What is "live" sand/gravel?

Lady G

Lady G

It's a mafia thing, nothing personl
Oct 6, 2005
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gingersassatelli.bodybyvi.com
I am looking at getting some sand for the tank I will be getting, I want to do part sand and part gravel. One side with gravel working into sand at the other end. Anyway as I'm looking at sites for gravel and sand they have "live" sand can anyone tell me what that means?

Thank you in advance,
Gin
 
Ummm, live sand has to do with saltwater. I'm not sure since Ive always done fresh, but I think it's got little critters of some kind in it. As for sand fading to gravel, it wont stay that way long, especially if you do good maintenence on the tankl
 
Live sand is exactly that, sand that contains bacteria and microscopic organisms that reduce nitrite to nitrate, and may contain saltwater dwellers as tiny worms, brittle starfish, and critters.
Trying to do half sand and half gravel will likely not work since the sand is lighter and tends to blow around. You'll end up with a mixed bed in the long run.
 
Ok I guess I didn't think the whole 1/2 and 1/2 thing through, I guess that is pretty "duh" on my part I didn't even think of how much the sand would move around when I cleaned the tank, I did read that when you clean sand you just hoover over it like a inch above instead of like gravel (getting down in there) but I guess that make total since. BTW I have fresh water so then I wouldn't want live sand anyway I guess. I did read that it helps with the nitrItes and nitrAtes that is why I was interested in what it was. I am glad I asked though because after all the work it would take to set the tank up that way, I'd of been pretty upset when I messed it all up!! It was a nice thought though I was sitting there with my thought of how I want to set my tank up and I just pictured gravel over here working into sand and lots of plants with a rock wall/cliff type thing in back I was even wondering if there was some way to build the rock cliff so that the filter flowed over it above water like a waterfall, but then I thought that kina defeated the purpose of the filter plusit would have to stick out there pretty far for the water to flow over it. Ok I was really in deep thought but hey it was nice for the moment or two I had.

Thanks for the info!!!

Gin
 
Actually, if you keep your gravel super chunky, and your sand fairly corse, you should be able to move most of it back where you want it after cleaning.

For freshwater sand, I reccomend good old playground sand. 2.50 for 50 pounds. Throw some in a bucket, stick a hose in there and keep pouring off the lighter particles, dust, and gunk untill it's clean and clear. You lose about 10 pounds if 50 this way, but it's well worth it.
 
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