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CaribSea Arag-Alive! Special Grade Reef Aquarium Sand, 20-lb bag

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$33.99 Chewy Price
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Pay in 4 interest-free payments of $8.50. .

About This Item

Details

  • Contains millions of live bacteria to help aquarium water cycle fast, clear quickly and provide a natural biological balance.
  • Made with real aragonite sand for an authentic marine environment.
  • Simply open this sand and add it to your aquarium—no rinsing required!
  • “Good til Date” helps ensure you’re using fresh, high quality sand.
  • Natural substrate helps create and maintain ideal water conditions for your exotic fish and reefs.

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Questions & Answers

3 Customer Questions

Is this for saltwater or fresh water tanks?

Answer by Chewy • Sep 08, 2021
This sand is made for and usually used in marine aquariums.

What’s size of grain sand ?

Answer by Chewy • Jan 05, 2022
This sand measures between 1.0 – 2.0mm with a density of 85 pounds per cubic foot.

What pH level would this typically stop at?

Answer by Chewy • Apr 27, 2026
The CaribSea Arag-Alive! Special Grade Reef Aquarium Sand will raise the pH to 8.2.
Reviews
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4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
46 Ratings
Terms & Conditions

17 Customer Reviews

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By collin on Mar 23, 2026

Quality

Box did come wet but nothing leaked out the bag. Also added the sand to an already established tank and the sand had minimal dust and what dust there was filtered

Box did come wet but nothing leaked out the bag. Also added the sand to an already established tank and the sand had minimal dust and what dust there was filtered out very fast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Blowinreefer on Apr 27, 2023

Don't listen to other reviews without trying

Cycled tank instantly, had a nasty algae outbreak until added. Its cloudy at first and add it a lil at a time with livestock otherwise rinse it Seriously I'm buying

Cycled tank instantly, had a nasty algae outbreak until added. Its cloudy at first and add it a lil at a time with livestock otherwise rinse it Seriously I'm buying more now

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By James on Jun 27, 2026

Sealed and full of water

These could definitely be packaged better, but I’m happy to say all 3 bags were sealed and loaded with beneficial bacteria water.

These could definitely be packaged better, but I’m happy to say all 3 bags were sealed and loaded with beneficial bacteria water.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By jaime on Jan 30, 2023

Not ideal for freshwater

This says it's for freshwater, doesn't even say for both fresh and saltwater. The water looked like a big dust cloud. Everyone is telling me it's for saltwater and

This says it's for freshwater, doesn't even say for both fresh and saltwater. The water looked like a big dust cloud. Everyone is telling me it's for saltwater and that's what my problem is. I did research and it can be used for freshwater but ideally for saltwater, anyway ... My tank still looks like a dust cloud anytime the same gets moved around It's been a week and a half and I've used the water clarifier and it still looks gross. I feel like I need to just start over without the sand and it sucks because I was doing a fishless cycle and almost complete

Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Dott on Jul 10, 2022

completely worthless

This was supposed to be live reef sand with water and bacteria in bags, I received 3 20lb bags of dried up reef sand, completely worthless

This was supposed to be live reef sand with water and bacteria in bags, I received 3 20lb bags of dried up reef sand, completely worthless

Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Lee on May 16, 2025

Good product but

Shipping box was collapsed, wet, sand was dry. Hole in product bag so liquid seeped out.

Shipping box was collapsed, wet, sand was dry. Hole in product bag so liquid seeped out.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Dyan on Jan 2, 2026

Great sand

Packaged great no leaks. Works amazing cloudiness cleared up within an hour. Thank you chewy for fast shipping!

Packaged great no leaks. Works amazing cloudiness cleared up within an hour. Thank you chewy for fast shipping!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Sue on Jul 17, 2025

Most of the liquid in bag was leaked into pkg

Need to wrap items with liquid in bubble wrap. Live sand without the “live” bacteria is kinda useless

Need to wrap items with liquid in bubble wrap. Live sand without the “live” bacteria is kinda useless

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Michael on Mar 6, 2026

great price

free delivery is awesome, thanks

free delivery is awesome, thanks

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Verified Purchase
By Landon1 on Dec 5, 2022

5 Stars. Great product.

This live reef sand arrived on my doorstep today. I was concerned, since the box was beat up pretty bad, but what can you expect with 60ish of sand in a thin cardboard

This live reef sand arrived on my doorstep today. I was concerned, since the box was beat up pretty bad, but what can you expect with 60ish of sand in a thin cardboard box? Opened the box and the bags are in perfect shape. No rips, tears or leaks. Exact product I ordered. Would recommend.