{"product_id":"arag-alive-fiji-pink","title":"CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFine pink reef sand that arrives already carrying its bacteria.\u003c\/strong\u003e CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink is a biologically active aragonite reef sand with a grain size of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, supplied damp in either a 10 lb (4.536 kg) or a 20 lb (9.072 kg) bag. It sits in the middle of CaribSea's live sand range: fine enough to read as sand rather than gravel, coarse enough that it is not the sugar-grade oolite that lifts into the water column the moment a powerhead points at it. Because aragonite raises pH and carbonate hardness, this is a marine, reef and African cichlid substrate rather than a general-purpose one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplied damp and biologically active\u003c\/strong\u003e - CaribSea packs Arag-Alive wet with live bacteria rather than dry, so the bed starts processing ammonia sooner than a dry sand that has to be colonised from scratch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e0.5 to 1.5 mm grain\u003c\/strong\u003e - fine enough for sand-sifting gobies and burrowing wrasses to pick up and move, which a 2 mm-plus grade is not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo rinsing\u003c\/strong\u003e - CaribSea's instruction is to open the bag and put the contents straight in. Rinsing washes the bacteria you paid for down the drain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRaises pH and carbonate hardness\u003c\/strong\u003e - aragonite dissolves slowly at reef pH, adding carbonate to the water rather than consuming it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNatural pink tone\u003c\/strong\u003e - the colour is the mineral and shell content of the sand itself, not a coating or a dye that can wear off.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo bag sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e - 4.536 kg for topping up or for a nano footprint, 9.072 kg for building a full bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the question a sand page has to answer, so here it is first. The figures come from CaribSea's own published bulk density for Arag-Alive of 100 lb per cubic foot, which works out to 1.60 kg per litre of finished bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTank footprint\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e2.5 cm bed\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e5 cm bed\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e7.5 cm bed\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 x 30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.2 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14.4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21.6 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 x 45 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.8 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21.6 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e32.4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 x 38 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13.7 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e27.4 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e41.1 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e120 x 45 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21.6 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e43.2 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e64.9 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 x 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e36.0 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e72.1 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e108.1 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180 x 60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e43.2 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e86.5 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e129.8 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTurning kilograms into bags\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDivide the figure above by 9.072 for 20 lb bags, or by 4.536 for 10 lb bags, and round up. A 120 x 45 cm tank at 5 cm needs 43.2 kg, which is five 20 lb bags. A 60 x 30 cm tank at 5 cm needs 14.4 kg, which is most neatly bought as one 20 lb bag plus one 10 lb bag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo adjustments worth making. Rock placed directly on the glass displaces sand, so a heavily scaped tank needs a little less than the table says. A bed that slopes front to back should be worked out on its average depth, not its deepest point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGrain size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.5 to 1.5 mm (both bag sizes)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMaterial\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAragonite, supplied damp and biologically active\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBulk density\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 lb per cubic foot (1.60 kg per litre of bed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEffect on water\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRaises pH and carbonate hardness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRinsing\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required, and not recommended\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarine and reef; also hard, alkaline African cichlid tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBy bag size\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBag\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWeight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBed volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSupplier code\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 lb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.536 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 2.8 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCS1792\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 lb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9.072 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 5.7 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCS0792\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich Arag-Alive grade do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four grades below are supplied damp and biologically active. The only meaningful difference between them is grain size, and grain size decides two things: whether the bed stays put under your flow, and whether your livestock can move it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGrade\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGrain size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBest for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-fiji-pink\"\u003eArag-Alive Fiji Pink\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.5 to 1.5 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFine pink bed; workable by sand-sifting gobies and burrowing wrasses\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-special-grade-reef\"\u003eArag-Alive Special Grade Reef\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.0 to 2.0 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHigher-flow reef systems where a finer sand would scour into drifts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-bimini-pink-20lb-9-072kg\"\u003eArag-Alive Bimini Pink\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.5 to 5.0 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMixed pink bed with visible shell fragments\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-hawaiian-black-20lb-9-072kg\"\u003eArag-Alive Hawaiian Black\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.25 to 3.5 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDark contrast beds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe also stock \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-natural-reef-16lb-7-257kg\"\u003eArag-Alive Natural Reef\u003c\/a\u003e as a coarse grade, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/aragamax-select-30lb-13-63kg\"\u003eAragaMax Select\u003c\/a\u003e as a dry sand for anyone who does not need the bacteria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSetting it up\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePut the sand in first, into an empty tank. CaribSea is specific about the order: sand, then water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLevel the bed, then place rockwork on the bare glass wherever you can, so nothing topples if a fish excavates underneath it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd water onto a plate or an upturned bowl resting on the sand, so the stream does not crater the bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStart the filtration and expect cloudiness. Fine grades cloud more than coarse ones on the way in, and it settles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e marine fish-only and reef aquariums; refugium and sump beds; hard, alkaline African cichlid tanks; and tanks housing sand-sifting gobies, jawfish or burrowing wrasses that need a grain small enough to pick up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e planted freshwater aquariums, soft-water community tanks, blackwater setups and anything that needs an acidic pH. Aragonite raises pH and carbonate hardness and there is no way to switch that behaviour off. It is also the wrong choice directly under a powerhead pointed at the substrate, where a coarser grade such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-special-grade-reef\"\u003eSpecial Grade Reef\u003c\/a\u003e will hold its position better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA shallow bed of around 2.5 cm can be lightly siphoned at water changes. Beds over about 5 cm are normally left undisturbed below the surface, because stirring accumulated material back into the water column is what causes trouble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no replacement schedule. Aragonite dissolves slowly, so top up with a 10 lb bag if the depth drops noticeably after a few years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-shapes-20lb-9kg\"\u003eCaribSea Life Rock Shapes\u003c\/a\u003e - aquascaping rock designed to sit on the glass under the sand bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-seas-base-rock-40lb-18kg\"\u003eCaribSea South Seas Base Rock\u003c\/a\u003e - lower-cost structural rock for the base of a scape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/caribsea-purple-up\"\u003eCaribSea Purple-Up\u003c\/a\u003e - for encouraging coralline algae onto the rock once the tank is running.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaribSea does not publish a warranty term for its substrates, which is normal for a consumable. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless and are not limited by what the manufacturer does or does not offer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSand is heavy. A 120 x 45 cm tank at 5 cm depth is 43.2 kg of product, so check the freight total before ordering a full bed rather than after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo I need to rinse CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink before use?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. CaribSea's instruction is to open the bag and place the contents directly into the aquarium. Rinsing removes the live bacteria that are the entire reason for buying live sand instead of dry sand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs Fiji Pink fine enough for a sand-sifting goby?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. At 0.5 to 1.5 mm the grain is small enough for sifting gobies, jawfish and burrowing wrasses to pick up and pass through their gills, which a 2 mm-plus grade is not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow much Fiji Pink does a 60 x 30 cm tank need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 14.4 kg for a 5 cm bed, or 7.2 kg for a 2.5 cm bed. That is one 20 lb bag plus one 10 lb bag for the deeper option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I use Fiji Pink in a freshwater tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly in a hard, alkaline setup such as an African cichlid tank. Aragonite raises pH and carbonate hardness, so it is wrong for planted tanks, soft-water community fish and anything from an acidic habitat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill Fiji Pink blow around?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can, in a high-flow SPS system or under a powerhead aimed at the substrate. At 0.5 to 1.5 mm it is more stable than a sugar-grade oolite but less stable than Special Grade Reef at 1.0 to 2.0 mm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I add Fiji Pink to a tank that is already running?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, but do it gradually. Rinse-free live sand will cloud an established tank for a day or two, so add it a few kilograms at a time and pour it in slowly through a length of pipe rather than tipping the bag in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"CaribSea","offers":[{"title":"10lb (4.536kg)","offer_id":55293348217123,"sku":"CS1792","price":58.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20lb (9.072kg)","offer_id":55335325401379,"sku":"CS0792","price":79.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/cs1792_1725237431_thumb_b2ee2029-7784-47f3-b7c6-c0a59443d79a.png?v=1783216137","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/arag-alive-fiji-pink","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}