Live Sand

[richm20]

Can someone please help me with this one? If live sand actually contains live bacteria, what keeps it alive? Where is its food source?
I know that when you cycle a tank, you need to keep adding ammonia and or fish to keep a food source for the bacteria, so if live sand is in a bag for months at a time, is it really LIVE at all?
Thanks

 

[mogurnda]

It's hard to believe there's much life left, but some swear that it works. Personally, I prefer it fresher and have always bought my live sand fresh from the gulf. It arrives full of worms, stars, pods and stuff.

You can also get some sand from an established aquarium and innoculate some playsand.