WTB Live Sand

[oatyfruitybar]

I bought what was supposedly live sand from Petco for my DSB in my reef nano, and after 2 months there seems to be little signs of life. I'm looking for someone in my area (Northern Colorado) that I can beg, borrow or buy a cup or so of live sand from them with lots of critters in it. I'm fine with bristle worms (in fact their presence would be a plus).

Feel free to reply or PM me so we can work something out.

 

[Wicked Color]

I will give ya sand, live sand only has bacteria in it, all the worms and critters come in on rocks and corals and such.

 

[oatyfruitybar]

That would be awesome. Where do you want to meet? I won't be down near Longmont until Christmas, but if you're coming to Larimer for the event at the Ranch, I could meet you there. (Problem is I don't have a car of my own, hence why it's not my decision when I'll be in Longmont)

 

[hurrafreak]

I also have sand that you could probably have on the east side of FOCO. I had someone PM for it but they never PM'ed me back?

 

[oatyfruitybar]

If I could buy some from both of you that would probably be best, as it increases the biodiversity of my tank. When/Where would you be alright with meeting up?

 

[hurrafreak]

As wicked alluded too though, they arent live sands. But I should be available on Tuesday somewhere in FOCO.

 

[oatyfruitybar]

Hmm... if live sand won't help me get creatures into my tank, then I'm wondering where I can get them, then. Everything I've read makes it sound like with live rock and live sand, you'll eventually get creatures on your own, but it's been two months and I haven't seen signs of anything. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

I'll be available after about 1PM Tuesday.

 

[Wicked Color]

I can bring it to the ranch, and mine will have spaghetti worms, and maybe a colo nassarius or two.

 

[hurrafreak]

Whammy there you go. Wickeds is live sand. Mine is dead sand, been chilling in a garage for a while now. What wicked meant though is that there is bacteria on dead and live sand which with either one is beneficial to your tank. I usually buy dead because with live sand from someone elses tank you are never absolutely sure what comes with it, as you get all of their bacteria. But thats just a personal preferance of course.

You could probably get "creatures" from a handfull of chaeto as well.

 

[oatyfruitybar]

Spaghetti worms would be awesome! Nassarius as well. I'd be happy to meet you at the ranch. Thank you again.

hurrafreak: I see what you mean. Yeah, I'm mostly looking for creatures like spaghetti and bristle worms to dig through my sand bed. I'm trying to do a DSB and so far it doesn't look like any successful DSB's I've ever seen so I'm getting a little concerned. Thank you for the offer of sand though, and the advice.

 

[Wicked Color]

Eventually you may want to look into sand sifting stars, medusa worms, and sand sifting fish like jawfish or watchman goby, even large nassarius and babalonia snails.

 

[oatyfruitybar]

Probably a goby would be a good option when I'm ready to add fish... the only thing I might be concerned about would be him knocking over my live rock. I've got it down on the glass, but... it makes me nervous still. Do all gobies dig, or just watchman gobies?

In any case, thank you for the advice as well. I'm new to saltwater, so any words of wisdom are appreciated.

 

[Wicked Color]

As long as the rock is seated firmly it is not an issue, and as far as I know only watchman/diamond/spotted gobys dig burrows. (symbiotic gobys)

 

[hurrafreak]

Engineer gobies do as well . Question for maybe both of us: What goby might be recommended to mix up the top layer of the sand without digging a tunnel?

 

[oatyfruitybar]

That's a good question, hurrafreak... most of them dig in the first place BECAUSE they dig tunnels to hide in, don't they? Esp. if they're symbiotic gobies like Wicked Demon said.

That being said, a goby might not be a bad idea as long as he doesn't bury my other sand creatures (serpent star and tiger sand conch).

 

[Wicked Color]

IMO nassarius and babalonia are the best for sand stirring only the top inch or two.

 

[kmellon]

When i first set up a small nano tank, i used live sand and live rock from the local LFS. I didn't get any critters running around until I picked up a small live rock from someone's established tank. So depending upon what you would like to get out of it and how much space you have in your tank, you might want to see if anyone would like to trade a rock or two. You would pick up both the bacteria diversity as well as good or bad hitchhikers. The first rock i received have my tank some really small snails, starfish, and bristle worms. However, the second rock i received brought along some other algea that i hadn't dealt with before.

 

[oatyfruitybar]

I got my live rock from the guy who runs H20 Aquatic Design in Greeley, who had just pulled it from established tanks that he had to shut down, so I did attempt to get some rock that had been used before. Your idea of trading is a good one though. I would actually trade some rock just because I think I have too much of it, but to try and get more critters would be appreciated too. Since I don't really have anything of note in my tank at present, I wouldn't mind dealing with different algaes or any problems that might arise.

 

[Wicked Color]

I have seed rock in my sump, and 10" sandbed in the first and center chambers, if you want to bring some rock down and swap some you are welcome, as long as its aragonite.

 

[oatyfruitybar]

I honestly don't know if it's aragonite rock or not. I know some of it is Tonga live rock, but the rest of it I couldn't say for sure what it is other than I don't think it's any kind of American aquacultured. Is there any way I could positively say whether it's aragonite or not? There's quite a few chunks that I'd love to get rid of though, in some good shapes. I just went overboard when I got it in the first place and got too much.