So I am again asking for advice.

Before I found this site, my LFS suggested I use a mixture of Florida Crushed Coral and Arag-Alive live sand. I bought a 15 bag of CC and a 10lb bag of the live sand. This gave my 55 gallon tank about a 1" bed.

I posted on this forum and was told that the CC will cause problems. Since I spent $50 on the live sand and coral which is now mixed together, do I have to start over or can I mix in some play sand as a filler?

On the topic of play sand use, I cannot find the sand that everyone reccommends. I have looked around for all the names mentioned and cannot find anything simular. Any suggestions on Quikrete Medium or All Purpose sands?

You can use the vinegar test on the sand to see if it is aragonite. Just put a teaspoon of it in a jar of vinegar and see if it dissolves.

Any suggestions on Quikrete Medium or All Purpose sands?Personally, I wouldn't use either of those. They are silica based and may cause problems with algae and diatom outbreaks. Here's a link to an earlier thread on TR about the product we're recommending.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/general-marine-discussions/2391-southdown-sand.html#post30981

I have not found it here in FL but, they are finding it at some Home Depots, in the garden dept.

Take the SKU# in with you and ask them to do a search on their computer. I haven't done that yet, here.

Good luck.

For buying Southdown/aragonite sand, check with commercial contractors in your area or small construction supply houses. They typically have avenues to buy it for construction purposes on a per-contract basis that the corporate entity stores like Home Depot and Lowes can't fit in their purchasing plans.

Found it!
http://bp0.blogger.com/_x32MjDBmH_I/RYygVQ1lFzI/AAAAAAAAAAw/1t4NsrjoR6c/s320/DSC005521.JPG

Home Depot has it for about $4 a bag. The only thing I dont like about it is that its not white. I mixed it in with my live sand and crushed coral.

Is that an aragonite based sand? Looks like it says not to use in Aquariums on the side.

I think by law the bag has to say that. Something to do with the monopoly that a certain aquarium sand producer wants to hold on the hobby.

yeah i kind of remember reading something about that a few years ago. Ofcourse it was after I posted...lol

I would remove the cc a bit at a time using a kitchen strainer. It is the only way I have found to separate it from the sand withought tearing down the tank.

I just mixed it in with my live sand and CC. It has a nice beachy look to it.