I would like to talk to Randy Holmes-farley about beach sand

[oldpaddy]

It sounds like you're pretty set on doing what you want to do, so why ask if you can? Give it a shot - what's the worst that can happen?

You also seem to have an odd infatuation with this Dr Holmes-farley fellow...

Haha it does seem that way, doesn't it? There's a lot of information regarding this hobby, and a good chunk of it is contradictory. I read a great article he wrote regarding silica in a reef aquarium. Seeing how the substrate I want to use is mostly quartz, I figured he was the man to talk to. The expert in the podcast I shared in an earlier post even referenced Randy.

 

[tzylak]

Beach sand, reef sand, play sand. It is all sand to me. I am using mostly play sand and will top it off with aragonite for good measure.
Contaminated? Rinse it well. Put it in the tank and let it cycle. In 3-4 months whatever was there will be gone thru water changes. . .
That's my approach and am sticking to it. . .
Believe in NONE of what you hear, HALF of what you see and ALL of what you do . . . (Ancient Chinese Proverb)
Good luck

 

[albano]

Yep. I never said he used beach sand as a substrate.

And I never said, that you said it...but IMO your omission of that fact, was taken as part of your endorsement of it's use.

Regarding your question, there shouldn't be any harm in it. While it's probably quartz based sand instead of the aragonite commonly used in the hobby, it'll work just fine. Again, some will say that you'll have silicate problems, some will mention the lack of life in the sandbed because of the sharp sand grain edges present with this type of sand, others have had success with it.

I say go for it. There's no absolute reason why you can't.

 

[gbru316]

And I never said, that you said it...but IMO your omission of that fact, was taken as part of your endorsement of it's use.

Ok :spin2:

 

[edinphilly]

Actually he might have a halfway decent idea about the makeup of the beaches around me. But I'm more interested in if it's possible to have a functioning deep sand bed with sand that's made up of mostly quartz in a reef aquarium. As opposed to a substrate made up of crushed coral/sand. He wrote a very interesting paper/article about silicate in reef aquariums and that's why I wanted to ask him. I had someone tell me earlier that some of his crabs died because he used beach sand (silicate) and his crabs needed coral. I've also been told that the beneficial bacteria needed in a reef aquarium won't live in beach sand. And I've had others tell me it's fine.

Nothing wrong with seeking out the opinion of someone specific especially since you've read his work and have a valid reason for wanting it. If I were you I would post your specific question in the chemistry forum as that is where he moderates, or find his email online and ask him directly.

I only recently found the thread on Paul B's long lived tank and am trying to read as much as possible. In a hobby with a lot of people giving bad advice (my experience with LFS and some forums) it makes sense to emulate those who've had the success you're trying for.