Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand — Live Aragonite Sand 1-2 mm 10 lb and 20 lb - CaribSea

CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade live reef sand brings the world's most exotic reefs into your marine aquarium. This 1.0-2.0 mm aragonite is one of eight ecoscapes developed by CaribSea with public aquariums and zoological parks, where authenticity is a must.

Why Arag-Alive live sand

• Contains millions of live bacteria, so the tank starts with a natural biological balance.
• Cycles days faster than other brands of live sand, according to independent lab results reported by CaribSea.
• Suppresses "new tank syndrome" and compresses the ammonia cycle.
• Discourages nuisance algae.
• Ready to work: water clears quickly thanks to the Bio-Magnet clarifier.

Technical specs

• Typical grain size: 1.0-2.0 mm.
• Average density: 85 lb per cubic foot.
• Aragonite substrate for reef and marine aquariums.

Two sizes

• 10 lb (4.5 kg) — CaribSea item 01790, for nano and small tanks.
• 20 lb (9.1 kg) — CaribSea item 00790, the standard bag.

Free shipping not applicable.

Our advice

Live sand? People often think it's because there are critters in it — no, not really. It's mostly bacteria, and the big thing it changes, what I like about live sand, is that it makes less dust in the systems. You put the sand in and you get less of that lingering white haze. But it costs more, because you're paying for water. So it comes down to your preference. Sand bed depth is a whole debate — we could talk about it for days. Personally, I don't run sand in my own aquariums. I find it's a trap — a crap trap, excuse the word — it collects organic waste and over time it builds up. Some people manage deep sand beds and the like long term; many fail. So personally, I don't think the risk is worth it. In general, me, I run no sand. But it's a topic with plenty of room for discussion.

Why buy at ReefSolution

Marine aquarium specialists in Laval: straight-up in-store advice and shipping across Canada. To start a new tank:

• CaribSea LifeRock Shapes — aragonitic rock to build your aquascape above the sand.
• Aquaforest Bio S — liquid nitrifying bacteria to support the cycle.
• Seachem Stability — fast-cycling bacteria for marine and freshwater tanks.

Frequently asked questions

Does Arag-Alive live sand really speed up cycling?

CaribSea reports independent lab results showing Arag-Alive cycles days faster than other brands of live sand, thanks to its millions of live bacteria.

How much sand do I need for my aquarium?

CaribSea does not publish a per-tank-size guide for this line. If you see a number elsewhere, it doesn't come from the manufacturer — write to us with your tank dimensions and we'll work it out with you.

What's the difference between live sand and dry sand?

Live sand contains millions of live bacteria that are already active, which starts the biological balance right at setup — that's what compresses the ammonia cycle, according to CaribSea.