Advice? What is the best live sand to buy

Buying a 220 and I'm gonna switch back from a bare bottom to sand. Any recommendations? How many pounds of live sand for a 220?

 

We ended getting the figi pink sand.
15 - 20 lb bags left a very nice bed for us in our 250DD

 

Was it live? How much was it?

 

Yes live,
It's about $23- 25 a bag

 

I always mix mine, i use course 2mm special grade aragonite and then mix puka shell in with it. I've always found that its a heavy enough mix that it doesnt blow around like a finer grade sand does, yet still allows for the sand sifter type fish

 

IMO live sand is a waste money. Get yourself some dry sand of your liking and get a cup or two of a fellow reefers sand out of their tank to seed your new sand and make it live. I've also in the past gotten a cup from multiple different people /tanks to help with the bio diversity. I personally like and have always ran seafloor special grade sand by caribsea.

 

I agree with Tangers. Sand is expensive and don't need a full tank of live sand. I did this when I first got into the hobby and had over $150+ in sand. After learning a little and setting up the 220G, I purchased sand that was dry from local reefers. I was able to clean the product better and make sure no pest. I then pulled sand from my 75 to seed it. I saved a wallet full of cash doing it this way. You could even go as far as buying dry sand and seeding it with 1 bag of live sand.

I like the grade, look and quality of the Caribsea Arag alive Fiji Pink. (arag sand will increase PH stability)

 

I agree with all of the above .
This is just what we did. Like everyone said , you can use used or dry .

Just stay away from silica sand...like from petco. It's just cheap dry sand , runs about $8 a bag . It holds all the prostrate, nitrates. You will have a lot of swings

 

Do all dry. Always dry sand, dry rock. U have no idea what's in the bag.

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If you find something cool and you ask a fellow reefer what it is, he has no idea and you think it's a sponge but can't find it on line. Bleach it...

 

i like this guys sand-http://reefrocks.net/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flexible_flypageV1_WIDE.tpl&product_id=5&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

 

I use trop eden reef flakes and love it. small enough for sand sifters and large enough to stay put. It's dry as well but easily seeded. Its a little harder to find, but well worth it imo.

 

i've just ordered a 210 and after all the stuff i dont like about sand in my 120,my 210 will have zoos,pallys and chalices with no sand on the bottom ever!!

 

I like my sand bed. Go with a 60 grit equivalent so it doesn't make a sand storm but small enough for a diamond goby to process and keep it nice and white.
Otherwise I can understand why ppl are opposed to it.

 

I have a bare bottom right now. With all live rock how long do I cycle using my current live rock and if I go bare bottom With my current and new water?

 

i believe you will just have to keep checking your levels to see when the cycle has been processed

 

I've switched things over a few times over the years I've had a reef. Just never this big from a 125 to a 220. I've gone from a 75 to a 90 to a 125.

 

What about black sand?