What Is Live Sand?

Sand is the preferred bedding material in saltwater or reef aquariums, because it best mimics conditions in the ocean. Regular aquarium sand is only made of sand. But live sand consists of sand and bacteria and microscopic-sized organisms that is friendly to the tank environment. It is available in pet stores and through online aquarium supply sites.

  1. Significance

    • When tanks are first set up, they are prone to what's known as "new tank syndrome." This is because ammonia and nitrogen build up too quickly because there aren't any friendly bacteria in order to keep the tank properly filtered. Usually, it is recommended that a tank be up and running for at least one month before adding any fish in order to avoid new tank syndrome. Use of live sand gets rid of new tank syndrome.

    Potential

    • According to The Everything Aquarium Book, live sand also greatly helps the tank's filters. Although live sand cannot take the place of protein skimmers, it can make them run far more efficiently. Since live sand is much more expensive than regular sand, one get still get the benefits of filtration by mixing half of the live sand with regular sand. This may not prevent new tank syndrome, however.

    Features

    • Live sand is made from crushed coral sand or aragonite sand that is between 0.05 and 0.2mm in diameter. The micro-organisms can include sand hoppers, tiny crustaceans or worms. These creatures will reproduce by themselves. However, if the fish are eating them all, then the live sand may need to be placed in a canister filter in order to keep the small beneficial creatures alive.

    Amount

    • It is recommended to use one pound of live sand for each gallon of water in the aquarium. So, if the aquarium is fifty gallons large, fifty pounds of live sand is needed. This is one reason many aquarium keepers use half live sand and half regular sand. The sand bed needs to be at least one inch thick.

    Warning

    • Do not try to use any sand from local beaches or lakes. This sand will be full of pollutants, trace minerals and parasites. Live sand is free from those dangers. It is also harvested from warm ocean environments, such as the Caribbean and the Florida Keys, that contain organisms that salt water fish are used to.