question about using playsand for fish only tank

[saltyESQ]

are there any drawbacks to using fine sugared playsand for my sandbed? I was talking to the manufacterer and he told me ALL sand has silicone in it and in fact his sand has less than most.
I was thinking of using this sand as it is only $5 for 50lbs and the sand is sterilized already- according to the manufacterer. This will be going in a FOWLR tank.

any thoughts anyone???

 

[WarDaddy]

Calfo says that the grains in play sand are rough jagged edges, and ocean sand is smooth.

The differance is when you have animals that feed in the sand, or move the sand. the rough play sand has an adverse effect on their gills, etc. If you have a sand sifting goby, or similar fish, that is not a good type of sand.

Otherwise it works just fine.

 

[rykwong]

I'm no material science guy, but is it worth the stress to use that sand instead of the same bought at the LFS or even from someone on RC? Are you saving THAT much? Why not just mix live and dead sand? Personally, I'd buy the RIGHT equipment in the first place instead of regretting it because something when wrong. Although I'm still new, I bet many here on RC can say the same.

 

[DRC69]

Agree - The best price so far on dry sand is: Grade #1
10lbs for $6.99
20lbs. for $16.99
I'm still looking around.

 

[beefjerkygood]

I would stick to sand intended for reef tanks. What if the playsand doesn't work out and you have to drain, remove livestock, rocks, sand, and redo all over again? All that time wasted and you'll have a bunch of playsand leftover in the end.

 

[rykwong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8238908#post8238908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beefjerkygood
I would stick to sand intended for reef tanks. What if the playsand doesn't work out and you have to drain, remove livestock, rocks, sand, and redo all over again? All that time wasted and you'll have a bunch of playsand leftover in the end.

hahaha, I could just imagine that happening to someone. Also, maybe the sand does have some chemicals which kills off the LR and livestock.

 

[DRC69]

I just bought wardaddys sand from him.
I know that is safe.
Very close to the setup being done. I'll have pics soooon.
Thanks Bryan.

 

[saltyESQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8238928#post8238928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rykwong
hahaha, I could just imagine that happening to someone. Also, maybe the sand does have some chemicals which kills off the LR and livestock.

I was told by the manufacter that the sand is completely clean and sterilized

 

[rykwong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8239101#post8239101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltyESQ
I was told by the manufacter that the sand is completely clean and sterilized

You can try it and see what happens, then let everyone else know.

 

[MammothReefer]

custom aquatics has 44 lb bags of sand for 25

 

[saltyESQ]

where is Vista, CA ? sounds up north.

 

[gcarroll]

Aragonite based sand is beneficial to a reef tank. Silica based play sand (like that found in CA) offers no benefit to a reef tank. This excludes playsand that is offered on the east coast that is made from pure aragonite.

pros - cheap! (that's it)
cons - offers no ph buffering capability unlike aragonite. made from silica. if sand bed is DSB, then the low ph within the sand bed may leach silicates into the water

 

[DRC69]

South towards San Diego.
Greg is right. Very good info for all. That means me to.
Thanks Greg.

 

[gcarroll]

I must say that since this is for a FO tank, if ph buffering and silicate leaching is not a concern of yours, then play sand is fine. Sorry but my mind is always thinking reef. Since that FO tank
will some day become reef tanks anyway, you might as well prepare now.

 

[saltyESQ]

atually, I don't think it will ever be a reef tank. I have my 24g reef already. This tank is specifically for an emperor angel as he main fish in the tank.

 

[818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8239807#post8239807 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gcarroll
I must say that since this is for a FO tank, if ph buffering and silicate leaching is not a concern of yours, then play sand is fine. Sorry but my mind is always thinking reef. Since that FO tank
will some day become reef tanks anyway, you might as well prepare now.

Either way I wouldnt use it. I was a user of this stuff and it doesnt do anything for your tank whether reef/or FO what so ever but just make huge cloud storms.

I would only use this stuff for a refugium.

Mike if you really want to ditch this let me know. i have alot of dry reef sand.

 

[saltyESQ]

how many lbs?

 

[818]

How much do you have already? I have like 5 bags 40lbs each.

Also what size? Out of the 5 bags they are all diff.

 

[saltyESQ]

I have 100lbs in my current tank.
I need another 100lbs though. As for size, I would like sugar grain.

 

[sixball]

I think the biggest drawback to using a silica based sand instead of aragonite for a FO tank is the inevitable diatom blooms that will leave the tank a brown, ugly mess. Also, your fish will appreciate the additional buffering capacity of the aragonite.

Unfortunately, cheap aragonite is a thing of the past, as I have heard that Southdown is no longer available even on the east coast. IMO, the intial investment in purchasing the aragonite is well worth it in the long run.