Aragonite sand for aquarium and aquaculture supply
Natural oolitic aragonite is used as substrate, graded media and a carbonate source in marine, brackish and some freshwater systems. This page sets out what is supplied, what governs suitability, and what a commercial buyer needs to qualify the material for a system or a product line.
Overview
The supplied material is calcium carbonate in the aragonite crystal form, occurring as rounded ooids of roughly 50–500 µm in the natural gradation and screened into the grades below. Representative analysis reports 96.17% CaCO₃, 1.43% strontium carbonate and silica below 0.01%, with a specific gravity of 2.93. It is a dry, mechanically processed mineral with no additives, coatings or biological content.
Buyers in this sector include distributors and brands packaging substrate lines, public aquariums and zoos, hatcheries and recirculating aquaculture operators, and system builders. Each evaluates the same three things: particle size for the bed or vessel, chemistry for the water-chemistry programme, and supply configuration for the volume involved.
Grades normally considered
| Grade | Nominal size | Where it is normally evaluated |
|---|---|---|
| AG-CAL | 0.2–0.5 mm | Fine sand beds and low-flow substrate applications; substrate product lines |
| WT-CAL | 1–3 mm | Coarser beds, higher-flow zones, contact and alkalinity media in vessels or sumps; pond preparation |
| Custom | 20–325 mesh | A written target distribution for a specific bed, vessel or private formulation |
Material and particle-size considerations
Suitability is decided by the system, not by the sand. The operator’s aquatic-health and operations teams set the targets; the material is selected to fit them.
- Species and organism requirements
- Substrate-dwelling and substrate-sifting species, life stage and stocking density determine acceptable particle size and bed behaviour.
- Freshwater, brackish or marine
- Aragonite is a carbonate mineral. Where it dissolves it can contribute calcium and alkalinity; whether that is wanted depends on the species and the target chemistry.
- Target water chemistry
- Operating ranges for pH, alkalinity, calcium, salinity and temperature are set by the responsible team. Any contribution from the substrate is condition-dependent and is not specified by AragoCor.
- System design and bed depth
- Bed depth, vessel geometry and whether the material is a display substrate, a deep bed or a media charge all change the size range that works.
- Flow and filtration
- Particle distribution affects settling, suspension, cleaning and interaction with pumps, overflows and filtration. Higher flow generally favours the coarser grade.
- Operational procedures
- Rinsing, conditioning, quarantine and introduction protocols are the operator’s. Natural sand carries fines from handling; initial turbidity should be expected and managed.
- Applicable regulations
- Biosecurity, permitting and product-labelling rules vary by jurisdiction and by whether the material is used in-house or packaged for resale.
- Testing in the buyer’s system
- Suitability is confirmed by a controlled small-system or isolated trial under the intended conditions, monitored before use is expanded.
Substrate and media evaluation
A practical path from specification to use, consistent with AragoCor Minerals’ published application guidance.
Define
System type, species, volume, water chemistry, filtration, substrate purpose and target particle range.
Sample and trial
Request a sample of the candidate grade. Run a controlled small-system or isolated trial following the operating team’s rinsing and conditioning protocol.
Monitor
Track pH, alkalinity, calcium, turbidity, flow and biological response against the targets before expanding use.
Specify and order
Fix the grade, packaging, volume and documentation, then quote against that specification.
Commercial aquarium applications
- Substrate product lines. Distributors and brands packaging aragonite substrate under their own or a partner label. Grade, bag size, pallet configuration and labelling are quoted per programme; private-label options are handled through AragoCor Minerals.
- Public aquariums and zoos. Display and holding systems that need a consistent grade in super-sack or bulk quantities, with lot documentation for procurement records.
- System builders and service companies. Repeat supply of a known grade in bagged or palletized form.
Aquaculture-system evaluation
- Hatcheries and recirculating systems. Evaluation as substrate or as carbonate contact media, sized for the vessel, flow and cleaning method.
- Pond preparation and alkalinity management. The 1–3 mm WT-CAL grade is published for pond preparation and alkalinity management; rates and outcomes are set by the operator’s programme, not by AragoCor.
- Biosecurity. The material is a dry mineral. Cleanliness controls, quarantine and introduction procedures remain the facility’s responsibility.
Packaging and supply considerations
Bagged product from 1 lb, super sacks up to 3,000 lb, and dry bulk by trailer are the published configurations. Bag sizes, bags per pallet, minimum quantities and lead times are confirmed on quotation for the specific programme, order volume and destination. Material ships from Stockton, California, with freight quoted to the named destination.
Packaging and deliveryDocumentation and samples
Available for supplied grades: the controlled technical data sheet, the grade sheet, a certificate of analysis for each dispatched lot, the safety data sheet, sieve analysis and source documentation. Samples of the published grades are provided on request for trial in the buyer’s own system.
Questions from aquatic-system buyers
Which aragonite sand grades are supplied for aquarium and aquaculture use?
Two published grades are supplied: AG-CAL at a nominal 0.2–0.5 mm and WT-CAL at a nominal 1–3 mm. Custom classifications across the 20–325 U.S. mesh range are produced to a written specification. Chemistry is common to all grades.
Is the sand treated, coated or biologically active?
No. The material is a dry, mechanically processed mineral: collected, dried below 93 °C, screened and classified, with no calcination, chemical treatment, coating or additive. It is not a live sand product and is not sold as biologically active.
Does aragonite sand change water chemistry?
Aragonite is a calcium carbonate mineral. Dissolution can contribute calcium and alkalinity under suitable water-chemistry conditions, and the rate is system- and particle-dependent. AragoCor does not specify a pH, alkalinity or calcium outcome for any system; operators set their own targets and monitor them.
Can the material be sampled before an order?
Yes. Samples of the published grades are available on request for evaluation in the buyer’s own system. Use the quote form and select the sample option.
What documentation is available for aquatic-system procurement?
The controlled technical data sheet TDS-OA-001, grade sheets TDS-AG-001 and TDS-WT-001, a certificate of analysis for each dispatched lot, the safety data sheet, sieve analysis and source documentation are available. See Grades & Specifications.
System-specific evaluation. Aquatic systems differ in species, chemistry, design, flow and operating practice. Nothing on this page specifies a water-chemistry outcome, a biological outcome, an application rate or a safety determination for any system or species. Suitability must be confirmed by the buyer on a representative sample under the intended conditions, with review by qualified aquatic-health and technical staff. Published values are representative analyses or published ranges, not guaranteed limits.
Discuss the system, species and particle requirement.
Provide system type and volume, salinity, target chemistry, particle range, required quantity and destination for grade matching, documentation and a freight estimate.