Live Sand - Need Experienced Guidance on Potential Problem Sand

[jlovell]

I'm here in tampa florida on vacation and to get rock and sand while here at the coast. A small issue has come up with live sand. I am being told that florida keys live sand is no longer available because it is illegal to be sold. (Unsure whether it is illegal for all or only illegal for some (ie licensing issues)). I am advised that if anyone else is selling and and it is the "pink gulf sand" to avoid it because it is +37% phosphate (which I am reef-literate enough to have read is not a good thing for marine tanks).

Question: Is this pink gulf sand at +37% phosphate such a major issue that I should not get it at all if it is the only live sand available or do the benefits of the live critters outweigh the phosphate? Does anyone have experience with live sand taken from the gulf coast of Florida?

Someone with knowledge on live sand and phosphates give me guidance here on what the best course of action is. I'm going to try to google this and see if I can get any more info, but would appreciate any knowledgable input on the matter.

Jay

[wanareef]

I am not aware of the phosphate problem with the sand. But the live sand you are wanting and talking about is not readily available from the beach. It's out further off the coast. I would not chance it as there is some pollution on or near the beaches of some sort or another. And it's also illegal to collect rock from FL - yep. The rock that company's sell are "not natural" (man "made") but dumped and collected later after it has become live. I would not take that chance of doing that.


For live sand - just get arrgonite based sand and get several cups from established tanks, also from a LFS or a local club and in no time it'll be live. I'm surprised that a lot of "new" reefers go and spend $$$ on live sand when they can just seed it with sand from else where, and free too. Also the LR that will be in the tank, can and will help seed the sand.

my .02