{"product_id":"arag-alive-special-grade-reef","title":"CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe live sand grade that stays where you put it.\u003c\/strong\u003e CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef is a biologically active aragonite reef sand with a grain size of 1.0 to 2.0 mm, supplied damp in a 10 lb (4.536 kg) or 20 lb (9.072 kg) bag. It is the coarsest of CaribSea's mid-range live grades, and that is the whole point of it: at 1 to 2 mm the bed resists scouring in a system running the turnover an SPS reef wants, where a finer sand would pile into drifts within a week. Being aragonite, it raises pH and carbonate hardness, so it belongs in marine, reef and African cichlid tanks only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1.0 to 2.0 mm grain\u003c\/strong\u003e - heavy enough per grain to hold position under high turnover, so the bed keeps the contour you gave it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplied damp with live bacteria\u003c\/strong\u003e - CaribSea packs Arag-Alive wet and biologically active, which shortens the period before the bed starts processing ammonia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo rinsing before use\u003c\/strong\u003e - CaribSea says open the bag and place the contents straight into the tank. Rinsing removes the bacteria.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuffers pH and alkalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e - aragonite dissolves slowly at reef pH, contributing carbonate rather than consuming it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClears faster than a fine sand\u003c\/strong\u003e - a coarser grain carries less fine dust into the water column when the tank is filled.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo bag sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e - 4.536 kg for topping up or patching a scoured area, 9.072 kg for building the bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorked from CaribSea's published bulk density for Arag-Alive of 100 lb per cubic foot, which is 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 by 9.072 for 20 lb bags or 4.536 for 10 lb bags, then round up. A 150 x 60 cm reef at 5 cm depth is 72.1 kg, which is eight 20 lb bags. A 90 x 38 cm tank at 2.5 cm is 13.7 kg, most economically one 20 lb bag plus one 10 lb bag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRock sitting directly on the glass displaces sand, so a rock-heavy scape needs less than the table shows. Work a sloped bed out on its average depth rather than the deepest corner.\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\u003e1.0 to 2.0 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\u003eCS1790\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\u003eCS0790\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 are supplied damp and biologically active. Grain size is the only meaningful difference, and it decides whether the bed holds its shape 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-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-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-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\u003eFor a coarser gravel grade see \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-natural-reef-16lb-7-257kg\"\u003eArag-Alive Natural Reef\u003c\/a\u003e. If the live bacteria are not what you are paying for, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/aragamax-select-30lb-13-63kg\"\u003eAragaMax Select\u003c\/a\u003e is the dry alternative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSetting it up\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSand into an empty tank first, then water. CaribSea is explicit about that order.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLevel the bed and set rockwork on the bare glass wherever the scape allows, so nothing shifts if a fish digs beneath it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFill onto a plate or upturned bowl sitting on the sand so the incoming stream does not dig a crater.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRun filtration. A 1 to 2 mm grade throws less dust than a fine sand, so expect a shorter cloudy period.\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 reef aquariums running high turnover; marine fish-only systems; beds sitting under and around rockwork where scouring is a problem; refugiums; and hard, alkaline African cichlid tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e planted freshwater tanks, soft-water community tanks and blackwater setups, because aragonite raises pH and carbonate hardness permanently. It is also a poor burrowing medium for sand-sifting gobies and jawfish, which need a grain they can actually pick up - \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arag-alive-fiji-pink\"\u003eArag-Alive Fiji Pink\u003c\/a\u003e at 0.5 to 1.5 mm is the better bed for those species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA coarser grain lets detritus settle between the particles rather than sitting on top, so a shallow bed of around 2.5 cm benefits from a light siphon at water changes. Beds over 5 cm are normally left undisturbed below the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo replacement schedule applies. Aragonite dissolves very slowly, so top up with a 10 lb bag if the depth drops over the years or if a powerhead has scoured a low spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-seas-base-rock-40lb-18kg\"\u003eCaribSea South Seas Base Rock\u003c\/a\u003e - structural rock to sit on the glass before the sand goes in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/life-rock-shelf-rock-40lb-18kg\"\u003eCaribSea Life Rock Shelf Rock\u003c\/a\u003e - flat shelving pieces for building overhangs above the bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/caribsea-purple-up\"\u003eCaribSea Purple-Up\u003c\/a\u003e - to push coralline algae onto the rock once the system is stable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaribSea publishes no warranty term for its substrates, which is normal for a consumable. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless and are not reduced by that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA full bed is heavy freight. A 150 x 60 cm reef at 5 cm depth is 72.1 kg of sand, so price the delivery before you commit to the order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is the grain size of CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.0 to 2.0 mm. That makes it coarser than Fiji Pink at 0.5 to 1.5 mm and finer than a crushed coral gravel, and it is the grade CaribSea positions for reef systems with real flow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill Special Grade Reef stop my sand blowing into drifts?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt reduces it substantially compared with a sugar-fine sand, because each grain is heavier. No sand grade resists a powerhead aimed directly down at the substrate, so aim flow across the bed rather than into it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo I rinse it first?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. CaribSea's instruction is to open the bag and tip the contents straight into the aquarium. Rinsing removes the live bacteria the product is sold for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow much do I need for a 120 x 45 cm tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e43.2 kg for a 5 cm bed, or 21.6 kg for a 2.5 cm bed. The deeper option is five 20 lb bags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I mix Special Grade Reef with a finer sand?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and it is a common approach - the coarser grade in the high-flow zones and under the rockwork, a finer grade across the open front where the look matters. Both are aragonite, so they behave the same chemically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs it safe for an African cichlid tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Raising pH and carbonate hardness is exactly what a Rift Lake tank wants, and 1 to 2 mm is coarse enough that digging cichlids will not cloud the water every time they excavate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"CaribSea","offers":[{"title":"10lb (4.536kg)","offer_id":55293348184355,"sku":"CS1790","price":58.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"20lb (9.072kg)","offer_id":55335325368611,"sku":"CS0790","price":79.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/cs1790_1778727434_thumb_eb360dbb-c7cd-458e-ad71-8ab6b8a5c7ad.jpg?v=1783216136","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/arag-alive-special-grade-reef","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}