonite Aquarium Reef Sand
Item#: 36-5082033
Size: White
Color: White
Quantity: 2


Subtotal: $69.98
Estimated Shipping: $28.49
Discount: - $38.49
Sales Tax: $4.95

PayPal $64.93

[booyaa138]

Yep. I put the link up for the same sand
Only $34.99

Here it is again

http://www.petsmart.com/fish/decor-gravel/caribsea-aragonite-aquarium-reef-sand-zid36-16742/cat-36-catid-300014?var_id=36-16742&_t=pfm%3Dcategory

[booyaa138]

If you want finer sand only $21.99

http://www.petsmart.com/fish/decor-gravel/caribsea-aragonite-aragamax-oolite-aquarium-substrate-zid36-16744/cat-36-catid-300014?var_id=36-16744&_t=pfm%3Dcategory%26pfmvalue%3Dfaceted

[Green Chromis]

:fish1: Hi all, living in South Florida does have an advantage or two. I can collect all the live sand I need for $30.00 or so, from the local reefs off the Florida Keys. Plus we usually get a nice day of diving or fishing in too. Nothing better than natures own. :fish1:

[davocean]

You guys missed my post about Petsmart...

Got the same 40 lbs bags for:

CaribSea Aragonite Aquarium Reef Sand
Item#: 36-5082033
Size: White
Color: White
Quantity: 2


Subtotal: $69.98
Estimated Shipping: $28.49
Discount: - $38.49
Sales Tax: $4.95

PayPal $64.93

Wow, that is the deal there, bummer if I saw this marine depot would have matched it, oh well...:sad1: